Two Lake District loving hounds – and their well-behaved owners – have officially become honorary ambassadors for one of Cumbria’s leading family-owned tourism businesses.


Springer spaniels Lottie and Willow (@lottie_the_spring_spaniel_uk) have been revealed as the winners of a competition launched by Lake District Estates to find the ultimate canine champions who can share their experiences of holidaying in the heart of the World Heritage Site from a dog’s-eye view.
The Jones family who live in Bradford beat off competition from dog owners across the country to win the coveted new position and showcase their love for exploring the Lake District across their social media channels.  
Their first mission will be reviewing a complimentary stay in a dog-friendly glamping cabin at Waterfoot Park in the Ullswater Valley, as well as jumping on board two iconic Lake District attractions - Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – with special ‘Rover’ tickets which offer some extra-special doggy upgrades and access to spectacular walking routes.
Lottie and Willow’s owner Leanne Jones, said: “We’re thrilled that our girls have won this competition! They are an integral part of our family and have come to love the Lake District whilst visiting with us many times every year. 
“We’ve also found that this beautiful part of the world supports my 11-year old disabled son’s mental health. We love the Lake District so much that we’ve even booked our wedding here next summer! So the whole family is looking forward to getting out and promoting even more spectacular areas and dog-friendly settings.”
Rachel Bell, head of marketing and business development at Lake District Estates, said: “It’s no secret that we love dogs and with around a third of all visitors bringing their four-legged friends with them to Cumbria, we know our customers love them too. 
“Our holidays that cater for canines really are hugely popular, with holiday home ownership at our Cumbrian parks being perhaps the ultimate dog-friendly way to holiday, offering outdoor adventures, comfort and routine for four-legged family members. That’s why we decided to launch this dog-tastic challenge, using the power of social media to harness dog owners’ love for exploring the Lake District. Willow and Lottie’s family showed us their passion for our very dog-friendly part of the world and we’re looking forward to welcoming them back in the coming weeks as our guests. There’s no doubt they will be the paw-fect ambassadors for the region.”
Due to the high standard of entries, two runners-up prizes have also been awarded. 
Attractions tickets for Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway go to the families of Bella the American Akita (@bella.akita) from North Lincolnshire and Ted the black Labrador (@newton.teddington), based locally near Penrith.