Some local footpaths have been opened

The Cumbrian Tourist Board says that this weekend 95% of the area's traditional attractions will be open from the Ullswater steamer to Dove Cottage, the Grasmere home of William Wordsworth.

It may well be that 95% of establishments are open - but hundreds of square miles of fell-walking country remain closed because of foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Up to 100 local footpaths around lake shores have been opened as the Tourist Board bids to maximise the limited visitor potential over Easter.

They include the path down to Ullswater itself where Wordsworth was inspired to write his famous Daffodils poem.

Special deals

The tourist board calculates that during March the county as a whole was losing up to �10m a week - a drop of more than 60%.

Damage to Cumbria's economy as a result of foot-and-mouth is estimated at �750m - �150m of which was lost by farming.

Tourist operators say that underlines the overriding importance of their business to the economy.

In the Lake District small businesses are trying to work together to help each other through the crisis.

Tourists can do many activities in the Lake District

Three pubs dotted along Ullswater have launched a "three-pubs walk" - a seven-mile circuit on tarmac road with meals and refreshments to encourage visitors. Hotels are offering special deals.

Tony Bonney, a visitor from Merseyside, said "My partner and I were thinking of taking a few days in Spain but our favourite hotel in Keswick sent us details of their offer this Easter, so we thought we would give it a try".

But he admitted they were not serious walkers.

Jonathan Fisher, general manager of Ullswater Steamers, said business was down by about 50%.

Ironically, in late February, the company had invested in another steamer just as the foot-and-mouth disease was breaking.

By midday there was some encouragement. Thirty-five passengers disembarked on the Raven as it docked at Pooley Bridge.