Tourist bosses in the Lake District are bigging up one of their prime attractions, saying it makes London’s tallest building seem like small fry.
The boast came after London Mayor Boris Johnson officially opened the viewing platform at The Shard on the capital’s South Bank.
But Cumbria Tourism said the building pales into insignificance compared to the grandeur of the national park.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “So Boris Johnson had a bit of a do and officially opened the viewing platform at London’s Shard skyscraper, western Europe’s loftiest building, standing at 310m (10,16ft) tall.
“Are you thinking the height sounds awe-inspiring and perhaps a little scarily impressive, especially with the building’s 40-mile view?
“Well we in the Lake District really can’t see what all the blooming fuss is about; I mean that’s titchy.
“You want a proper view? Get yourself along to our one of our finest tourist attractions.
“The one we have in mind has been about for a mere 495 million years and boasts a viewing platform offering not just 40-mile views but views over the five kingdoms.
“Our Lake District wonder is found at twice the height of The Shard and no less than nine times taller than Big Ben.
“Our top tourist attraction is Honister and its Via Ferrata Xtreme perched atop Fleetwith Pike – a mere 2,162ft or 648m from the valley floor.
“But that’s not all; Xtreme boasts a host of other astounding firsts: Europe’s longest Burma Bridge at over 100m in length, suspended over 2,000ft above the valley floor, and if that’s not enough it also boasts Europe’s highest climbing cargo net at over 2,096ft off the ground.
“Honister’s Via Ferrata Xtreme is simply awe inspiring.”
The tourist body said anyone wanting a proper view should forget The Shard and get themselves up Fleetwith Pike via the Honister via ferrata, a series of fixed ropes and rungs more often found in continental Europe.
The attraction has not been without controversy. The late Mark Weir set up the via ferrata but following his death in a helicopter crash near the site, the Honister Slate Mine company he set up was fined and told to pay costs totalling £28,000 after an unlawful extension to the via ferrata damaged a site of special scientific interest.
The company has also twice had its application to build a zip-wire more than 1km long at the site turned down.
Cumbrian resident and elder statesman of mountaineering Sir Chris Bonington abseiled down The Shard last year to raise cash for charity.
PeakPondering
06 February 2013Andb there is no irony in the Lake District bigging up the attractions in it's list days after rejecting the very similar zip wire?
Andy McVittie
07 February 2013Rather than sending out an advertorial ( who paid for it ?) for what they say is the top tourist attraction in Cumbria why not publicise how to contact activity providers who can take people out to show them the real Lake District ? It seems that Honister Mines comment that they may have to close as they haven't got the zip wire accepted doesn't sit with it being the top tourist attraction in the Lakes. If we're so proud of the Lakes lets show people the real deal and help some small, local, businesses too.