ALL those who like a brew with a view are in for a treat.

A popular Cockermouth cafe is expanding its catchment area and serving coffee, cake and more at popular walking spots.

Stephen Kidd runs The Moon and Sixpence on Main Street. He recently bought a van, which has been transformed into a takeaway cafe on wheels, and linked up with the National Trust.

From this week the cafe will be offering a range of drinks and snacks from Lanthwaite Wood, near Crummock Water. Stephen also plans to have a pitch at Holmewood, Loweswater.

"The opportunity arose of working with the National Trust and I’ve always wanted to have a van so everything fell into place quite nicely," he said.

"A lot of our regulars go for walks and wild swimming at Crummock and Loweswater. Crummock is also a place I absolutely adore and have done since a child so what an experience to be able to make coffee amongst the trees there."

The van will be at Crummock from 9am to 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday, starting this week.

It was converted by Mike Hutton of Cumbria Van Solutions. And Stephen was delighted with Pod Graphics (Lillyhall) who transformed the outside of "an unassuming red van into what it is today".

They will be offering hot and cold drinks, cakes and bakes. "We'll stick to what we’re good at and keep it simple," he said.

Stephen is looking forward to welcoming customers old and new. "My customers have been so supportive this past year. They are excited they will be able to get a coffee to drink at their favourite walking places.

"Whenever I hit a stumbling block with something one of them will generally always come to my rescue one way or another."

He is aware there are potential littering issues. "I, like everybody else, will have massive concerns over rubbish.

"We are doing our very best to deal with this and will be litter picking at the end of the day. All our cups and lids are biodegradable and compostable."

Oh also due to no data I am still trying to make it somehow card friendly (currently only cash) - and there are obviously other weird issues that you wouldn’t have in an actual shop that have definitely thrown me.

Why? - (I have no idea why I’m doing it to myself 😭)On a more serious note …. the opportunity arose with working with the national trust up here and I’ve always wanted to have a van so everything fell into place quite nicely. I felt like as it was at our local lakes to us (crummock & loweswater) and so wanted it to be The Moon & Sixpence that was there, it’s a place where a lot of our regulars go for walks, wild swimming etc. Crummock is also a place I absolutely adore and have since a child so what an experience to be able to make coffee amongst the trees there.

On an environmental perspective - I like everybody else will have massive concerns over rubbish - we are doing our very best to deal with this and will be littler picking at the end of the day and all our cups and lids are biodegradable and compostable - no plastics used in lids or cups all water or sugarcane based.

- Crummock Water - Lanthwaite Wood - we’ll be halfway between the car park and the lake on the main track there

- Loweswater - somewhere near the bothy at Holmewood - tbc \

Times and days and the where and when’s aren’t confirmed but we will be starting at Crummock water this week on Wednesday

I know we will be doing Wed - Sunday 9am - 3pm and most likely Crummock every morning with some afternoons out at Loweswater - or wherever people tell us they’d like us to be and when.

Did you approach the National Trust – or did they put a call out?

- I heard they were possibly looking for people to do something through a friend - Mark Likeman

(Timing Up North) so I contacted them and asked if I could be part of it

Who converted the van, was it a major exercise?

Mike Hutton of Cumbria Van Solutions did the conversion and although not being a major exercise (for me at least) I had to act faster than I normally would’ve to get the sites (crummock and Loweswater) secured

Pod Graphics (lillyhall) also wrapped an unassuming red van into what it is today and were a great pleasure to work with

What will you be offering?

Very similar to the shop as far as coffees/teas/hot chocolates and our cake offering goes - but more outdoor friendly tray bake styles and also trying to expand on other things people will want while they are there such as soft drinks/snacks etc The plan is also to have a stash of obscure items we may get asked for such as poo bags for people who have forgotten them/ways of charging things for people caught out and other things we get asked for along the way - We always try to offer more than expected but stick to what we’re good at and keep it simple.

How have your customers responded?

My customers … which they have been this last year especially and always have with me …. Have been super supportive and are excited they will be able to get a coffee to drink at their favourite walking places, Whenever I hit a stumbling block with something one of them will generally always come to my rescue one way or another.