This wonderful English holiday destination in the north, has been
admired by visitors for well over 200 years. This comprehensive tour takes in all the major lakes, and best known
towns and villages.
Our visit was in June, when Wordsworth reckoned it was the
best time to come. If you stay long enough you will see some sunny weather
like we did, and of course that was the time to don our walking
boots.
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Part
one ~ Windermere Ambleside at the north of the lake was a good base to explore,
being close to the centre of the
National Park. Taking trips on the Windermere steamers is the traditional
and best way to see the attractions around the longest lake of the region.
First stop at the southern end of Windermere, is Lakeside, where you can
see the Lakeside and Haverthwaite heritage steam railway, there's also an
aquarium and motor museum down here. Next stop has to be Beatrix
Potter's home 'Hill Top', run by the National Trust; it's an atmospheric
and very popular visitor attraction a mile away from the west shore.
Amongst other attractions on this side of the lake, is pretty Hawkshead,
and the curious Claife viewing station from the past.
You can't avoid the jetty at Bowness, and love it or hate it,
the busy Victorian town is thronged with visitors and shops, making it the
tourist capital of the region. One mile up the road is the gentler town of
Windermere. Just across the road from its railway station is the start of
a short walking trail to Orrest Head, a fantastic view across not only
Windermere, but the scenic fells in the North.
After dropping in to the National Park's Brockhole Visitor centre, we
witness the Great North Swim, a major annual event held at the north end
of the lake. Touring from our base at Ambleside meant that no visitor
attraction was too far away, although driving times can be twice what
you expect due to lakeland's winding and narrow roads. A must do is
Wordsworth's Dove Cottage and the pretty lake and tourist village of
Grasmere. The area around Windermere and Coniston Water is full of
attractions and beauty spots such as Skelwith Force, Howe Tarn, the
Langdales. The Ruskin Museum at Coniston is also a good stop; here the
village celebrates 3 heroes who helped shape the fortunes of Coniston
Water: John Ruskin, Donald Campbell and Aurthur Ransome. Making a scenic
journey down to the historic market town of Ulverston ends chapter 1.
Part two ~ Touring the West and Northwest Eskdale and the
western lakes are quite remote from the centre of Lakeland, but Muncaster
Castle and the enchanting pint-sized Ravenglass & Eskdale steam
railway make a wonderful visit on the coast. The railway known locally as
'L'al Ratty' will take you seven miles into the Eskdale valley and give
you a taste of the magnificent fells of the District. Next on our tour is
the serene and beautiful Wastwater, owned by the National Trust. It's no
surprise that we take a walking trail on the shores of this breathtaking
lake. The inn at scenic Wasdale, nestles between England's biggest
mountains, with tales to tell. Dropping in at Ennerdale Water, another
remote and beautiful place, we journey to the interesting and colourful
market town of Cockermouth. It's also the birthplace of William
Wordsworth.
Journeying back into the National Park we see lovely Loweswater, Crummock
Water and Buttermere, another National Trust beauty spot. This is also a
great starting point for many walks in this region. Driving up the
spectacular Honister pass to the slate mine makes a finale to part two,
before descending through Borrowdale to Keswick.
