Some helpful hints for Lakes visitors

This is a few hints I have created to help a Twitter colleague. Please feel free to add to it.

Thanks

Firstly you should not go out on any moor or hill I'll-prepared.
Basics such as food, waterproofs, water and first aid kit is essential. Map should be Explorer 25000 for walking and preferably in a waterproof case. Plus a compass. GPS is NOT enough.

Footwear should be firm and boots preferred especially if going out away from your car.

Lots of great things for kids to do if you want something organised.

Cumbria Tourism will help find a wonderful collectioof child friendly activities
The Lake District national park will also help http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

A simple good walk that most young folk can do is Cat Bells thos is one of my favourite short walks and have seen many young folk go up, the views are great.

http://www.sharemyroutes.com/routes/United-Kingdom/Braithwaite-Cumbria-England/Cat-Bells/details.aspx

For good walks of all shapes sizes and length go to David Hall who has an amazing collection

http://www.walkthefells.net

Boat trip around Ullswater is a must.
http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk

There are numerous tea shops and pubs doted across the Lakes all of which provide great value.

Windermere also contains a range of boat services as does Derwent.
http://www.discoverthelakes.co.uk/boat-trips-in-the-lake-district-c67.html

Follow the country code, take your rubbish home, close all gates, keep the dogs on leads, etc etc
But enjoy yourselves.

WEATHER. It is important to look ahead. We have found the best site is
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/lakedistrict/lakedistrict_latest_pressure.html

Spending a few minutes the night before studying this could be the difference between a great day and a disaster.

These are just a few hint for a newbe so add some comments and I will bring them into the next edition of this blog.

Some hints re visiting The Lakes

This blog has been done to help a Twitter friend.

It is not meant to be anything mor Ethan some helpful advice. I am happy to receive feedback from anyone better informed. Thanks

Firstly you should not go out on any moor or hill I'll-prepared. Basics such as food, waterproofs, water and first aid kit is essential. Map should be Explorer 25000 for walking and preferably in a waterproof case. Plus a compass. GPS is NOT enough.
Footwear should be firm and boots preferred especially if going out away from your car. 
Lots of great things for kids to do if you want something organised
Cumbria Tourism will help find a wonderful collectioof child friendly activities
The Lake District national park will also help http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

For a good walk that most young folk can do is Cat Bells

http://www.sharemyroutes.com/routes/United-Kingdom/Braithwaite-Cumbria-England/Cat-Bells/details.aspx

For good walks of all shapes sizes and length go to David hall who has an amazing collection

http://www.walkthefells.net

My favourite walks include Cat Bells and have seen many young folk go up, the views are great. 

Boat trip around Ullswater is a must. 
http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk

There are numerous tea shops and pubs doted across the Lakes all of which provide great value. 

Windermere also contains a range of boat services as does Derwent. 
http://www.discoverthelakes.co.uk/boat-trips-in-the-lake-district-c67.html

Follow the country code, take your rubbish home, close all gates, keep the dogs on leads, etc etc
But enjoy yourselves. 

WEATHER. It is important to look ahead. We have found the best site is 
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/lakedistrict/lakedistrict_latest_pressure.html

Spending a few minutes the night before studying this could be the difference between a great day and a disaster. 

These are just a few hint for a newbe so add some comments and I will bring them into the next edition of this blog.

Some hints re visiting The Lakes

Firstly you should not go out on any moor or hill I'll-prepared. Basics such as food, waterproofs, water and first aid kit is essential. Map should be Explorer 25000 for walking and preferably in a waterproof case. Plus a compass. GPS is NOT enough.
Footwear should be firm and boots preferred especially if going out away from your car. 
Lots of great things for kids to do if you want something organised
Cumbria Tourism will help find a wonderful collectioof child friendly activities
The Lake District national park will also help http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/

For a good walk that most young folk can do is Cat Bells

http://www.sharemyroutes.com/routes/United-Kingdom/Braithwaite-Cumbria-England/Cat-Bells/details.aspx

For good walks of all shapes sizes and length go to David hall who has an amazing collection

http://www.walkthefells.net

My favourite walks include Cat Bells and have seen many young folk go up, the views are great. 

Boat trip around Ullswater is a must. 
http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk

There are numerous tea shops and pubs doted across the Lakes all of which provide great value. 

Windermere also contains a range of boat services as does Derwent. 
http://www.discoverthelakes.co.uk/boat-trips-in-the-lake-district-c67.html

Follow the country code, take your rubbish home, close all gates, keep the dogs on leads, etc etc
But enjoy yourselves. 

WEATHER. It is important to look ahead. We have found the best site is 
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/lakedistrict/lakedistrict_latest_pressure.html

Spending a few minutes the night before studying this could be the difference between a great day and a disaster. 

These are just a few hint for a newbe so add some comments and I will bring them into the next edition of this blog.

