13 minute read
The Lake District
The Lake District has no shortage of serene countryside and is home to both England’s highest mountain and its largest lake.
In 2017 it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, the first of the UK’s national parks to be given this.
Considered by many to be amongst the most picturesque areas in all of England - the stunning natural charm of the Lake District has attracted artists and writers for centuries. One of the most famous, renowned English poet William Wordsworth commented of the Lake District that there is “nowhere in so narrow a compass with such a variety of the sublime and beautiful”.
Throughout the ages, poets and authors have flooded to these wonderful landscapes for tranquillity and inspiration. Luminaries such as John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome took up productive residence and many of the scenes they depicted remain accessible today.
It is the area’s combination of breathtaking natural landscape alongside its cultural links to art and literature that makes it so unique, and indeed, so worthy of preservation. Dream Escape can take you on a bespoke journey, or themed itinerary, to explore the best-loved places associated with these writers combined with outstanding experiences and luxury accommodation.
Strictly, there is only one ‘lake’ (Bassenthwaite) in the Lake District – all the other major bodies of water are ‘Meres’ or ‘Waters’ – but the lure of this uniquely beautiful region of Cumbria has proved irresistible to centuries of visitors in search of a cleaner, quieter place in which to escape the pressures of life. Explore the granite uplands of the Cumbrian Mountains, the highest peak of which, Scafell Pike, stands as the 3209ft highest point in England.
William Wordsworth fell for the area as early as 1799, acquiring Dove Cottage, near Grasmere, where he lived with his sister Dorothy, an English author, poet, and diarist in her own right, before moving to Rydal Mount, overlooking Windermere, making it his family home for 37 years until his death in 1850.
Each wonderful property is now a museum, beautifully curated and cared for, packed full of interesting memorabilia. Dream Escape can arrange for you to enjoy a behind the scenes tour of Dove Cottage where you will see some very rare books and manuscripts associated with the Lake Poets, take you to visit William and Dorothy’s graves at St Oswald's Church in the village of Grasmere, or an exclusive guided tour of the impressive Rydal Mount, where you can relax in the poet’s library with some famous Grasmere gingerbread, soaking up the ambience as the words of the poet are read. You might also enjoy a trip to the Museum of the Old Grammar School (Hawkshead) where you can see William Wordsworth’s own carvings and imagine you are in a working schoolroom of over 200 years ago.
Rydal Mount,Wordsworth's home
Image: Cumbria Tourism
William Wordsworth’s childhood home in Cockermouth is now a National Trust property, Wordsworth House and Gardens. This lovely Georgian townhouse is presented just as it would have been when he lived here with his parents, siblings and the family servants, again offering an unforgettable chance to experience how his life would have been, living in the 1770s.
Having lived in Lakeland for over 60 years, Wordsworth found a special place in the Lake District - it is here on the banks of Ullswater in 1802 that he was moved to write his most famous work. In 1810, Wordsworth published his ‘Guide to the Lakes’ and started a trend among his creative contemporaries, including Keats, Tennyson, Coleridge and Shelley, for seeking inspiration from the clean air and clear light.
Of a later generation, but hugely influential in the art world of late-Victorian times, the radical thinker, writer and social reformer, John Ruskin, lived at Brantwood, on the eastern bank of Coniston (from 1872-1900) developing ideas and disseminating his opinions to the most impressionable minds of his age.
Brantwood John Ruskin's home
Image: Cumbria Tourism
The house and magnificent gardens are meticulously presented displaying family treasures, fine art and beautiful furniture. The lakeside setting is perfect for the many exhibitions and cultural events too, including open-air Shakespeare, which is staged, using the very studios and spaces graced by Ruskin and his friends.
Beloved of generations of children, the tales of Peter Rabbit and his ‘chums’ were born out of Beatrix Potter’s imagination, coloured by her experiences in, and around, the Lakes.
Take a visit to Ambleside to stop by the Beatrix Potter Gallery before visiting the pretty village of Near Sawrey to enjoy Castle Cottage, where Beatrix wrote The Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan. Today this is the home of Blue Badge Guide Mandy Marshall - an acknowledged expert on Beatrix Potter and her life in the Lake District. Enjoy an Afternoon Tea in Mandy’s garden while admiring the views of Hilltop Farm, and in true Beatrix style, Mandy’s herd of Herdwick sheep.
Hill Top cottage, the home of Beatrix Potter
Image: Cumbria Tourism
Hill Top Farm, the 17th-century farmhouse Beatrix Potter bought once she married, and where Beatrix Potter penned many of her famous stories about Peter Rabbit, and her children rhymes and poems can be visited on the western side of Windermere.
