The Lake District Wiki everything about the Lake District in England.

From Lake District

Gurning

Gurning, which is an English tradition that goes back several hundred years, was once common at travelling sideshows, freak shows and fairs. However, the Japanese practice this daily for a different reason. Apparently, research has shown that laughter and silly faces causes the body to release both serotonin and endorphins, which is the body's natural "feel good" chemicals and therefore a form of mental health. A gurn, which is a verb to describe the action, is a distorted facial expression.

The town of Egremont in the Lake District holds The World Gurning Championship annually as part of the Egremont Crab Fair. Traditionally contestants would frame their faces through a horse collar, this is known as gurnin through a braffin. Those with no teeth have the greatest gurn capabilities as this allows the jaw to move further up. Those capable of gurns, which cover the entire nose, are normally the toothless or elderly. Interestingly, David Tennant, the Scottish actor and previous Dr Who, is one of the famous Gurners.

Main tourist towns

Windermere Bowness on Windermere Ambleside Coniston Hawkshead Keswick

All Towns & Villages

Towns and Villages

Lake District categories

Northern Lake District Southern Lake District Western Lake District Eastern Lake District

Lake District Lakes and Waters

Lake Windermere Coniston Water Derwent Water Ullswater

Suggesting a page for the wiki

Please email admin if there's a page you would like to see on the wiki or if you would like to bring our attention to something already on the wiki. Admin

External holiday accommodation

For a range of Lake District accommodation visit Search Cumbria