The Lake District has only one body of water that is officially a lake. Lake Bassenthwaite is surrounded by 15 other glistening stretches which are often referred to as lakes but are classed as meres or waters. But nobody cares what their technical term is, such is their spectacular beauty.
Fishing on Lake Thirlmere. Image by Dave Zdanowicz
Windermere, Ullswater and Buttermere consistently top the list for many visitors, each one offering splendid vistas. The deepest lake, Wastwater, could be considered the most impressive owing to its rugged and imposing surroundings, including England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike. Whether you want to be in the water or on the water, you’ll find a plethora of activities available including fishing, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding and windsurfing.
Hikers near Keswick. Image by Amit Jagnade
The Lake District is also a haven for land-lovers, particularly walkers, climbers and cyclists. The network of footpaths is dense, with most of them well marked. For those that don’t wish to make the ascent into the fells there is huge scope for excellent low-level walking, either along the valley floors, by the lakesides, or through woods to see one of the many waterfalls. However, it is well worth making the effort to seek out one of the viewpoints, and thankfully not all the walks to reach these locations are overly arduous. Ultimately though, the sense of achievement from making it to the top of one of the fells is a powerful one, and one of the biggest draws for visitors to this magnificent area.
Taking a cruise is a great way to experience the Lakes. Image by Mark Bulmer
There is plenty to do for families or those seeking more sedate pastimes. Taking an organised cruise is a wonderfully relaxing way to take in the scenery. As one of the darkest places in the UK, stargazing on a clear night is absolutely mesmerising. Wordworth’s final resting place and Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House are popular with literary fans. And there are many happy hours to be spent wandering the cobbled streets of charmingly nostalgic towns and villages such as Ambleside, Keswick and Grasmere.
Going for a ride near Ambleside. Image by Gary Butterfield
The Lake District is a magical place to view the night sky in all its starry splendour. Grizedale Forest between Windermere and Coniston Lakes has a variety of star gazing events with talks and telescopes provided. If you want to go it alone, you can – the forest has a number of car parks and cycle routes making it easily accessible. Just be sure to bring warm clothing even in summer.
WLE SELECTED THINGS TO DO
Things to do listings are coming soon…
In response to requests from our audience, We LOVE England are busy curating a hand-picked list of all types of things to do for this area. We will be inviting businesses to appear here and on other pages over the coming weeks and months as we emerge from these strange times.
If you’d like to put your business forward for consideration, and would like to know more about our range of flexible packages designed to promote your offering across our powerful online platforms, please email us at:
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