The Lake District Guide

Sleep Soundly 
Accommodation in The Lakes - a complete guide
Luxury hotels
Recommended hotels
Country house hotels
Vegetarian hotels
Hotels for romantic breaks
Pubs with rooms / Inns
Bed & Breakfast / Guest Houses
Self-catering / Cottages
Family friendly
Camping & caravanning
Youth hostels

Budget & backpackers

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!
A guide to eating out in the Lake District
Gourmet restaurants
Restaurants/gastropubs
Other Lakes pubs
Cafes and bars
Vegetarian
Great everyday eating

Enjoy a great day out walking!
Our guides to the best mountain and valley walks in the Lakes include walks for all abilities and fitness.
Trek the fells*
Stroll in the valleys Lakes twelve best walks

Things to do, places to go - the big attractions

Cinema & theatre
Galleries & exhibitions
Lake District crafts

Festivals & concerts
Castles and houses
Spas and therapies
Best things for kids

Top ten attractions

What's on diary guide

General information

English Heritage in the Lake District
Wonderful properties, lovingly cared for.

The National Trust in the Lake District
An organization that works hard to protect our heritage.

Contact us

Disabled access
If you have limited vision follow this link. You'll find information on ways to enjoy the Lakes.


* For those who don't yet know the local language:

Fell = hill or mountain

Dale= mountain

Beck = stream or brook

Ghyll = waterfall

Water or Mere = Lake

More Lakeland Words.

Welcome to your personal and friendly guide to the English Lake District!

We're different because we know the Lakes inside out - we've been regular visitors for over 40 years. We've built up a detailed knowledge of the best places to stay, the best restaurants, the finest cafes and bars, the most attractive and delightful walks (whether you want to climb a mountain or stroll along the edge of one of the beautiful lakes), the most exciting and fun-filled family activities and attractions, and even the best shops in the district!

 

 

Where would you go if you wanted to see the classic Lakeland view, the one that sums up everything about the English Lakes?

Or if you were buying outdoor gear, where would you go for great personal service and advice - from experts who really know what they're talking about? What about eating out? Who's in and who's out of fashion? Where can you go for the best pub food? Or an exquisite gourmet treat? And how can you find the most comfortable and enjoyable accommodation - the place to stay that exactly suits you and your needs? You'd like a romantic weekend away or you just have to have king-size beds? No problem!

We have the answers to these and all your other questions - saving you hours looking around, avoiding disappointment, and simply giving you the best holiday experience you can have!

The Lakes attracts many thousands of people every year, yet the timeless character of this region retains its beauty, charm and tranquillity. You can easily find yourself alone on some of the finest mountain scenery in Europe, or you can explore the beautiful valleys and little towns with a host of exciting restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries.

 
Updated! Lake District What's On Guide 2008  
And:  Concerts, Festivals and Exhibitions 2008

Send in your entries for inclusion!  Email: suppliers "at" lake-district-guides.co.uk

Whether you want to trek the high passes of the Lakeland mountains, take a weekend break, or plan a fun day out, we can give you the ideas you need to make any Lakeland trip a rip-roaring success!

You can choose where to go in the Lakes - and, of course, on this website - by clicking on one of the links in the left hand column, or you can take a short cut to see our favourite Lake District places and pastimes in our exciting, handy and time-saving "Top Ten" feature to the right of this page.

So which of the Lakes will you visit first? The bustling little towns of Bowness, Ambleside and Windermere offer shops, restaurants, cinemas, and just about everything that everyone in the family could want. You could cruise slowly and sedately down the length of Windermere in a vintage steamer, stride out from Ambleside on a 20 km (14 mile) trek across 7 high peaks, or sit and watch the swans feeding at Bowness Bay.

Or maybe you'd prefer to visit Coniston, a beautiful and tranquil village with walks through the ancient copper mining districts to the top of Coniston Old Man, where you're rewarded with truly amazing views down to the Lake. Once you're back at lake level, you can visit the home of John Ruskin, anthropologist and social reformer, at Brantwood, and feel the tranquillity of his ancient lake-side home.

Esthwaite Water offers you the chance of some trout fishing and a visit to the enchanting village of Hawkshead, with its tiny streets, charming pubs and delicious Lakeland treats from the local delicatessen.