Beatrix acquired much property in the area and, determined not to see her beloved landscape developed, or in any way spoiled, left it all, in her will, in the care of the National Trust.
By very special arrangement, Dream Escape can arrange private access to both Castle Cottage and Hill Top Farm, and for avid Beatrix Potter fans, an exclusive tailored tour of all things Beatrix in the Lake District can be arranged from farm visits to sheep herding.
Windermere and Bowness
Right at the heart of the Lake District, the towns of Windermere and Bowness boast picturesque scenery wherever you turn. Take a private charter across the glistening waters to the neo-gothic Wray Castle; far from your typical castle, displaying family heirlooms and portraits.
For a different class of architecture, head to Blackwell House, a brilliant example of the Arts & Crafts movement from the early 20th century, which retains many of its original features and holds fantastic permanent and visiting exhibitions.
Windermere is well-served by the historic steamers MV Teal and Swan cruising delightfully between Ambleside, Lakeside and Bowness. After a massive restoration of the ‘Windermere Jetty’, the Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories, launched a few years ago, providing a further stop on the circuit.
Windermere Jetty - Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories
Image: Cumbria Tourism
The museum is a world-class collection of over 40 historic, restored and conserved boats to delight a wider public, displayed in modern, state-of-theart facilities. With interactive galleries, exhibitions, steam-powered boat-rides and access to the ongoing operations in the Conservation Workshop, this is yet another ‘must-see’ attraction.
Don’t leave Bowness before stopping in at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, where you’ll feel as if you’re stepping into one of Beatrix’s books while learning the story of Potter's writing and her importance to Lakeland conservation.
From here you might want to take a southern detour to visit the historic Cartmel Village, home to ‘the most beautiful church in the north-west’ as described by author Simon Jenkins, and also the unmissable Cartmel Village Shop - home of sticky toffee pudding! Cartmel also has its very own racecourse and yet more tasty treats in-store, to include 50 specially selected Cartmel kinds of cheese, the village’s own local brewery, Unsworth’s Yard and award-winning L'Enclume - an iconic five Michelin stars restaurant under the helm of Simon Rogan, renowned British chef.
Kendal
A smart, handsome market town, Kendal is the Lakes’ arts and culture centre and is packed with independent cafés and pubs. Catch a play, exhibition, comedy or music event at the town’s thriving cultural hub, the Brewery Arts Centre or get your fix of art at the hidden gem that is the Abbot Hall Art Gallery, set in the Grade I-listed 18th-century building of Abbot Hall.
Chocolate House Kendal
Image: Cumbria Tourism
Alternatively, you can experience a dose of history at Kendal Castle, once the family home of Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII. Dream Escape will arrange a walking tour to hear more of its dynamic history and admire the excellent views from its hilltop vantage point. Kendal is also a festival hotspot; in November it welcomes the Kendal Mountain Festival, an award-winning adventure film and speaker festival and a must-visit gathering for outdoor enthusiasts.
Coniston
Coniston, nestled between Coniston Water and the Coniston Fells, has a copper mining and slate quarrying history and the village is surrounded by dramatic landscapes – lakes, mountains, waterfalls, tarns and woods. Walking, sightseeing, water sports, mountaineering and horse riding are all prevalent here.
The most notable feature of Coniston Village is The Old Man of Coniston, an 803-metre-high fell. For a slightly easier walk with incredible views, head to Tarn Hows, set more than 183 metres up in the hills. A lovely, easy, 1.5-mile pathway shows off the best of the gorgeous Langdale Pikes.
Another great way to see Coniston Water and the Fells is by the SteamYacht Gondola; glide your way past Coniston Hall and then on to Brantwood, the home of celebrated Victorian art critic and artist John Ruskin. You can alight here to explore the house, which is filled with many fine paintings, beautiful furniture and Ruskin’s personal treasures.
For outdoor adventures, Dream Escape can arrange for you to spend the day sheepherding with one of Britain’s most successful sheepdog handlers and the first woman to win the prestigious ‘One Man and His Dog’ competition.
Or you might enjoy making friends with a native pack pony during a traditional Fell Pony Adventure. Follow part of an old packhorse route through meadows, woods and fells.
Keswick and Ullswater
Keswick, on the lake of Derwentwater, is close to Bassenthwaite and Ullswater, as well as the mountains of Grisedale Pike, Skiddaw and Catbells, yet it’s not just a walkers’ paradise. Keswick is also one of the Lakes’ cultural highlights. Professional producing theatre, Theatre on the Lake, close to Derwentwater on the edge of Keswick, is in one of the prettiest theatre settings imaginable and you can (covid-permitting) catch a play here throughout the year.
