Cumbria, England's most beautiful corner

COCKERMOUTH, England (JP): Here is a real hands-on opportunity to meet Cumbria's most famous residents, said Nicola Godfrey- Evans of Cumbrian Discoveries Ltd.

"I will bring you to a wonderfully woolly experience... a face-to-face meeting with 19 different breeds of live sheep," she said to a group of visitors from the Far East.

Yes, here at the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Center, visitors discover many surprising facts about each breed and witness the skill of the sheep shearer at work at the Sheep Show.

Unlike the lilting gait of pretty models on fashion show catwalks, each well-fed sheep just scampers across the cement floor to its respective place on the stage.

When the sheep reaches its spot, the presenter explains its background to the audience.

The entertainment doesn't stop there. In the 300-seat arena the visitors are shown how highly trained sheep dogs can skillfully handle a flock.

In the most interesting part of the show, visitors are invited on stage for a close encounter with the woolly stars, where they can pose for photos together.

The center is equipped with a shop selling a wide variety of woolen goods and gifts, where visitors are given the opportunity to discover the distinctive character, history, landscape and culture of the western lakes and coast region of Cumbria.

Cumbria, billed as England's most beautiful corner, is home to the Lake District National Park, with its 16 lakes including the tranquil waters of Buttermere, Wastwater and Rydal to Windermere, Ullswater and Coniston.

From the depths of the lakes rise the mountains from which tumble the fast-flowing ghylls and waterfalls down into wooded valleys.

"It was here that William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter found their inspiration," Godfrey-Evans said.

Wordsworth was a major English romantic poet, while Potter was an author of children's books and the creator of Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and other animal characters.

"Their lives and works are celebrated throughout the Lake District to this day," Godfrey-Evans said.

Wordsworth's house, a north country Georgian town-house built in 1745, stands impressively between Main Street of Cockermouth and the river Derwent.

The house and its surroundings were the foundations for the poet's future development. The house, garden and terrace together with the Derwent and Cockermouth Castle were to provide the backdrop for his early childhood, where he played with his sister and lifelong inspiration, Dorothy.

The house was restored to much as it was in his day, so it is easy to imagine William and Dorothy as children enjoying the excitement of their favorite playground.

Wordsworth's childhood enjoyment of the natural environment was to develop into a deep love for the Lakeland, inspiring many of his future writings.

A short hop to Windermere and one will discover Beatrix Potter's world come to life.

At the World of Beatrix Potter tourist park, a nine-screen video room briefly tells the story of Beatrix Potter and her books.

Here the Lakeland countryside is recreated in miniature down to the tiniest detail. Among the trees, caves and gardens, visitors can discover Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Squirrel Nutkin and Beatrix Potter's other characters.

On a visit to the Ullswater Lake, tourists can cruise aboard old motor yatchs from Pooley Bridge where the River Eamont flows out of the lake to Glenridding in the heart of the mountains. Along the way visitors can enjoy the scenery of the district, which is said to be the most beautiful of the English lakes.

The cruises are served by Raven and Lady of the Lake, two 19th century steamers which have been converted to diesel. "The two yachts have been refurbished to provide cruising services with as much pleasure today as there was 100 years ago," Godfrey-Evans said.

General Manager of Westmorland Hotel, Clive Watts, said Cumbria will soon have a new tourist attraction, which is currently being built at a cost of 12.5 million.

"The attraction is scheduled to open in Easter 2000," he said, adding that the centerpiece will be a film presentation on a six- story cinema screen.

Located at a major crossroad near Penrith, Rheged, the name of the Ancient Kingdom of Cumbria, is billed to be Britain's largest earth-covered building. It will be equipped with modern facilities, including shops, restaurants and cafes selling local foods.

Driving to the south, one enters England's North West, a region which has a history of leading the world. Here is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, the Rolls-Royce motor car, the first passenger railway train, the Beatles and Oasis, and of course some of the world's most famous football clubs.

One of the other fascinating attractions in the region is the Forest of Bowland.

The ancient conservation area of the Forest of Bowland in North Lancashire is truly unspoilt, with the landscape consisting of heather moors and steep river valleys, lined with dry stone walls and hedgerows.

Stone-built villages have individual charms of their own.

Janet Simpson, proprietor of the Gibbon Bridge Hotel, said the area is the ideal destination for unwinding, to enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors or just for spending a tranquil weekend away from the pressures of everyday life.

"Here you can relax in the fresh air, walk the hills, stroll along riverside paths or explore fascinating villages," she said.

For foreign tourists, Cumbria in particular, and the north of England in general, is a beautiful and relatively peaceful part of the United Kingdom.