There is little doubt that those who have visited the regions of the English Lake District and Cumbria will recall and recount with pleasure the images of the lakes, mountains and tarns which together are the fundamental components of this beautiful area.
There may also be some damp memories of a place with an above average rainfall. A phlegmatic Australian work colleague when caught in a particularly heavy shower during a visit some years ago concluded that it was “wet as an otters pocket”. This definition is certainly a strong contender for inclusion in all Lake District and Cumbria tourist information publications.
A well known feature of the region is one where rapidly changing weather conditions can transform a rainy day to one of clearing skies and sunshine within a short space of time, or vice-versa. This is especially so on the higher ground, and it is easy to visualize the difficulties experienced by the hill farmers and those workers, who, in earlier times, toiled all year round to collect the stone scattered on the fell-sides to use for building the dry stone walls which wind up and over seemingly impossibly steep gradients.
Areas of these fell-sides are the proving grounds in the traditional tests of skill and endurance by the men and women fell racers, and the dogs in the hound trailing contests.
Born in 1808, Will Ritson, a shepherd, wrestler, and latterly, landlord of the Wasdale Head Inn, was renowned as a highly entertaining raconteur of colourful tales. It is reported that even William Wordsworth and Thomas De Quincey on occasions, were to be found among an appreciative crowd of listeners.