A GROUP of American residents is to visit south Cumbria to explore the history behind their locally based street names.

Kendal-Crosslands Communities (KCC), a Quaker-based organisation which operates more than a dozen retirement communities in the USA, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its retirement village Cartmel. As a celebration a number of residents from the community, based in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania, will be coming to stay in the South Lakes for a week.

Between June 17-23 they will be staying in Windermere while exploring the wonders that inspired their street names back at home.

Ellen Strober, who works at KCC, said the street names in the retirement village were derived from towns in the Lake District because it was “an area in which the Quaker faith originally grew and flourished”.

“I thought it would be interesting to visit these namesake communities,” she said. “I floated the idea at the anniversary party and before I knew it 20 like-minded neighbours had signed up.

“We worked with a team of US and British travel planners to create a week-long trip which would allow us to experience the historical and cultural highlights of the area.

“We are anticipating a marvellous journey.”

The first stop on the trip will be at Ingleton, where they will dine at the Marton Arms, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, followed by a seven-kilometre waterfall trail walk and a visit to Kirkby Lonsdale’s Brewery.

On the second day the US guests will travel to Coniston and see first hand the landscapes which inspired some of their favourite authors and artists, including visiting Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top home at Near Sawrey.

During the week they will explore Ulverston, the home town of Stan Laurel, visit Morecambe Bay, Bowness and Kendal.

As well as visiting towns, they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves into the life of a farmer and learn tricks of the trad, including sheep caring and sheepdog activities.

On the final day of their tour, the group will visit Cartmel and the area that inspired their ‘retirement village.’

There they will explore Cartmel Priory, visit a number of craft shops and second-hand bookshops followed by a special dining experience at one of Simon Rogan’s restaurants.