The best of 2017 on the blog

It’s hard to believe that we’ve reached the end of 2017, but here we are! And as I’ve done in the past two years, I thought I’d take a brief look back at some of the best of the past year’s gem hunting on the blog…

Most unusual gem

This year, the most unusual Lake District gem award definitely has to go to Derwent Island House, which I visited back in May just before the season got going. It’s so unusual because it opens just five days each year (with the National Trust), and you have to visit by canoe – so not your average tour of a historic house!

Most visited post

The most visited blog post of 2017 proves that many of you love to visit the Lake District with your four-legged friend, and featured 25 things to do in the Lake District with dogs!

Funniest photograph of the year

One of the most amusing photographs I took this year was of a deer who, having eaten his way round the garden, decided it was time for a spot of sun-bathing. And why not?! Think I might have picked a softer spot than the gravel though!

Most ‘liked’ photograph of the year on Twitter

And also one of the earliest photographs of the year too, taken in January 2017… This photo received 102 likes, and was taken at Skelwith Bridge just down from Chester’s by the River.

Best view of 2017

Well, it’s hard to say which is the best view, as there are so many fantastic ones, but I just loved seeing the steamers from Windermere Lake Cruises from Gummer’s How at the southern tip of Windermere – they looked just like toy boats!

And finally, what we’ll probably all remember 2017 for in the Lake District…

That the National Park also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported and followed the blog once again this year. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, and lots of exciting Lake District gem-hunting adventures in 2018! And if you’ve got plans to visit something a bit different in the Lakes this year, do let me know by leaving a comment below!