Visitors pour in despite rain, reports top holiday park
One of Cumbria's top holiday parks says it is awash with visitors, and enjoying one of its busiest summers ever - despite the apparent north-south divide in the weather.
Skelwith Fold Caravan Park near Ambleside reports no let-up in bookings from holidaymakers, even though the sun has been favouring the bottom half of England in recent weeks.
Skelwith's Henry Wild, who is also a director of the 90-strong Cumbria association of holiday parks (BH&HPA), said that many other park businesses were experiencing a similar high demand.
"It's definitely not the case that families are coming simply because they booked earlier in the year and don't want to cancel or lose deposits," said Henry.
"Our telephones are buzzing with new bookings all the time, and it looks as though the demand will be continuing long into autumn," he said.
The park, which can accommodate up to 400 families in touring caravans and motorhomes, is full to capacity on most nights this summer - and visitors are often having to be turned away.
Skelwith Fold was named as the county's Holiday Park of the Year in 2010 by Cumbria Tourism, and Henry believes this might well have helped generate extra business.
However, he says, the fact that many other parks are also enjoying a sizzling season suggests that it is Cumbria's enduring appeal as a holiday destination which is proving the climate beater.
Guests, he said, are spread across the entire age spectrum - from young families to mature couples.
The failure by the weather to dampen demand will also come as good news for the many businesses in Cumbria which holiday park visitors help to sustain, said Henry.
"Many people seem to take the attitude that the Lake District is a winner whatever the weather, and that that a boots and brolly holiday in Cumbria beats anywhere else!" he added.