Key anniversaries around Lancashire, Cumbria, & Morecambe Bay

At The Longlands Inn & Restaurant, we welcome lots of guests and diners every week who are celebrating special occasions with each other, and with family and friends. This got us thinking about what other momentous events might be happening in and around North Lancashire, Cumbria, and Morecambe Bay this year, and we’ve come up with some crackers! Why not plan a visit to the Longlands around some of these 2025 anniversaries? Read on to find out more!

50 years of milling heritage

Heron Corn Mill, just down the road from The Longlands Inn & Restaurant at Beetham, is celebrating being open to the public for 50 years this summer. The 18th century Grade II Listed watermill was built in 1740 and milled until 1958. After its first restoration, it was opened by Princess Alexandra in July 1975 and a yew tree was planted in the grounds to mark the occasion. The Mill is open Thursday-Sunday 11am to 4pm with Foodie Friday mini markets being a popular draw on the first Friday of every month. Saturday 19th July will see the Mill host a special family day with lots of activities including a Minecraft station, den building, campfire-pit, and rural crafts. Free entry.

70 years of Lake District walks

Yes, we know people have been walking in the Lake District for more than 70 years! However, in 1955, the first of a series of guides were published which are widely believed to have kick-started our love affair with the Lake District’s wild natural landscape and rugged fells. Alfred Wainwright’s meticulously detailed, and beautifully handwritten and illustrated, ‘Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells’ were first published 70 years ago and today, people completing the challenge of walking all 214 ‘Wainwrights’ still clutch copies of the iconic books. The renowned fellwalker’s ashes were scattered on Haystacks, his favourite fell in the Buttermere Valley, but if you want to start with something a little easier, then Loughrigg, near Ambleside isn’t too high or too challenging but you’ll still be rewarded with stunning views over Windermere and Grasmere. You can reach Ambleside in under an hour from The Longlands along the A6 and A591. ​​

80 years of romance

Who would have thought a northern railway town would have been the setting for one of the greatest romantic films ever made? A visit to Carnforth Station to stand under the iconic ‘Brief Encounter’ clock and step back in time in the Brief Encounter Refreshment Room is a must when you’re staying at The Longlands Inn & Restaurant. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the 1945 classic love story and the Carnforth Visitor Heritage Centre has launched a new exhibition featuring memorabilia from the cast and crew and has refurbished the cinema area where the film is shown on a loop each day. £2.50 adults, under 16s free entry. There’s also a free 1940s weekend at Carnforth Station on Saturday 28th& Sunday 29th June featuring live music, vintage cars & stalls, a miniature children’s rail ride, and much more for all the family.

200th anniversary of the modern railway

Continuing with the nostalgic steam train theme, 2025 also signifies the 200thanniversary of the modern railway when George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No.1 carried its first passengers between Shildon, Darlington, and Stockton on September 27th, 1825. To mark the occasion, on the same date in 2025, a special train – the ‘Railway Special’ – will depart from Carnforth and retrace part of that original route. A steam locomotive will be attached at York for the journey along the East Coast Main Line before branching off to call at Shildon – the world’s first railway town. The journey then takes in part of the Stockton & Darlington line before arriving back to Carnforth in the evening. Depart: 06.30, return: 21.40.

70 record-breaking years of Bluebird K7

In the summer of 1955, Donald Campbell achieved his first World Water Speed Record onboard Bluebird K7 on Ullswater. Reaching speeds of 202.32mph, Campbell and Bluebird blew the previous speed record of 178.49mph out of the water and together they achieved a remarkable seven more records before their fate was tragically sealed on Coniston Water in 1967. This July 23rd, 70 years onfrom that first record, Bluebird will return to Glenridding Pier at Ullswater for a day of commemorations before going back ‘home’ to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston. You can reach Ullswater in around an hour from The Longlands.

Food Allergies and Intolerances

All our food is prepared on site in our open plan kitchen. Whilst we can cater for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free diets, please be aware that some of our foods contain allergens. Please speak to a member of staff for more information or to discuss your personal dietary requirements.