A Lake District loving family have won the chance to become honorary ambassadors for one of Cumbria’s leading family-owned tourism businesses, after sharing their enthusiasm for the region on social media.

The Huntington family – known online as ‘A Tings Life’ - have been revealed as the winners of a competition launched by Lake District Estates to find new Family Feedback Champions who can share their experiences holidaying in the heart of the World Heritage Site with the wider world.

Marc, Nicky and Izzy Huntington live in Croston, near Preston in Lancashire, and were selected from almost 550 entries to win the coveted new position.

Lake District Estates is best known for the award-winning Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway and Ullswater Steamers, as well as several holiday parks, marina holiday apartments and shops operating as Peter Rabbit and Friends and The Veg Patch.

The trio will become some of the first guests to stay in the company’s soon-to-open self-catering apartments at Waterfoot Park near Pooley Bridge later this summer.

The new apartments are located in Waterfoot Mansion, which dates back to the late 18th century, and are based in an area of the house not previously open to the public. 

As part of their adventures, ‘A Tings Life’ will also jump on board two iconic Lake District attractions – Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – along the way. 

Marc said: “We’re beyond excited to become family feedback champions for an area we love to visit as a family.  

“A Tings Life started out as a simple Instagram profile to connect with other families during lockdown, but has grown into a great way to document our adventures as a family – and inspire others to do the same.

"Winning this competition is particularly special as we both visited the Lakes as kids and it’s fantastic to be sharing those experiences with our nine-year-old daughter Izzy.

"The Lake District really is a special place for us and it means a lot that our passion for the Lakes comes through.”

Rachel Bell, head of marketing and business development at Lake District Estates, added: “What our customers think matters, which is why we decided to launch the search for our first-ever Family Feedback Champions.

"Marc, Nicky and Izzy showed us a genuine love for exploring the Lake District and we’re looking forward to welcoming them back in the coming weeks as our guests.

"Their enthusiasm for our region shines through their online content on ‘A Tings Life’ and we’ve no doubt they will continue to inspire other like-minded families too!”

Due to the high standard of entries, three runners-up prizes have also been awarded.

Attractions tickets for Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway go to Cumbria’s Davies family from Kirkoswald near Penrith - also known as ‘Lakeland Social’ - along with the Jones family, who share content as ‘The Jones Family Journals’. Meanwhile, Devon-based Kayleigh Gahagan and her family share their adventures as ‘Life with Emmy and Alfie’.