On the other hand, Keswick is the archetypal Lakes' market town, much unchanged for hundreds of years, and it's the perfect base for seeing the sheer, unsurpassed wild beauty of the Northern Lake District. And Bassenthwaite Lake, Crummock Water, and Derwentwater may be just about the most beautiful places in England.

 

The Lakes' Top Attractions

Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal

Blackwell Arts & Crafts House

Muncaster Castle

Ullswater Steamers

Honister Mine Via Ferrata

Steam Yacht Gondola

The Sheepdog Experience!

It's all a matter of opinion, of course, and so we'd love to hear and read about your experiences. We'd like you to email us and write about what you enjoyed and what you didn't, and we especially want to hear about the places you loved and the places that maybe weren't so good.

We truly hope you find as much happiness and pleasure in the Lakes as we've had over the years, and perhaps we'll meet at the top of the Langdale Pikes one day.......or wherever. Meanwhile, the Lakes are yours to enjoy!

Your guides,

Rod & Helen

PS: We list many hotels in every price range, with personal recommendations and observations. If you find a hotel that deserves to be on the list, please let us know!

 

The Lakes has been home to some of the greatest writers and artists in English history: Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelly, and more recently the distinguished talents of the Heaton-Cooper family. Get the low-down on the Lakes cultural scene here.

Who'd have thought some of the best theatre in England was taking place in Keswick's theatre by the lake? But that's not all...whatever cultural activity you're into, you'll find it in the Lakes. Explore the stately homes, abbeys, churches and castles of the area. The Lakes has many fine properties to explore, all richly rewarding and worth a visit. Need to know something? You'll most likely find it here. Whether it's the location of the local Tourist Information Centre, the transport network, or useful phone numbers, this is the starting point for your search.

Featured websites

Jason Chambers Photography


Click here to find out how he could record
your Lakes Mountain Bike Adventure!

Brian Watson Photography

Brian has been supplying us with photos for some time now, and you'll see his work at the top of some of the pages in this site. Read more about Brian's work and have a look at his amazing 3D Lakes panoramas here!


Featured area of the month - Ullswater and the Eden Valley

Ullswater and the Eden Valley has many attractions but is less well known and certainly less visited than areas like Bowness or Windermere. Try a relaxing cruise on the lake and see the views as you glide down the Lake on one of the beautifully restored steamers, including the famous Michelin-starred Sharrow Bay Hotel located on the shoreline. If you take a boat to Howtown and head for Martindale there are some superb walks along the eastern side of the lake. Cyclists will enjoy the Eden Valley Circular Cycle Route, not least for the wonderfully delicious pub food along the way.

Those with an artistic streak will enjoy the great contemporary art galleries such as the Upfront Gallery or Beckstone's Art Gallery. Penrith and Kirkby Stephen have lots of specialist arts and crafts shops which are great if you want a souvenir - your own piece of Cumbrian craft to take home with you! Of course there's also Wetherigg Pottery's 'Pots of Fun' studio where you can make and paint your own pot. The keen gardener will want to explore Hutton-in-the-Forest's walled garden, as well as Acorn Banks' Discovery Herb Garden and the hundreds of varieties of roses at Dalemain Historic House.

Rheged, housed in Europe's largest grass-covered building, makes for a self-contained day out complete with giant screen cinema, specialist local retail outlets and a fabulous contemporary restaurant. If you like special foods, you'll never settle for ordinary chocolate again after you've tasted one of the fine chocolates at Kennedy's Fine Chocolates in Orton. And after you've savoured Abbott Lodge Jersey Ice Cream nothing else will do! Try the award-winning chocolate-almond cake at The Village Bakery located in Melmerby or tuck into some tasty vegetarian food at the Little Salkeld Watermill where just about everything is organic and local.

Farmers' markets are held all year round. Orton Formers Market, which you can enjoy every Saturday, was awarded the National Farmers' Market of the Year 2005 and is listed in the Guardian Good Food Guide. Other great events to look out for include Appleby Jazz Festival, the Penrith Beer and Sausage Festival and the Lowther Horse Driving Trails.

See more on our activities page!


A Walk Around Loughrigg Tarn and Skelwith Force

A walk full of interest with good views all the way. The route includes a section around a tranquil tarn and a visit to an impressive waterfall.

