We are at the end of January and, after a cold,wet month,many of us are looking forward to a getaway to the sun.

It is not a bad idea,but while we are jetting off, thousands of others are travelling here to enjoy all that Cumbria and the south of Scotland have to offer.

There was an advertising campaign in New Zealand many years ago that encouraged people: "Don't leave town 'til you've seen your country"

The point of the campaign was thought provoking. It is so true that those who live on the doorstep of a place or attraction are probably the ones who take advantage of these places and things the least.

Maryport has a museum full of Roman altars- the greatest single e-site collection ever found in Britain, yet many locals hardly know it is there.

I have lived here for 20 years and have never been to Carlisle Castle and to Tullie House only twice.

This is an amazing county with its lakes, fells, interesting towns and gorgeous little villages.

It is the birthplace of William Wordsworth and the adopted home of Beatrix Potter.

It is also where the Border Reivers came from. My first trip to Tullie House left me in some despair. We were taught as children, even in far flung lands, that we should be proud of our Reiver heritage. Through the maternal chain we are part of the Bell clan and also descendants of the infamous(I thought famous) Johnnie Armstrong.

All I had to do was watch a film at Tullie House which convinced me that I didn't want to belong to any of the Reivers! Bells? Armstrongs? Never heard of them!

We also have so much other history here, too.

We are on Hadrian's Wall. There have been remarkable excavations in our area revealing much about Roman history and even further back.

It is fine to go and find that surf and sun but don't forget to see your county, too, through the eyes of those who flock here to experience the beauty of the lakes, the fells and the coast, the forests and the fun.