It was in the nineteenth century that poet William Wordsworth sparked the enduring interest of in viewing and exploring the UK’s Lake District. His poem, ‘I wondered lonely as a cloud’ was inspired by the hosts of daffodils he saw while walking along the shores of Ullswater. Millions of visitors have followed in his wake, keen to explore the spectacular scenery, the wide open fells or hills and the extensive lakes. One of those visitors over the years was so entranced that she made the area her home – Beatrix Potter. She based many of her famous children’s books in the Lake District and became one of its largest landowners, before donating the land in perpetuity to the National Trust.
The appeal of the Lake District remains unchanged as a fantastic touring area. It offers so much – stunning scenery inland and along the coastline, numerous tourist attractions, and lots of active pursuits and unusual experiences.
Although the Lake District is immensely popular, especially during the high summer season when there can queues on the main access roads, the Lake District is a vast national park and it is easy for visitors to quickly find lots of open space. You are never far from peace and tranquility in the Lake District.
However, be prepared for rain at some point during your visit – the Lake District is one of the wettest areas of the UK.
Access is straightforward. The nearest airport is Manchester. Alternatively, it is a simple matter of driving straight up the M1 and M6 from London or Birmingham. The most commonly used access point to the Lake District is via Windermere, although you can just as easily head southwards to Ulverston before following local roads into the centre of the Lakes, or around the coastline.
Book your camping/caravan site in advance, as pitches can be booked up quickly especially during the summer. Popular sites include Braithwaite Fold Camping and Caravans Park Cliffe Camping and & Caravan Estate both of which are lakeside locations. There are also numerous glamping sites where you stay in varying types of camping pods including Shephards Huts. Take a look at www.golakes.co.uk to find a list of campsites and caravan sites throughout the Lake District.
Wild camping may be possible depending on the location, but you have to contact the landowner for permission before you set up camp. Talk to the local farmer before camping to see if he actually owns the land and can allow you to stay overnight. The National Park Authority does not permit camping on land for which it is directly responsible, and the National Trust does not allow camping on lake shores, recommending that campers head for the higher fells. (A fell is a local term used to refer to the hills and mountains). Just because you see a small group of young people camping in an area does not mean that anyone can do so – these young people are usually taking part in an awards scheme and have special permission.
“Book your campsite in the Lake District well in advance, as spots can be booked up quickly especially during the summer.”
Bear in mind that the landowners or their representatives do have a legal right to request that you break camp and move on immediately. Camping in car parks and on roadside verges is forbidden. Avoid parking in laybys at the side of the road – these are often designated as passing places on single-track roads and will be the only place where two cars can pass along the road.
Visit Cumbria recommend that anyone traveling in a camper van or RV should research their route carefully, and make sure you have postcodes handy along with addresses. As this is a mountainous area, Wi-fi signals cannot be relied on, you will find that often there is no reception. So always have a good idea as to how to reach your destination without relying on technology! Research, research, research has to be a priority and be prepared for narrow roads and high passes between mountains. Herds of sheep, mainly the native Hardwick Sheep Beatrix Potter loved so much, roam the mountains.
‘Most remote roads are windy and hilly. Always drive with extreme care. Assume a sheep will be around the next corner and slow down,’ comments Cumbria Tourism.
So what are the key attractions that most people visit in the Lake District?
When it comes to scenery, there is a massive choice. Something spectacular can be seen round almost every corner. There are sixteen lakes and countless tarns ( a type of lake) to discover, with the most famous being Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Buttermere and Coniston.
Park and go for a stroll – this is undoubtedly the best way to enjoy the scenery. However, be warned. The weather in the Lake District can change very fast. You can be out walking in the mountains when it is clear one minute, offering gorgeous views for miles then suddenly mists and rain appear causing temperatures to plummet. Always take rainwear, food, compass and maps. In doubt, stick to the main paths as you are less likely to get lost.
Taking a ride on one of the heritage steam train routes is a great way to explore the scenery. The Ravenglass & Eskdale railway takes visitors along a 7-mile route across an estuary and into the hills, with several request stops where you can go for a walk before rejoining the train. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway offers great views of Windermere, and provides a useful connection to the Windermere Lake Cruises at Lakeside Pier. One of the most unusual heritage trains is situated near Keswick. Although a short journey of just half a mile, the Threlkeld Quarry Railway takes passengers up some very steep gradients, as this was once a busy industrial site.
Then there are the sites linked to Beatrix Potter such as the World of Beatrix Potter where you can explore the stories she created. The farmhouse at Hill Top, near Sawrey is a key location for any Beatrix Potter fans, as this is where she lived and wrote many of her stories. By far the best time of day to get here is early in the morning, or late afternoon when the main tourist crowds have disappeared. The rooms inside the farmhouse are small, and visiting outside the main tourist times means you can see them much better. Entry is via timed ticket – so make sure you are on time for your allotted entry point.
There are several Wordsworth attractions too such as Dove Cottage and Rydal Bank in Grasmere, Wordsworth House in Cockermouth.
If historic houses are of interest, try Muncaster Castle at Ravenglass, Sizergh Castle near Kendal and Holker Hall at Cartmel in southern Lakeland.
Then there are the unusual activities and events that can really make your visit memorable! How about visiting the annual May Festival of Fools at Muncaster Castle, watch the Great North Swim at Windermere, enjoy a Chili-Fest at Holker, or the Gurning World Championships at Egremont. The Gurning Championships are held during the annual Crab Fair, which is one of the oldest fairs in the world as it was first established in 1267. It hosts a number of unusual activities such as Cumberland wrestling, wheelbarrow racing, and climbing a greasy pole. Participants in the gurning championships have to put their heads through a horse collar and then pull the weirdest facial expression possible. Both men’s and women’s competitions take place.
Worth considering too are the special experiences on offer from the National Parks such as the five hour Boat, Boots & Marmalade experience led by a National Park Ranger. Enjoy a cruise on Ullswater, take a guided 3-mile walk past the mysterious Stone Bears, visit Dalemain Mansion and finish with a marmalade tasting session at the site of the annual Marmalade Festival. Alternatively, there are Boats, Steam and Stories where you can learn how to ‘steam up’ a restored 1900’s steamboat on Windermere, enjoy a cruise and find out about the Campbell Bluebird speed record on England’s longest lake.
At Lowther Castle you can book an exclusive tour with Jim Lowther, son of the 7th Earl of Lonsdale, hear tales of his ancestors, the many famous visitors to the site such as Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Winston Churchill and the German Kaiser. Afterwards, enjoy afternoon tea in the family’s private summerhouse or in the Sculpture Gallery.
The Spice Trail experience is definitely something different as it involves a guided tour of various food destinations such as the home of Grasmere Gingerbread, rum tasting, locally brewed ale in a pub and a traditional supper of Cumberland sausage.
Touring the Lake District is guaranteed to be extremely memorable, offering countless unique experiences that will never be forgotten. Just make sure you have prepared in advance, having organized your campsites or caravan sites and above all, ready for the uncertain weather. You may be blessed with days of pleasant sunshine, or just as likely even in the height of summer – rain, wind and heavy cloud. Whatever time of the year you visit, it will be stunning.