Distance: 7 km / 4.5 miles Ascent: 90m / 300 ft Time: 2 - 3hrs

Start in Elterwater. Walk through the car park to access the Cumbria Way footpath, then follow this southeastwards down the valley. Initially the path tracks the river, but just over 0.5km further on it kinks to the left and then enters a strip of mixed deciduous woodland which lines the northern shore of Elterwater. The slopes beneath these trees are seen at their best in May when they are covered by a carpet of bluebells.

Just before reaching the far boundary of the woodlands be careful to locate the wide cart track on your left. This leads diagonally uphill to reach the BS343 road at a wooden gate. Hop over the low wall side and cross the road diagonally to your right to access, through a kissing gate, the footpath on the far side. The path-cum-watercourse  winds to the top of the wooded brow ahead , veering right in the process. Use the stile to cross over the stone wall further to your right, then continue walking uphill eastwards along the path which heads towards the tree-fringed horizon. Another narrow track is bisected at right angles in getting there.

Pass over the craggy spur adjacent to a drystone wall on your right and descend towards Loughrigg Tarn, which shortly comes into view down below. (There are superb views along Great Langdale and towards Wetherlam from the rocky knoll off to your left as you pass over the spur.) Turn left and towards north to descend the wide track which crosses rolling fellsides. The route then connects with the entrance to a secluded stone cottage named "Crag Head". Use this gravel drive to reach the road below, passing by a second attractive cottage in getting there.

Turn left along the lane, but within less than 200 paces turn off right over the stile to access the signed public footpath which leads down across meadows and then around the north-eastern shore of Loughrigg Tarn. As you progress further south eastwards, around these tranquil waters there are the most superb views across the tarn towards the Langdale Pikes and Bow Fell. Often spectacular sunsets may be observed from here.

Climb up the grassy bank away from the water's edge to pass through a wooden gate in the railings above. Then turn right along the driveway and beyond another gate. Turn right again to pass by another residence named "Dillygarth". In quick succession turn left, right and left again through the maze of narrow lanes which converge here, to select the one which leads steeply downhill, most directly towards Skelwith Bridge. Cross with care over the A593 Ambleside - Coniston road below and walks past the Skelwith Bridge Hotel.

Turn right immediately past the hotel car park, then select the left-hand fork nearest to the River Brathay to continue along tile signed footpath leading west back towards Elterwater. The obvious return route conveniently leads to Kirkstone Galleries with its attractions, including tempting refreshment facilities.

From here, the path back leads between the quarry worksheds and then beneath trees to Skelwith Force, down below to your left. These impressive falls are well worth a closer inspection but do be careful, especially if there are youngsters with you, for this rocky area can be very slippery.

Afterwards, continue up the valley path where a kissing gate provides access to the attractive low-lying meadows which flank the meandering River Brathay. Beyond, the return route re-enters the woodlands bordering Elterwater; from here retrace your outward steps back through the village and to the Langdale Estate or the village car-park.


Many of the images at the top of the pages on this website are from Andrew Leaney's website. This is a highly enjoyable website with many of Andrew's walks and photographs.


Lakeland places  Other Lake District Websites

Other sites (2) Other sites (3) London Visitor Guide Thinking of a holiday in Devon?


More Lakes walks can be found here. You can also go here for many more Lake District walks. And the latest mountain walks are here.


  

Walks
A collection of walks in the Lakes, taking you o'er dale and hill.

Top Ten Attractions
What we think might be the most enjoyable, impressive or entertaining attractions in the Lakes!

Great Gifts for any occasion!
Super gifts of quality and character.

Do you have a gift problem? Use our gift finder service to help choose the perfect gift for someone! Click here!

Lake District Photography
Amazing photography that sums up the timeless beauty & essential spirit of the English Lake District.

Lake District Shopping

Lake District What's On Guide

Lake District Internet Access

Lake District Food, Drink & Recipes

Lake District Weddings

Webmasters:
To promote your site on our travel information page, our Lakes page or our UK and overseas travel page, please email rod@lake-district-guides.co.uk We require a reference back to us from your website in return.

Great prices on hotel rooms in the Lakes!
Check out the special low price offers at
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