The Lake District

The Lakes is somewhere I have visited a lot throughout my life, and I've been on holiday there pretty much every year. It's like a kind of family tradition. My Grandparents took my Dad and his siblings for regular holidays and its just become a routine thing, like Christmas I guess.

What I love most about the lakes is how relaxed I automatically feel when I'm there. It's like all the troubles in the world have just lifted off my shoulders and I'm free as a bird from negative thoughts. There's no phone signal either in the part of the lakes we stay (Genridding, lake Ullswater) which I actually like. It's so isolated and cut off from everything our generation have ever known and its like a complete break from the world. I love that.

I also love it for the fact I have so many happy childhood memories of the place. Going for days out with extended family, throwing sticks for various family dogs through the years and watching them swim in the lake to fight over it.

One year, we walked up to Angle Tarn and my dog just looked at us, then to the tarn, then back at us again. Once she realised we didn't have and sticks to throw for her, she decided to jump in anyway and swam right across to the other side until we called her back worryingly! (another year, in the same place, she snatched the sandwich right out of my hands but that's not such a happy memory).

Another thing I like about the lakes is that nobody really cares what you look like. I go makeup free for a whole week and I love it. When I was a teenager, my dad always used to joke about the 'fashion police' whenever I was worried about what I was wearing and I've gradually come to realise that I needn't have worried.

Finally, aside from memories, isolation and appearance, I love the exercise. Walking up fells is such a great way to keep fit but its also unbelievably relaxing to soak in the views and the fresh country air. You pass fellow hikers on walks too and literally everyone you meet will say hello. Lake District visitors are so friendly.

Here's a photo of my dog at Brothers' water on this year's trip. She was in a huff because we'd stopped throwing sticks. This happens every year and she always sits here.