Catching up on some overdue holiday I headed for the Lake District for a couple of days this week to meet up with friends in Keswick. I’d not been to the far North West since before the devastating floods of last November and I was hoping the businesses in this super little town were enjoying some well deserved custom from half-term visitors. The surrounding snow-capped high peaks were visible only occasionally through the low cloud - which could actually have been good news for the many outdoor equipment and clothing suppliers as well as the pub and cafe owners in the town as the tourists decided to stay low level. The floods here and down the road at Cockermouth were awful and many businesses suffered along with homeowners. Nearby Derwentwater is one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the country and of the 15 million tourists who visit Cumbria each year around 2.5 million head for Keswick and its breathtaking surrounds. The area is so reliant on visitors keeping the local economy moving and I hope spring attracts a healthy influx of Countryman readers to the region - it’s well worth it.