As the Government encourages everyone to stay home to help protect the NHS and save lives many lovers of Cumbria and the Lake District have been turning to the written word to transport themselves to the county.

From the poems of Wordsworth, through to the enchanting stories and illustrations of Beatrix Potter, as well as contemporary poems, guides and novels the Lake District has always inspired world-class writing.

With travel currently off the cards the wide range of lakes-inspired literature has become a much-needed outlet for many counting down the days until they can visit the county in person once again.

“It’s a time like no other” says Gill Haigh, Cumbria Tourism managing director, “where people are encouraged to do their part by staying home, until it’s safe to travel again. It’s of no surprise then that books, especially those set in such a fantastic open landscape such as the Lake District, are so popular. We may not be able to visit physically but a well-written book can make you feel as though you’re walking through the Cumbrian fells, no matter where in the world we may be”.

It’s of little surprise then that entries for the Lakeland Book of the Year, the most prestigious awards of their kind outside London, are already coming in thick and fast. Now in their 37th year any book published in 2020 set in or featuring Cumbria can enter, whatever the topic.

“One of my favourite parts of the competition is that each book only gets the chance to enter once” continues Gill Haigh. “Each year’s entrants create a fabulous snapshot of the last 12 months and it’s pure joy to discover so many gems highlighted by the annual competition.”

Of course, the lakes aren’t just famous for fiction. Every year the competition also receives new and exciting histories of the UNESCO World Heritage site alongside guides to help new and returning visitors explore everything Cumbria has to offer. With the Coronavirus pandemic causing many to postpone holidays in 2020 tourism and hospitality businesses across Cumbria are eagerly awaiting the day they can safely welcome through their doors once again, many of whom will likely be inspired to enjoy a staycation through a lockdown read.

The difficult decision of each Lakeland Book of the Year, alongside various category winners, is made by an experienced judging panel with strong backgrounds in writing and broadcasting:

• Awards founder Hunter Davies OBE

• Broadcaster and Cumbria Tourism President, Eric Robson OBE

• Fiona Armstrong, Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries

Cumbria authors and publishers still have time to enter their published works for the 2021 competition, with entries due to close on Friday the 26th February. Further information can be found at www.lakelandbookoftheyear.co.uk or by emailing info@cumbriatourism.org.