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Cumbria stories you might have missed

News imageRob Knowles Blencathra mountain in the Lake District. Snow has cloaked the mountain and it has blue hues in reflection from the sky which is also bright blue. There is a farm house in the foreground and green grass.Rob Knowles
The first snow of the season graced Blencathra on Wednesday

The first snow hit the Cumbrian fells and there was progress on the reopening of a beloved beauty spot. Here are some of the stories to make headlines in Cumbria.

First snow of season cloaks Cumbrian fells

News imageWeather Watcher benjisnapper View over Lake District fells near Keswick. The fells are covered in snow, with a green pine tree in the foreground.Weather Watcher benjisnapper
Weather Watcher benjisnapper said it was a "beautiful blue sky" near Keswick

The Cumbrian fells sported their winter colours with the first snow of the season.

Stephen Catterall called it a "snow day for lucky hikers", while Rob Knowles, who lives near Penrith, said it was a "gorgeous-looking day but cold in the wind".

Hostel could become HMO for hotel workers

News imageGoogle A tall beige building with several windows across three floors, each of which have blue frames. On the left there is an archway painted in blue, with the words 'The Brewery' painted on it in white. In the centre there is a blue door with an ornate glass panel above it. In the foreground, a man in a grey jacket is walking past, and there are black railings with green plants.Google
Kendal Hostel could be turned into staff accommodation for a hotel chain, if plans are approved

A popular backpacking hostel in Kendal could be turned into accommodation for hotel staff.

The Grade II listed building was run as a family business with space for 46 guests, however it was put up for sale earlier this year.

English Lakes Hotels, which owns two hotels near Windermere, has submitted the houses in multiple occupation (HMO) plans to Westmorland and Furness Council.

Recent figures from Cumbria Tourism show that recruitment for hospitality and tourism businesses is a major concern, with 83% reporting difficulties hiring staff.

Beauty spot 'should never have been closed'

News imagevisitlakedistrict.com A river in front of a pebbled river bank and green fields. Hills can be seen in the background alongside trees. The leaves on the trees are just turning orange.visitlakedistrict.com
The viewpoint known as Ruskin's View closed in 2021 due to fears the embankment above the river was eroding

A beauty spot made famous by a beloved writer "should never have been closed", according to the team working to reopen it.

Ruskin's View, in Kirkby Lonsdale, was closed in 2021 by the then Cumbria County Council due to erosion fears, but a team set up by Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council said no "significant" movement had been detected.

Westmorland and Furness Council, which is now responsible, said it was taking the necessary steps to safely reopen the path.

The area takes its name from Victorian writer and art critic John Ruskin, who loved the site.

Train route expands

News imagePA Stock image of blue and white Northern train on the tracks. PA
The changes will come into effect in December

A train route will be extended to connect Carlisle and Middlesbrough during the week.

The Northern service currently travels between Carlisle and Newcastle, stopping at Sunderland, Hartlepool, Stockton and Thornaby. It runs to Middlesbrough only on Sundays.

That will change when new timetables come into effect on 14 December.

Flare rescue call-out 'likely meteor shower'

News imageMillom Coastguard Rescue Team A dark stretch of sky with various bright white dots scattered across it. There is a light on the horizon. Millom Coastguard Rescue Team
"Extremely bright meteors" were spotted during a three-hour search

An emergency call-out prompted by reports of flares off Drigg beach was likely to be a meteor shower, the RNLI said.

St Bees RNLI was requested to launch by HM Coastguard Belfast on Wednesday after an angler reported seeing multiple flares.

The crew searched using lights, radar and illumination flares to try to locate the vessel or person in distress.

However, during the three-hour search, the team spotted several "extremely bright meteors" and said it was most likely in relation to the Leonid meteor shower.

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