Far away at the other end of the A6, miles and miles from the constant thundering stream of Stockport traffic clattering through Levenshulme, Longsight and Hazel Grove, there’s an oasis, all the way up in the Lakes.
That this stretch of road stretches so far north is remarkable in itself, but keep following it, past Lancaster and Kendal and eventually, you’ll get to a place with an award-winning chippy, that’s teeming with local wildlife, and even has its own spring festival, Lancs Live reports.
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The picturesque village of Shap is getting ready for the first ever Shap Outdoor Festival, which is launching at its farmer’s market this weekend, and will run for a whole month.
Tucked into the Lowther Valley, criss-crossed with fantastic walking and cycling routes and on the cusp of the Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks, it’s a rare spot, with plenty going on over the next few weeks.
The festival, embracing all that the local outdoors has to offer, will start on April 22, with the farmer’s market at the quaint Old Courthouse, now a community hub and art gallery. The area’s abundant and diverse wildlife will be a central part of the month-long festival.
There will be organised walks to see one of the country’s few remaining red squirrel colonies, a dawn chorus walk with the RSPB and a bats ‘walk and talk’, and other sessions taking in mindfulness and meditation and even the sky at night, with a team from Lancaster University running a stargazing event on May 18.
You’ll even be able to go badger watching at various days throughout the month at nearby Haweswater. And that’s all without mentioning the town’s renowned chip shop.
The Shap Chippy has been running since 2004, becoming a local favourite before it gained national fame in 2020, after it was named the second best in the whole of the UK in the coveted National Fish and Chip Awards.
While there will be a host of things to do in Shap over the next few weeks for you to plan a visit around, that could be worth the trip on its own.
“The nearby National Parks are undoubtedly beautiful, but the Lowther Valley has its own, unique story to tell,” says Patrick Neaves, the festival’s co-ordinator. “Shap Outdoor Festival is showcasing how this area is an equally exciting place to explore, for anyone looking for dramatic scenery and wonderful wildlife.
“Easily accessible from the M6, we’ve got ancient woodland, expanses of open moorland and peatland, tranquil lakes and rivers, and a whole host of plants, animals and views to experience in this quieter corner of Cumbria.”
Here’s a full programme of the festival events:
Launch event at Shap Farmer’s Market – April 22
Lowther Talk by Jim Bliss – April 25
Bats Talk and Walk with Eve Borrino – April 28
Red Squirrel Walk – April 29
Wild and Well Swim and Hike – April 30
Wild Fell Book Talk by Lee Schofield – May 2
RSPB Dawn Chorus Walk – May 7
Lichens Walk with Caz Walker and Chris Cant – May 8
Save our Reds Talk by Robert Benson – May 9
Dark Skies Talk by Jack Ellerby – May 10
Bluebells Mindfulness and Meditation Walk - May 10
Friends of the Lake District Dry Stone Walling Competition – May 13
Lancaster University LUniverse Planetarium – May 18
Cumbria Wildlife Trust Peatland Vegetation Walk – May 19
Cumbria Wildlife Trust Peatland Restoration and Habitats Talk – May 19
Prehistoric Landscape Walk and Talk – May 21
Badger watching at Haweswater available to book for the duration of the festival
Red Squirrel photography at Haweswater bookable throughout the month
You can find out more about the festival here...
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