Last updated at 12:45, Tuesday, 19 February 2013

CLAIRE WILCOCK, 33, is from Cockermouth and is a director of Westlakes Recruiting

Describe Cumbria in Three Words

My home county

What is your favourite thing/the best thing about Cumbria?

It provides a beautiful environment for day-to-day life and the perfect place to bring up a family. lf you’re a food and drink lover, there is an abundance of quality choice.

What makes you most proud to be from Cumbria?

I loved my childhood in the Lakes and the genuine friendliness of its people. I would say the people, lifestyle and natural beauty are all equal reasons to be proud to be from Cumbria.

Which stereotypes about Cumbria would you say were wrong?

Limited opportunities for the youth. 16 years ago when I was leaving school, my friends and I had the same feeling of limited opportunity and many of us left the area to pursue our careers.

Fast forward 16 years and many of us have returned to Cumbria to have great family and social lives as well as successful careers. Also through the efforts of Britain’s Energy Coast the future is bright for the youth of Cumbria.

Where is your favourite place in Cumbria to go for a night or day out?

My favourite day is a morning swim with my family at the Armathwaite Spa followed by a day in the lakes, feeding the ducks with my toddler in Keswick and then fish and chips by the lake before heading home with a takeaway coffee from Meriender in Cockermouth. By night, dinner at Cottage in the Wood on a summer’s evening takes some beating, or a few sociable drinks in Cockermouth.

What is your favourite Cumbrian food or drink?

It is difficult to name a favourite but I will go for a nice bottle of red from Shills and a Fillet steak from Thompsons Butchers in Keswick.

What are your favourite shops and tourist attractions in Cumbria?

Most of my favourite shops are food related: Woodhall’s, Shills, Richardson’s, Donnan’s Fisheries, Fryers Chocolate shop, Crosby’s, Hartley’s. And there are so many tourist attractions: Muncaster Castle, Trotters Farm, Jennings Brewery Tour, Taste Cumbria, Whinlatter Forest, boat trips on Derwent Water and Windermere, Bassenthwaite lake, Maritime Festival, Cock rock, Cartmel and Carlisle races, St Bees beach, Ratty Railway.

If you were recommending Cumbria to a friend, where would you tell them to go, and what would you tell them to do?

A tour of the Lakes would be a must, and afternoon tea in one of the many outstanding hotels. For ale lovers sampling some of Cumbrian finest ales and enjoying Cumbrian’s best food from fish and chips to Michelin star restaurants.

What is your best memory from being in Cumbria?

I loved my childhood in the country. I loved horse riding, discovering hidden gems and galloping on the beach around Eskmeals, Ravenglass and Muncaster. Wherever you go in Cumbria you are never far from a place of real beauty.

First published at 13:51, Sunday, 03 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk