Of the people, places and things that turned fifty in 2024 – Kate Moss, the Rubik’s Cube, Chloe Sevigny – perhaps none is more surprising than the county of Cumbria. Created in 1974 from the amalgamation of Westmorland and Cumberland – like the sausage – this makes it England’s youngest (even Greater London is older).
Cumbria might not mean much to those who haven’t been, or to those who’ve been without even realising. Words like The Lake District, Windermere and Tebay Service Station (the best in the country) have a lot more resonance. Anyway: it’s that part of the world. And it’s best-in-class for three things: walks, walls (Hadrian’s) and food. On this last point – indulge me – I wish to dwell a bit.