360 degree video from Hartsop Dodd. Why the Lakes are so beautiful,

This is my first bit of video. It is clearly no Stanley Kubrik production but it gives a sense of why people come here and the value of getting up a hill. Even if you can still see your car from the top

Hope you like it

Our challenge....a personal perspective

Having posted some comments concerning my various trips I thought I would get back to policing.
Here are some personal thoughts about our currnt challenge. Your comments would be gratefully receievd

Yesterday was a challenging time. Looking at how to make savings to balance our budget and seek to shrink the "business" by 20 %.
We are looking at all sorts of things to create  reductions that avoid impacting on the public facing aspects of policing Cumbria.
To do this means balancing the needs of a range of people and services. Tightening the fiscal screw causes pain. People will be leaving us who have done an excellent job not just for Cumbria Police but more importantly for the people of Cumbria and those who visit here.

Our task seems simple enough, to create an effective means to lower costs. Easily said, not so easily delivered. We have been inspected audited and checked to see if our plan will work. The feedback so far is, yes, it will. Nothing to be proud about, nor to take false confidence in the knowledge that those who have looked have seen a clean and effective strategy.

At the same time we are looking to build and shape new relationships, particularly within Cumbria, with other public sector bodies to collaborate and create savings. Hopefully this will work but requires people, including us, to go against their natural instincts to protect their own territory first. A big ask. And we are asking a lot at the moment.

The staff we need to make these changes are often the staff who themselves will be changed. A reflection of their professionalism and total commitment to public service.

We will, at the same time, respond to the multitude of reviews all created with good intent and of sound cause, but perhaps in need of a little more coordination.

It would be easy to blame someone or something for this change. To simply say, It's Wrong. But the police service has never done that,  it  has quietly tried to influence and listen, and despite it's faults failings and sometimes falsehoods, is an institution that is still World Gold Class 

Our challenge both personal and professional is to remain calm and carry on. Not be diverted into personal attacks, shroud waving or instant screams of annoyance. Instead we will deliver. "Simple as" as many say.

As we change our structures, conditions of employment, governance, status and service delivery we remain committed to public service ethos envied the world over.

Over the next few months we will be making a range of announcements that no doubt will test the above philosophy. Behind all the noise and smoke is a ruthless determination to deliver and help our communities. Unfortunately in that journey many do not share our history, culture and standards. Not out of  malice but sometimes out of ignorance.

Please help us in this journey .

I remain optimistic that we will create the solutions and retain the Police Service of the UK as the envy of the world. It will be a tough ride personally and professionally but I am confident that the quality of all the people I work with, will deliver as they always have.

Our challenge some personal reflections

Yesterday was a challenging time. Looking at how to make savings to balance our budget and seek to shrink the "business" by 20 %.
We are looking at all sorts of things to create  reductions that avoid impacting on the public facing aspects of policing Cumbria.
To do this means balancing the needs of a range of people and services. Tightening the fiscal screw causes pain. People will be leaving us who have done an excellent job not just for Cumbria Police but more importantly for the people of Cumbria and those who visit here.

Our task seems simple enough, to create an effective means to lower costs. Easily said, not so easily delivered. We have been inspected audited and checked to see if our plan will work. The feedback so far is, yes, it will. Nothing to be proud about, nor to take false confidence in the knowledge that those who have looked have seen a clean and effective strategy.

At the same time we are looking to build and shape new relationships, particularly within Cumbria, with other public sector bodies to collaborate and create savings. Hopefully this will work but requires people, including us, to go against their natural instincts to protect their own territory first. A big ask. And we are asking a lot at the moment.

The staff we need to make these changes are often the staff who themselves will be changed. A reflection of their professionalism and total commitment to public service.

We will, at the same time, respond to the multitude of reviews all created with good intent and of sound cause, but perhaps in need of a little more coordination.

It would be easy to blame someone or something for this change. To simply say, It's Wrong. But the police service has never done that,  it  has quietly tried to influence and listen, and despite it's faults failings and sometimes falsehoods, is an institution that is still World Gold Class 

Our challenge both personal and professional is to remain calm and carry on. Not be diverted into personal attacks, shroud waving or instant screams of annoyance. Instead we will deliver. "Simple as" as many say.

As we change our structures, conditions of employment, governance, status and service delivery we remain committed to public service ethos envied the world over.

Over the next few months we will be making a range of announcements that no doubt will test the above philosophy. Behind all the noise and smoke is a ruthless determination to deliver and help our communities. Unfortunately in that journey many do not share our history, culture and standards. Not out of  malice but sometimes out of ignorance.

Please help us in this journey .

I remain optimistic that we will create the solutions and retain the Police Service of the UK as the envy of the world. It will be a tough ride personally and professionally but I am confident that the quality of all the people I work with, will deliver as they always have.