TESS PIKE

What do you think of when you think of Kendal? Perhaps mint cake, shoes, castle, ginnels and River Kent, or Webster, Abbot Hall, Holy Trinity and snuff? The auld grey town has so many stories - come and explore the heart of the town with me on a one-and-a-half hour walk on a Friday morning. The meeting point will be outside one of the few pubs in the country standing on consecrated ground. It will be a linear walk with a few ups and downs and cobbles along the way, but mainly level ground.

In the central Lakes the hidden gems are often little visited corners of a tourist honeypot, but on this "Afternoon Tea" tour, I'd like to invite you to relax with a cup of tea and slice of cake and let me transport you - on a virtual tour - to a much more extensive hidden gem that for many years has hidden its light under a bushel - the Lake District coast. I'm going to guide you from Ulverston to Aspatria through a rich landscape with fine beaches, magnificent views and a compelling story.

Join any 3 of my virtual tours for £13. Just message me to let me know which ones you would like to come to and I'll send you the zoom links.

Join any two of my virtual tours for £9 - please send me a message to let me know which ones you would like to come to and I'll email you a link to the Zoom.

Why am I calling these my Afternoon Tea tours? Because I'd like to invite you to make a cup of tea, cut yourself a slice of cake, and settle down to join me for a virtual tour experience. And no need to venture outdoors to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Western Lake District!

25 years ago I accidentally fell into a career that I absolutely love! Before I trained as a tourist guide, I was shy, certainly not a public speaker, and I was labouring under the misconception that I was best suited to a desk job. How wrong could I be... All these years later I am still passionate about showing visitors and locals around Cumbria and the north of England. Sometimes it's a challenge, but mostly it's just incredibly rewarding. Join me for an insight into the life of a guide!

When I think of Millom, poet Norman Nicholson springs to mind, and I remember a wonderful day I once spent there with fellow Blue Badge Guides. We explored Millom Castle, marvelled at the beautiful stained glass windows in ancient Holy Trinity Church, and finished our day at Millom Discovery Centre. The town really is a hidden gem that's so full of history - join me on a virtual tour of discovery at 2:55pm on Wednesday 7th April.

Sit down with a cup of tea and let me transport you from Whitehaven's magnificent harbour, from which 80% of Ireland's coal was once shipped, up into the broad streets of the 17th century New Town, described in the late 1700s as "one of the handsomest in the North of England...as populous as it is elegant"

An informal chat following on from my presentation at the CIOL Conference 2021

Settle down with a cup of tea and Join me for an hour journeying around the maze of towns and villages that are tucked away on the edge of the western fells - following in the footsteps of L.S. Lowry, a regular visitor to the area.

Settle down with a cup of tea and join me for a virtual tour leading you from the rugged coastline of St Bees through the river valleys and into the heart of the western Lake District!

25 years ago I accidentally fell into a career that I absolutely love! Before I trained as a tourist guide, I was shy, certainly not a public speaker, and I was labouring under the misconception that I was best suited to a desk job. How wrong could I be... All these years later I am still passionate about showing visitors and locals around Cumbria and the north of England. Sometimes it's a challenge, but mostly it's just incredibly rewarding. Join me for an insight into the life of a guide!

Join me for a virtual tour along the western frontier of the Roman Empire, from the forts defending the empire from attack across the Irish Sea to the port at Ravenglass, located at the natural harbour formed by the confluence of the rivers Esk, Irt and Mite, and then inland to the fort at Hardknott.

Join me for a virtual zoom along the western frontier of the Roman Empire, from the forts defending the empire from attack from the Irish Sea to the port at Ravenglass, located at the natural harbour formed by the confluence of the rivers Esk, Irt and Mite, and then inland to the fort at Hardknott

When I think of Millom, poet Norman Nicholson springs to mind, and I remember a wonderful day I once spent there with fellow Blue Badge Guides. We explored Millom Castle, marvelled at the beautiful stained glass windows in ancient Holy Trinity Church, and finished our day at Millom Discovery Centre. The town really is a hidden gem that's so full of history - join me on a virtual tour of discovery at 6:55pm on Wednesday 17th.

This evening's virtual tour will lead you from the rugged coastline of St Bees through the river valleys and into the heart of the western Lakes

Join me for a virtual tour of Egremont, Cleator Moor and the maze of settlements on the edge of the western fells.

I am hosting six virtual tours of the Western Lake District and Coast. Each individual tour costs £5 (10% discount available if you are a member of the Western Lake District and Coast association). The cost of all virtual tours is refundable if you subsequently apply for, or have already applied for, a place on the 2021-22 Cumbria Blue Badge Guide training course. If you wish to book all 6, there is a special price of £25.

This evening's virtual tour will transport you from Whitehaven's magnificent harbour, from which 80% of Ireland's coal was once shipped, up into the broad streets of the 17th century New Town, described in the late 1700s as "one of the handsomest in the North of England...as populous as it is elegant"

In the central Lakes the hidden gems are often little visited corners of a tourist honeypot, but this evening I'm going to transport you in your mind's eye to a much larger hidden gem that for many years has hidden its light under a bushel - the Lake District coast. I'm going to guide you from Ulverston to Aspatria through a rich landscape with fine beaches, magnificent views and a compelling story.

11th November marked the centenary of the laying to rest in Westminster Abbey of the Unknown Warrior, selected by a man called Louis John Wyatt, who rests at peace in Kirkby Lonsdale, together with men from the town who returned home, but died from their injuries. This is their story, which I will tell in the form of a virtual tour of the town and churchyard. Proceeds to SSAFA and Royal British Legion To join my virtual tour, please book a place and you will automatically receive a Zoom link.

11th November marks the centenary of the laying to rest in Westminster Abbey of the Unknown Warrior, selected by a man called Louis John Wyatt, who rests at peace in Kirkby Lonsdale, together with men from the town who returned home, but died from their injuries. This is their story, which I will tell in the form of a virtual tour of Kirkby Lonsdale's churchyard and Ruskin's View. To join my virtual tour on Zoom, please book a place to receive a link.