Lake District on Easter - Advice needed

addictive_saver

Hi,

I live in Norwich and planning for a 3-4 day trip to Lake District with my wife from 6th April to 9th April (Easter Long Weekend)

Travel options

Train > Costs approx £100 (for both of us return) takes around 8-9 hrs

Air travel > Flybe > costs approx £150 (for both of us return) till Manchester

As air-travel is costing bit more, saves lot of travel time.

Could you please advise me in finding cheapest air travel option for this travel.

Also need to know some decent (and also cheaper) accomodation option, preferably youth hostel.

Thanks
Addictive_saver

ckerrd

Can you not make the train journey part the trip - so to speak?
Where are you travelling to?

How are you getting to the Lake District from Manchester? Will that not add to your costs?

Which bit of the lake district are you thinking of?

ShockingPink

Flying to the lakes isn't really a good idea (imho) - you'd need to get the train or hire a car to get from the airport anyway. There are direct trains from Manchester to Windermere, though.

It does very much depend on whereabouts you want to be - we live in the lakes and travel all over by train. It's sometimes possible to get cheaper tickets and it's nice and relaxing.

Do you wnat to be in a "honeypot" area or do you want somewhere a bit quieter?

tightbarsteward

Where do you plan to fly to? I live in the Lake District & the nearest airport is Blackpool which is an hour & half drive still. Where are you planning to visit or stay at?

addictive_saver

I am planning to stay in Windermere, Keswick OR Kendal.. Not decided yet..

I don't know driving hence car-hire option is not available to me..

I am planning to roam by public transport (bus or train, whichever is available)..

ShockingPink

Windermere or Kendal are probably best to get to by train. Windermere's got a bike hire company on site, which is useful.

When you arrive, go to the Tourist info centre or library and ask for a copy of "To and through Cumbria". It's all the train, bus and ferry times for the whole county, and is really useful and free! If in Windermere go down to Bowness and have a ride on the steam bus. It's really unusual, and if you have a pensioners' or disabled person's travel pass it's free of charge, which is handy.

How did you manage such cheap train fares? I've had a quick look and the prices for Easter weekend look horrific!

JanetG

This link takes you to the Lake District page of the YHA website.

http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/the-lake-district/

At the bottom of the page is a bit of information about the YHA shuttle bus which runs between 8 hostels and will carry your rucksack for you. It also picks up from Windermere station. It starts running at Easter - call 0870 770 5672 for more info.

I've stopped in Coniston Holly How hostel and can definately recommend it.

Have a great time
Janet

liames

Hi
Friends of mine stay at the Watermill Inn in Ings about 2 miles east of Windermere. https://www.watermillinn.co.uk.

ckerrd

Trains also stop at Oxenholme which is near Kendal.

Tourist info here

http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/Oxenholme/Oxenholme.php


Vrigin trains do have seats available on your dates - £175 for two people Takes just over 6 hours

EDIT - and the Kendal youth hostel has availability £17.5 per/p/p/night

addictive_saver

Thanks a lot everybody..

I will just have a look at all these options and will let you know...



EDIT: As mentioned earlier, flybe charges £150 (for two people return) Norwich > Manchester on these days.. saving lots of time..

Vrigin trains do have seats available on your dates - £175 for two people Takes just over 6 hours

ShockingPink

Don't forget to add in an hour's check in each side of your journey if you're flying. The trip from Manchester airport to Windermere takes between 2 and 2.5 hours on the train, depending on times. Driving from Manchester would be about the same.

Be green - let the train take the strain.

BTW - haven't stayed at the hostel in Coniston, but Coniston itself is really nice and not quite as busy as Windermere.