Katie Collier

BBC Four's Villages by the Sea will feature Port Carlisle, a small Cumbrian village whose brief period as a thriving port began during the canal-building boom but ended after the rise of railways. Archaeologist Ben Robinson will examine the remains of its lost harbour. The village also lies alongside Hadrian's Wall and offers access to the 84-mile National Trail. The episode is scheduled to air on BBC Four at 7 p.m. on August 13, with previous episodes available on BBC iPlayer.

Helen Skelton competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 with professional partner Gorka Márquez, progressing from fifth place in week one to the final. Her scores included leaderboard-topping performances in weeks five and eleven, a near-perfect 39 at Blackpool and a combined semi-final score of 72. She ultimately finished runner-up to Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał, with her final routines including a jive, a couple’s choice performance from Cabaret and a show dance.

Aspatria is commonly pronounced “a-spay-tree-ah,” though local pronunciations include “a-spat-ria” and “spy-at-tree.” The Cumbrian town is known for St Kentigern’s church, offers access to the Western Lake District, and has a train station, local pubs and eateries. Nearby activities include the 19.8-kilometre Aspatria and Mealo Beck walking route, which features sea views and is considered moderately challenging.

Rick Stein will visit the Lake District in a repeat episode of BBC Two’s Food Stories, meeting Cumbrian chef Kevin Tickle at Heft and sheep farmer and author James Rebanks. The programme also features Morecambe Bay and Yorkshire, where Stein explores local food traditions, visits a tofu factory and cooks several dishes with his son Jack. The hour-long episode airs at 7pm.

Celebrity couples including Paul Burrell and Graham Cooper, Helen Skelton and Richie Myler, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews, and Melanie C and Chris Dingwall are among those who became engaged or married in the Lake District, with locations such as Windermere, Ullswater and Eden Valley serving as notable backdrops. Some couples, such as Zoe Hague and Danny Rae and Ben Ofoedu and Vanessa Brown, also celebrated weddings in nearby Carlisle. The list highlights the region’s popularity as a romantic destination known for its scenery and privacy.

Influencer Zoe Rae recommended Barua Street Food in Keswick after dining there with her husband, praising several Indian tapas-style dishes and describing the meal as some of the best food they have had. Her TikTok post encouraged followers to visit the restaurant, which also holds a strong Tripadvisor rating with reviews highlighting its food quality, inclusivity for dietary needs, and positive dining experience.