The advent of package holidays to the sun may have changed many people’s perception of an ideal holiday but many discerning people need look no further than their doorstep for an area rich in beauty and variety, a place for relaxation but also exercise. The Lake District National Park has something for everyone.
Lakes
Not surprisingly the first attraction to consider for anyone going to North West England is a lake; Windermere is the largest lake in England and stretches from the quaint town of Ambleside for 10 miles to Newby Bridge. Bowness is the destination for those who want a boat trip; the Western shore is quieter and an ideal spot to look upon the beauty of the Lake.
Literature in an inspirational setting
‘The Lakes’ as they are known have been home to many famous people and the Poet William Wordsworth’s home near Grasmere was Dove Cottage, now owned by the William Wordsworth Trust. A visit can be combined with a look around the Museum and Art Gallery.
On a literary front there is also Hill Top the farmhouse home of Beatrix Potter near Sawrey; it has belonged to the National Trust since her death in 1943. In terms of somewhere for the holiday maker to stay whilst enjoying these attractions there are Lake District Cottages by Lake Cottage Holiday.
Hiking options abound
Many come to the Lake District to walk and the centre of hiking activity is Great Langdale with Langdale Pikes, and for the more adventurous Crinkle Crags and Bowfell. Anyone wanting hiking or outdoor equipment in general should visit another highlight of the District, Keswick on Derwentwater. This market town has many attractions itself as well as the opportunity to enjoy another lake and its activities.
Walking enthusiasts should also head for Borrowdale and Buttermere, a wilder environment than other parts of the National Park and close to Alfred Wainwright’s favourite mountain, Haystacks.
The Region has been more than a place for leisure over the years; Honister Slate Mine is one of the last slate mines still working in ‘the Lakes’. While the natural beauty of the National Park is world renowned, one top attraction, Tarn Hows, is not as natural as it looks. It was fashioned in the 19th Century by combining three pools by human effort.
Brantwood near Coniston, the Lake of speed records and tragedy, was the home of an eminent academic, John Ruskin whose talents ranged from mathematics and philosophy to art and aesthetics. A college in Oxford bears his name. Coniston Lake is now much quieter than when Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald were setting water speed records in the 1930s to 1960s.
There is certainly something for everyone in the Lake District. With plenty of things to see and do and the fresh air that comes with an outdoor life in an area so precious, some would say it is in fact the National Park of the British Isles. It is time to look online and plan a visit very soon.
