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Best place to stay in the Lake District?
eryn_kathleen
Posts: 336 Forumite
We went to the lakes two weeks ago and we're already planning to go back for two weeks in late September/early October!
I wondered where everyone's favourite places to stay are. Do you prefer rural or town? Cottage or B&B?
I'll start off: we stayed in Gingerbread Cottage in Hawkshead. I prefer rural, but hubby prefers town, and Hawkshead worked pretty well for both of us. It was very quiet and dark at night, but it was nice to have a few pubs and restaurants nearby. The location was reasonably central for getting around in the Lakes, although DH found roads in the Lakes to be slow going because they're winding and narrow. We found Hawkshead itself a bit weird - lots of shops and rental properties, very few locals, and very busy on the weekends. But I guess that's typical of many Lakes villages!
My sister-in-law and her partner stayed in Weir Cottage in Chapel Stile and we stayed with them for two nights. Chapel Stile was great for a couple - beautiful scenery, very peaceful, and a really good pub (I think it's called Wainwrights) with great beer, nice food, and quizzes on Tuesdays. It's also a really well-placed for walking the Langdale valley, so even in early March it was filled with what I think of as 'proper walkers' - identified by their fancy but muddied gear and walking poles!
Personally, I'd love to stay in Skelwith Bridge, Elterwater, or Chapel Stile (all very small villages near Ambleside, so quite central but still quiet) but the reasonably-priced accommodation there fills up quickly. We want to go for 2 weeks, so we're being particularly tight with the accommodation costs!
Has anyone stayed in Ambleside itself? Is it noisy at night? How's the traffic, etc? I really like Ambleside's location and amenities, but I'm afraid it will be too 'towny' for me to enjoy. We're also considering staying in or near Coniston (loved Brantwood, and the Jumping Jenny cafe!).
I wondered where everyone's favourite places to stay are. Do you prefer rural or town? Cottage or B&B?
I'll start off: we stayed in Gingerbread Cottage in Hawkshead. I prefer rural, but hubby prefers town, and Hawkshead worked pretty well for both of us. It was very quiet and dark at night, but it was nice to have a few pubs and restaurants nearby. The location was reasonably central for getting around in the Lakes, although DH found roads in the Lakes to be slow going because they're winding and narrow. We found Hawkshead itself a bit weird - lots of shops and rental properties, very few locals, and very busy on the weekends. But I guess that's typical of many Lakes villages!
My sister-in-law and her partner stayed in Weir Cottage in Chapel Stile and we stayed with them for two nights. Chapel Stile was great for a couple - beautiful scenery, very peaceful, and a really good pub (I think it's called Wainwrights) with great beer, nice food, and quizzes on Tuesdays. It's also a really well-placed for walking the Langdale valley, so even in early March it was filled with what I think of as 'proper walkers' - identified by their fancy but muddied gear and walking poles!
Personally, I'd love to stay in Skelwith Bridge, Elterwater, or Chapel Stile (all very small villages near Ambleside, so quite central but still quiet) but the reasonably-priced accommodation there fills up quickly. We want to go for 2 weeks, so we're being particularly tight with the accommodation costs!
Has anyone stayed in Ambleside itself? Is it noisy at night? How's the traffic, etc? I really like Ambleside's location and amenities, but I'm afraid it will be too 'towny' for me to enjoy. We're also considering staying in or near Coniston (loved Brantwood, and the Jumping Jenny cafe!).
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Comments
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eryn_kathleen wrote: »We're also considering staying in or near Coniston (loved Brantwood, and the Jumping Jenny cafe!).
I can't offer any accomodation advice - but I will say that any excuse to go to Jumping Jennys is a good one in my book. BTW, the coffee shop at Chesters is well worth a look in as well.:beer:
p.s. i'm biased, but I think that MY house is the best place to stay in The Lake District :j:j:A:beer::D0 -
If you are going to go for two weeks why not stay for a week in each of two different areas?0
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Staying one week each in two different places was my plan too, but DH thinks that's too much of a faff. Silly boy!
I was really just being nosy about other people's experiences...
P.S. - Murphy, do you have any spare room? I'm assuming your rates are cheap!:D0 -
eryn_kathleen wrote: »Staying one week each in two different places was my plan too, but DH thinks that's too much of a faff. Silly boy!
I was really just being nosy about other people's experiences...
P.S. - Murphy, do you have any spare room? I'm assuming your rates are cheap!:D
If you can talk your OH around, that would be a great solution, as all of the places that you have mentioned have a lot going for them.
I do have spare capacity ATM, but it would mean you rooming with my baby daughter, who currently isn't the best sleeper in the world :rotfl: 0 -
So not quite the peaceful holiday for two of our dreams, then! :rotfl:
I'll approach DH again, now that I have expert opinion to back me up!0 -
There is a holiday cottage at Rydal Hall, which is near Ambleside. It is a bit basic though, and they recently increased their prices so I'm not sure how they compare to other places any more. £260 a week off peak. It is quite a nice area to be in. Sometimes they have weddings or school groups in the barn that is quite close.
http://www.rydalhall.org/0 -
"Sumptus censum ne superet"
Mental blocks are just hurdles to overcome in life.
Yeah..whatever :rolleyes:0 -
Ambleside Online has quite few private rental properties on their website
If you stay in peak season it can get really busy. However if you stay 5 mins walk away from the centre it is very peaceful and quiet.
If you are looking to stay in Ambleside I would suggest trying to get a property that has a parking space as you can end up spending large amounts in the car parks
I have stayed at a couple in Ambleside just up from The Apple Pie Shop both with free parking
http://www.amblesideonline.co.uk/
http://www.amblesideonline.co.uk/display/pinfold/main.html0 -
I usually stay with Helen at the Hazledene in Keswick. Have a look at their webcam for the views.
Fortyfoot0
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