Holiday in the Lake District?

CupofTea · 3 January 2018 at 11:45AM

I'm not much of a holidayer at all except London city breaks but I think it's time to enjoy nature.

I'm thinking early and I'm thinking Lake District in September hoping it will be good weather.

We can actually go any time of the year as our kids are small so not tied down to school hours and read July has a lot of rain which I want to avoid.

I see there's many different areas to choose from.and e can move around and also have a car etc but probably can't do long walks with little ones unless we go with grandparents and take turns having me time!

I want to avoid heavily touristy areas and will be okay with taking our own food etc due to specific food diet (allergies!).

Could anyone recommend when to go, where to go etc? Thanks for your help!

[Deleted User] · 3 January 2018 at 12:14PM

If you want quiet your best bet would probably be the east, somewhere like Kentdale, Longsleddale, Mardale etc. In the SW, Eskdale & Wasdale are quiet in the sense that there are no conurbations there, but they will be busier with walkers.

You can find good walking pretty much anywhere, but as you say you may not be able to do much, you really need to consider what you want to be doing whilst you're there, as it can be vey time consuming getting from a remote area to wherever you want to be for the day.

For this reason, I'd suggest you consider Keswick, or perhaps a village just outside such as Portinscale or Braithwaite. I usually gravitate toward Keswick, partly because I like the town (it doesn't feel to me as commercialised as Ambleside & Windermere), but also because it's at the hub of several major roads which makes it a good base for getting to anywhere else as quickly as possible.

Floozie · 19 January 2018 at 5:09PM

I would avoid Bowness in Windermere which I call the Blackpool of the Lake District. Lake Ullswater is less touristy and there are great walks around there. Recently a posh hotel has opened which overlooks Lake Ullswater which is supposed to be good for families but I think it will not be cheap, it is called Another Place.
We have a lot of rain in Cumbria, not just restricted to July so it might be worthwhile considering accommodation that offers something to do when it rains, maybe some leisure facilities.

carlislelass · 19 January 2018 at 6:20PM

Floozie wrote: »

I would avoid Bowness in Windermere which I call the Blackpool of the Lake District. Lake Ullswater is less touristy and there are great walks around there. Recently a posh hotel has opened which overlooks Lake Ullswater which is supposed to be good for families but I think it will not be cheap, it is called Another Place.
We have a lot of rain in Cumbria, not just restricted to July so it might be worthwhile considering accommodation that offers something to do when it rains, maybe some leisure facilities.

I was brought up in Cumbria, the county of 4 seasons in 1 day!!

p00hsticks · 19 January 2018 at 8:10PM

CupofTea wrote: »

I'm thinking early and I'm thinking Lake District in September hoping it will be good weather.

If good weather's important to you then it may be worth looking at places on the east side of the country, which is usally dryer than the west.

I'm sure the Lake District is lovely but on all four days I've been there it's poured with rain.....

PompeyPete · 19 January 2018 at 9:14PM

How about basing yourselves in Lancaster or Morecambe.
Just south of the Lake District, but right by the M6, which'll get you up the road quickly.
Plenty to occupy your time in the area.

Floozie · 20 January 2018 at 3:53PM

I agree with my fellow posters in maybe basing yourself on the outskirts of the Lake District area in towns and cities which are near enough for you to commute into the Lake District during the day-bases such as Morecambe or Lancaster as already suggested, or Carlisle or Kendal.

Ilona · 21 January 2018 at 7:56PM

I had a stay at the Abbot Hall Hotel at Grange over Sands, it's a Christian Guild Hotel but don't worry about that, you don't have to be a Christian to stay there. There is a swimming pool and the staff and food are first class. Grange is a smashing small town, and you can drive up into the Lakes for a day if you want to.

Ilona

Pennywise · 1 February 2018 at 8:57PM

Floozie wrote: »

I would avoid Bowness in Windermere which I call the Blackpool of the Lake District.

Fair enough but that's your preference. If walking etc isn't the OPs idea of a holiday (maybe not with young children) or they want rainy day attractions, then the area around Bowness and Lake Windermere is probably better for them, i.e. Beatrice Potter attraction at Bowness, Aquarium and steam train at Lakeside (South of Lake Windermere), Motor museum at Haverthwaite (South of the lake again). Also better range of shops, restaurants, cafes etc at Bowness.

caspar9 · 14 February 2018 at 11:24PM

I would really recommend you visit towards the middle to the end of September. There is usually a good run of settled weather around this time of year. If you like quiet why not rent a cottage in the Langdale valley in Chapel Stile. There is a lovely village shop for essentials. It isn't that far to get back into Ambleside and down to Windermere for some attractions. You just need to be aware that the roads can be narrow and lots of co-operative driving is required.

Holiday in the Lake District?

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