The Lake District

Travel

The Lake District

One of the most beautiful areas of the UK, the Lake District is of course all about the stunning scenery and fabulous walking. But can you really make a trip a complete holiday, suitable for all ages? Solange Hando gives us a tour of some of the highlights based around the area’s largest lake, Windermere. Lake Windermere is a long ribbon of water that is the largest natural lake in England. Fed by rivers as it stretches south, it is no more than a mile across but over ten miles long and about 220 feet deep. It is home to Atlantic salmon, arctic char, brown trout and more. But equally magical for visitors are quaint villages and mountain peaks rising all around, mirrored in its glistening waters.

On the water

Dozing around the nineteenth century rail station, the small town of Windermere is a mile or so from the lake. But Bowness-on-Windermere, its older neighbour, is the tourists’ honeypot, with a ferry across the water and fabulous cruises on modern or traditional boats, providing allocated seating and commentary. Sail north to Ambleside or south to Lakeside, or book the circular Island Cruise for stunning views of the isles, the mountains, wooded shores and bays. There are aquatic plants and wintering birds, swans gliding here and there and pretty sails flapping in the breeze. It’s a lovely way to relax and some cruises allow you to stop and return on a later boat.

Back on land

Perhaps visit a museum or two, maybe the Lakeland Motor Museum or the Jetty Museum of ‘Boats, Steam and Stories’, look around the Bobbin Mill or the Blackwell Arts & Crafts House. For families, the World of Beatrix Potter is a must. Character displays, storytelling, all sounds and smells and a fairylike gift shop, it fires anyone’s imagination. Beatrix loved her holidays in Windermere and later bought a house, ‘Hill Top’ in Near Sawrey, which inspired many of her books. Both the house and the cottage garden are open to the public. Meanwhile in Ambleside, the mock-Gothic Wray Castle is a great place for children to roam around with a chance to dress up and build their own foam castle.

Historic Homes

Then there are historic houses, such as Holker Hall, home of the Cavendish family, and delightful gardens, among them Ryder Hall and its 500-yearold sweet chestnut tree, or in the spring Stagshaw, ablaze with azaleas and rhododendrons or the quiet Dora’s Field full of daffodils, just like the originals planted by Wordsworth in memory of his beloved daughter. The poet, who wrote over 70,000 lines, spent much of his life around Grasmere and you can visit Dove Cottage and its museum and Rydal Mount,

the final home near his humble grave in St Oswald’s churchyard.

On the rails

Railway enthusiast? Let’s face it, who isn’t when it’s nothing like a commute, so don’t miss the steam train from Haverthwaite to Lakeside and soak up the scenery along the lake and the river Leven near Fell Foot Park. It’s a short trip but can be combined with a visit to the Lakes Aquarium.

For the more adventurous

For an adrenaline buzz try mountain biking, treetop walking, kayaking, abseiling or trekking in the hills. Horse riding is another option – previous experience not required – which is very popular with families. Of course, there’s a lot of water around so sailing, swimming. paddleboarding and other water activities are great fun as the weather warms up.

Winding down

When evening comes, take time to wander, ‘lonely as a cloud’, as the sun sets all purple and gold over quiet waters.