Although most people come to the Lakes to relax, there are some attracted by the opportunities to go fast especially on the Internet. The web is your oyster for information, and it seems the speed dating craze has hit the Lakes virtually and in reality.

Speed dating is now part of our social fabric. Visit www.3minutes.co.uk to find out how to move quickly and efficiently through this latest meet-a-mate craze in the Lakes. They give instructions, a chance to register and advice. Take a friend, and have some fun!

If dating over the Internet is an area you wish to explore, but are concerned about the level of security online, try www.securidate.com. This dating web site includes medical and thorough background checks. Big Brother is watching.

At www.speeddater.co.uk - events in the near future in Manchester were sold out. Locations further north were not on the list, yet.

The business is new, and the options are many. However, the quality of sites was low. After surfing an ocean of online dating sites, too numerous to mention, one could get lost in a fog of databases, on not very interesting sites, with questionable search possibilities. Surfer beware.

If you are looking for something more concrete to do, but with a social aspect, why not make a date to go exploring haunted houses in the region? Lancaster University is offering a week-long course in visiting and investigating haunted houses. If that doesn't sound appetising, perhaps their North West Gourmet Tour might be more in line with a social outing. Visit www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/conted/summer_programme/ for details. What did curiosity to do to the cat?

The Woodland Trust has likened its latest environmental project to dating. Its new Conservation Land Trust scheme is being marketed as like matching people to each other via a dating agency'. It is matching habitats that need watching over with people committed to environmental protection. People interested in such parcels of land are matched up with vendors, for a match made in conservation heaven. Visit www.clt.org.uk to get involved.

If you are from the Lakes, and want to escape, perhaps joining the Summer in the City fun walks for Age Concern is an option. Visit www.ageconcern.org.uk/events to find out how to participate in an enjoyable walk in London or Chester, while raising funds for them. Why not make it a grand outing maybe for all singles - so people can walk and talk?