Ziggie who is a "red merle" border collie sent me his Top Tips for things to do at Christmas. He lives with his owner, Phil, in The Coppermines Valley above Coniston Water.....

Hi Scout, When you said for me to send my top tips for Christmas the first thing that came to mind was a walk in my favourite spots on Coniston Old Man, Swirl Howe and Weatherlam.

I do a lot of travelling around the area with Phil as we visit the holiday cottages we let around the South Lake District and I also get the chance to meet lots of visitors at The Coppermines & Lakes Cottages office in Coniston. So I hear about lots of places to go to but my best tips of things to do in the Coniston area this winter are...

1. Walk to The Coppermines Valley to sniff out the evidence of hundreds of years of coppermining in the valley.

2. Take a weekend walk through Yewdale and call in to see John and Caroline at their tea room at Yew Tree Farm – the home made scones are delicious and its where they filmed part of the Beatrix Potter film.

3. Enjoy the views of the Coniston Fells with a cruise on Coniston Water. (Dogs are welcome and Flat Coat Retrievers especially so. - Scout)

4. Visit The Ruskin Museum and learn more about the local area.

5. Enjoy supper and a beer in Harry’s Bar in the centre of Coniston Village

6. Walk to Tarn Hows to enjoy the 40 minute walk around the lake

7. Go Christmas Shopping in Ulverston

8. Visit Brantwood the former home of John Ruskin and one of the most beautifully situated properties in the Lake District

9. Pick-up a bargain at the Lakeland Ltd New Year Sale

10. When you need more things to do pop in and see my friend Kim, she belongs to Geoff who is Manager of the Tourist Information Centre. There are lots of ideas there of things to see and do.

I'll email you again Scout when I've got any news of events and whats going on up in this part of the patch - Have a happy Christmas and enjoy those winter walks, Ziggie