Cumbria is a rural county with its roots deeply embedded in agriculture, trade and the great outdoors. As a backdrop for many local artisans, the stunning Cumbrian landscape and Lake District National Park inspires, motivates and encourages the making of unique Lake District gifts from her natural materials and delectable food and drink from her resources.
When visiting such a unique place in the UK, we imagine you’d want to take a little piece of Cumbria home with you. From mouth-watering Cumbrian food and drink to beautiful artworks inspired by the surrounding landscape, Cumbria is bursting at the seams with makers, producers and designers who produce stunning Cumbrian gifts. Whether you live here, are visiting on holiday or are just calling in on a daytrip, take home a locally crafted souvenir to remember your wonderful time spent here.
Looking for special birthday gifts or unique anniversary gifts? Whatever the occasion you’re guaranteed to find that special something on Made In Cumbria. To help you find the perfect gift for friends, family and loved ones, we have put together a list of unique Cumbrian and Lake District gifts that are wonderful for gift-giving. And if you’re shopping for yourself, we’ve got that covered too.
Grasmere Gingerbread is a must when visiting the Lake District. This delectable treat dates back to the 1850s and is loved for its unique spicy-sweet blend between a biscuit and cake. Made from a closely guarded secret recipe in the small village of Grasmere from where it gets its name, Grasmere Gingerbread is a true taste of tradition and a delightful Lake District souvenir to bring back with you from your visit. The tiny shop in Grasmere often has queues outside, but it’s worth the wait.
Beyond Grasmere Gingerbread, the county of Cumbria is home to many other tasty treats from talented local artisans. The award-winning Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding is popular with locals and visitors alike, and they are available to buy in the Cartmel Village Shop as well as in many independent fine food shops across the country. And if you’re looking for sweets that are as beautiful as they are scrumptious, the Staveley based chocolatier The Blind Chocolatier offer the finest selection of top-quality handmade chocolates that are perfect for gift-giving.
Hawkshead Relish Company jams, relishes, chutneys and preserves make excellent gifts for family and friends or as a small take-away from your visit to Cumbria and the Lake District. Their versatile condiments can complement a wide range of dishes and the flavour combinations, from classic to quirky, guarantee there is something for everyone. What’s more, Hawkshead Relish Company products are beautifully packaged and are available in pre-packaged gift sets.
Other Made In Cumbria jams and preserves members include Lakeland Artisan, My Gourmet Mushrooms Ltd, Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen, Claires Handmade and more. These companies are all examples of exquisite Cumbrian produce, often made using local and seasonal ingredients. Whether it’s a tangy tomato chutney or a spicy chilli jam, these flavourful Lake District souvenirs are sure to be appreciated by anyone who enjoys adding a delicious twist to their culinary creations.
The Lakes Distillery near Keswick is a great afternoon out for either a tour of the whiskey distillery, to carry out some tastings or to have lunch in the Bistro. The majestic surroundings of the restored Victorian cattle farm where the distillery resides inspire their artistic ethos and their range of whiskies, gins, and vodka. The on-site shop stocks the full Lakes Distillery product range, or their products can be purchased online.
Spirits and alcohol are excellent Cumbrian gifts because they offer a taste of the region’s local craftmanship and their beautifully crafted bottles make them not only a treat for the taste buds but also visually appealing. Cumbria is home to an impressive number of independent distilleries including the Black Cat Distillery Ltd, Cumbria Distilling Co and Shed 1 Distillery to name a few. There is also a huge array of independent breweries in Cumbria including Made In Cumbria member’s Gan Yam Brew Company, Tractor Shed Brewing, Great Corby Brewhouse and Ennerdale Brewery.
Jewellery from Cumbria and the Lake District make a fantastic gift. Lake District Jewellery create bespoke pieces of jewellery inspired by the stunning landscapes of the Lake District National Park. What makes Lake District Jewellery so special is that each piece of jewellery is handmade, so when wearing it you’ll know you’re the only person wearing that unique piece. Lake District Jewellery also make custom pieces as well which adds an extra personal touch.
Cumbria is lucky to have a network of gifted designers that make exquisite jewellery using traditional skills and expert craftsmanship. Made In Cumbria brings you a variety of jewellery makers who lovingly create hand-crafted adornments from glass, ceramics, precious stones and metals including Ammonite Studio, Summit Silver and more. The intricate details and quality materials used in these pieces make them not only beautiful gifts but also a reflection of Cumbria’s rich heritage and artistry.
Pure Lakes is an award-winning, natural skincare company based in the heart of The Lake District National Park. They produce natural, ethical, and sustainable skincare and home products using only the highest quality ingredients. Their dedicated team makes the complete range by hand in small batches, and they value excellence, precision, and passion over mass production every time, making their products wonderfully unique gifts for friends, family and loved ones.
Cumbria is home to a variety of natural skincare companies, beauty brands and health product manufacturers. Inspired by the stunning surroundings and scents of the Lake District and beyond, these makers have drawn influence from the natural landscapes around them. Made In Cumbria showcases a range of fantastic natural skincare companies based here in Cumbria including Heather’s Hands and Emilia’s Soaps to name just a few.
If you forgot to purchase souvenirs during your visit to Cumbria or simply want to repurchase them, you will find all of the Cumbrian gifts mentioned in this blog plus many more on our site. At Made In Cumbria we aim to bring together all the creative industries found in Cumbria and the Lake District to showcase local producers, makers and artists, and all that is created here. Explore traditional Cumbrian gifts, mouth-watering food and drink, all natural health products, talented artists and award-winning designers, and support the many businesses that our region boasts.
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
3rd Floor
Broadacre House
16-20 Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DA
0845 226 00 40
©Cumbria Chamber of Commerce 2023 | By: We Are Digital
Join our mailing list and get all the latest news and up dates from Made In Cumbria.
