Despite stormy weather in the Lake District, a trip to Morecambe yields unique experiences and a promising outlook.
We bought train tickets weeks ago. The storm made us consider staying inside, but ultimately, common sense lost. We left our Ambleside holiday home, Top Notch, and traveled by bus and train to reach our destination.
Driving snow hit as we got off the bus; we walked to Windermere station. At Lancaster, heavy rain replaced the snow, and the train station felt cold and damp. At least, the trains still ran, and we arrived in Morecambe on time.
The rain was very heavy that day. We wore all-weather gear as we arrived, and the wind picked up as we walked to the seafront. Surprisingly, the day became a great holiday memory.
Where else could a storm bring such unique encounters? We met an all-time comedy legend and a beloved mascot. We enjoyed a concert arena and a tasty brunch.
Morecambe has been struggling recently. The town lacks the crowds from past summers, but hope remains. We saw love for the town, evident among the few open shops.
First, we visited Eric Morecambe’s statue, a comedian who loved the town. People pose like him for photos, and we took some photos too!
Next, we met Andy Winters, who owns the Beach Bird shop near Eric’s statue. He’s a former magician who toured Europe, and I asked why he was open in the bad weather.
He said, “You never know who might visit.” Andy lives in Sunderland Point near the sea, cut off by tides twice daily, and sings in a sea shanty crew.
His shop is full of interesting items. We met Frontier Fred before leaving; Fred entertained visitors at Frontierland for years. The park closed in 1999.
Fred, or someone like him, may return. Plans exist to renovate the site as part of Morecambe’s big regeneration project. They plan to build a Northern Eden Project.
Andy suggested a cafe for brunch. We got sidetracked at the Winter Gardens. Locals saved the Gardens from demolition, and Justin Stovold welcomed us inside.
Children were learning about opera. We heard professionals sing Puccini, and it was incredibly moving. Rita’s Cafe warmed us up with a feast. We went back to Lancaster but chaos was there!
All trains north were cancelled because of flooding. Staff suggested booking a hotel, but we did not want to do that. We walked to the bus station and caught the last bus to Keswick.
We visited places on the edge of the Lakes. Hellifield has a unique cafe and museum open 24/7, named after the old train shed.
We also explored the Ingleton Waterfall Trail, a tough, five-mile hike. We saw waterfalls and rivers and had views of Ingleborough.
We thought about our trip afterward. Interesting places exist beyond popular spots. Morecambe gave us a great day out, and maybe the town will shine again soon.