Holiday weather brings mixed fortunes

Blackpool beach misses out on the sun on Monday

Rain in much of the country has dashed hopes of a sizzling Bank Holiday Monday, but the crowds have still ventured out over the long weekend.

Many northern and Midland areas were hit by wetter weather, although more fortunate visitors to London and the south coast enjoyed temperatures above 20C.

Some tourist operators in the Lake District reported they were "as busy as normal" after months of low visitor numbers due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, while others said they were "quiet".

We have lost so much of the season already - a lot of families are now booking their summer holidays abroad

Cumbria Crisis Alliance

North Wales' Snowdonia National Park, which recently re-opened its footpaths, said the park was experiencing a "bumper" Bank Holiday reminiscent of the days prior to the disease outbreak.

A National Park Authority spokesman said: "We have reopened footpaths and issued new guidelines.

"This Bank Holiday weekend has been almost as good as the days before foot-and-mouth. The weather has cleared up and we are slowly going back to normal."

Tourism businesses in Scotland were also reporting a bright and busy Bank Holiday weekend, with some surprisingly fine weather on Monday boosting visitor figures at many top attractions.

Takings were up at a variety of tourist haunts as people rushed to make the best of the sunshine and warm weather, with temperatures as high as 22C on Scotland's east coast.

'Weather a factor'

But visitor numbers, like the weather, have been mixed over the past three days.

The amount of people visiting the Peak District over the weekend has been poor, according to officials, despite a rush to open most of its footpaths in time for the Bank Holiday.

But Chief Ranger Sean Prendergast conceded that the disappointing weather had played a part in deterring the expected surge in day-trippers.

"Certainly the weather has been a factor but I'm not sure if we managed to get the message across that the vast majority of the park is now open as usual," he said.

Tourism was not yet back to normal in Cumbria where the fells, which attract thousands of walkers each year, remain closed.

Business in the Lake District has been varied over the long weekend

John Walker, of the Cumbria Crisis Alliance, said many of his members had still not received bookings for the coming holidays, which should be one of the busiest times of the year.

He said: "We have very little passing day trade. What happens is people come to walk, stay in the area and then go around the shops.

"We have lost so much of the season already. A lot of families are now booking their summer holidays abroad."

Bookings 'dried up'

But at the Blenheim Lodge Hotel in Windermere people have been turned away over the Bank Holiday weekend - although owner William Burke maintained the trade would not last long.

He said: "We have been full over the weekend, like everywhere in Windermere and have had to turn people away.

The weather has helped and businesses are reporting a reasonable weekend

Heart of England Tourist Board

"But it's going to be quiet from now on. We are much quieter than expected for this time of year.

"One of the main problems is that all the long-term bookings have dried up so."

Beverley Nielsen, chief executive of the Heart of England Tourist Board, said early reports suggested business had been reasonable in the Midlands.

She added: "The weather has helped and businesses are reporting a reasonable weekend, although it is still patchy.

"People seem to be going to places which they know will be open and that tends to be in the cities.

"The priority now is to remove the uncertainty and reopen the countryside as quickly as possible, but responsibly."

In Hampshire, Christine Ames from New Forest Tourism said the area was fully booked-up for the first time since the foot-and-mouth outbreak hit business.

She said: "We have had sunny days and we have had a bumper weekend. People are returning to the forest."