Ullswater Lake
Image: Cumbria Tourism
Travel a little further out to visit the Castlerigg Stone Circle, perhaps the most atmospheric and dramatically sited of all British stone circles, or head to The Lakes Distillery and enjoy a private interactive tour to see how its whisky, gin, and vodka are made. And we mustn’t forget the most niche of museums; The Pencil Museum! It’s more than just pencils (although the collection does include gems such as secret Second World War pencils complete with hidden maps). Head out onto Ullswater Lake on a private charter for a relaxed view of the beautiful scenery or, if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, take time to visit Honister, an innovative adventure attraction (and also England’s last working slate mine). Here you can climb the original miners’ route (the Via Ferrata Classic), an exposed adventure climbing course created from cargo nets and wire bridges strung 366 metres above the valley floor. If you’re feeling particularly brave, take the bigger challenge by climbing the Via Ferrata Extreme!
Sunrise at Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks
Image ©Justin Foulkes/Lonely Planet
Ambleside
Ambleside is surrounded by magnificent Lakeland fells and is a town with an energetic vibe. Yet it’s also home to one of the oldest standing buildings in the Lakes, the quirky, picturesque Bridge House, which dates back to the 17th century.
Some of Beatrix Potter’s works can also be viewed at the Armitt Museum, Gallery and Library – she was one of its earliest supporters – which features the history of life, photography and the fine art of the Lake District. Or for a slice of contemporary art, head to the Old Courthouse Gallery, showcasing glassworks, jewellery, wall art and ceramics, which you can also buy.
Footpath in Hawkshead
Image ©VisitBritain/Robert Radlinski
Ravenglass
Ravenglass is the Lake District’s only coastal village and history emanates from every corner, from its Bronze Age settlements, Roman forts and Anglian crosses to its Viking remains, Norman churches and medieval mills. You might enjoy going back to the Victorian era of steam by experiencing the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway, which takes you on a stunning seven-mile journey through the National Park. Visit Muncaster Castle if you dare! - still lived in by the same family after nine centuries, Muncaster is said to be haunted. The castle itself is fascinating to explore and you can enjoy bird of prey displays at its Hawk and Owl Centre throughout the year.
Ennerdale Water
Those longing to experience utter tranquillity have hit the jackpot here, as Ennerdale Water is the National Park’s most remote lake. Offering a peaceful slice of Britain’s vast countryside, visit Ennerdale and expect crystal-clear waters, wonderful forest walks and outstanding views of the surrounding hilly landscape. This Lake District secret is so remote that it cannot be reached by road, although active adventurers can hop on a bike and enjoy the 10-mile cycle path that connects it to Whitehaven.
Hotels
Linthwaite House, Bowness
Linthwaite House Hotel
Linthwaite House Hotel
One of the most beautifully situated Windermere hotels, with more twists than a Le Carre novel, and blissful views over the waters and fells of Windermere. A much-loved, hill-top destination for many years, famed for its timeless ‘lived-in’ feel, it has enjoyed a change of ownership, in the guise of the internationally-renowned Leeu Collection.The surrounding gardens have been carefully landscaped and re-planted, with immense skill and imagination, to include a life-size sculpture of a lion, prowling in the deliberately long grass! Stay in the Hot Tub Suite and step out onto your own enclosed veranda or relax in a heated hot tub while gazing west across Lake Windermere to the Coniston fells. Dine in Simon Rogan's hugely anticipated new restaurant Henrock and enjoy natural, perfectly seasonal ingredients in a relaxed, informal setting. For seclusion, Dream Escape can arrange your stay in one of the six Woodland Suites, which are exquisite, quiet and undisturbed luxury.
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House, Bowness
A stylish, warm and well-managed 5* country-house hotel with 22 acres of grounds. It has been a family-owned hotel since 1987 and the Cunliffes are justly proud of its award-winning history, its Michelin-starred restaurant and its variety of first-class guest accommodation. If quiet hedonism is for you, you will love the exclusive Lake House, formerly a fishing lodge to the main house, offering six wildly spacious suites. Strutting peacocks on the lawn, rowing-boats at the fishing-jetty, indoor swimming pool, a small spa facility in the trees and a choice of hot tubs for open-air frolics!
Another Place, Ullswater
Wooden jetty by the lake at Another Place, Penrith.
Image: © DANIEL CASSON
The team behind the Watergate Bay Hotel opened Another Place on the shores of England's second largest lake, Ullswater. The 40-room hotel and spa includes a library, restaurant and 18 acres of secluded parkland where trees are strung with hammocks, a vegetable patch and a herb garden – plus a wooden jetty by the lake, where guests can go open-water swimming, stand-up paddle boarding and sailing.
