5th February 2019

Make the Most of your Trip to the Lake District

There’s more to Cumbria than stunning views and vast bodies of water.

Sure, those are the main draws, but nestled amongst the mountainous terrain is a bevy of brilliant eateries, watering holes, museums and historic buildings. Look out for Wordsworth’s old home, the last working mine in the country and gingerbread made to a 160-year-old recipe, to name but a few.

Here are 7 things to tick off your list next time you explore this fascinating part of the world – to help make sure you make the most of your trip to the Lake District.

Lark about on Lake Windermere

Stretching for more than 10 miles between Ambleside and Newby Bridge, Windermere is not only the largest lake in the Lake District – it’s the largest lake anywhere in England. The main focus of attention is touristy Bowness-on-Windermere, where you can brave the quayside crowds before catching a scenic boat trip around the lake and its 18 islands.

Unleash your inner poet

The illustrious whitewashed cottage near Grasmere was William Wordsworth’s first home in the Lake District. Now owned by the Wordsworth Trust, it is full of memorabilia, including the poets ice-skates, passport, a pair of reading glasses and a portrait of one of his favourite dogs, Pepper, given to him as a present by Sir Walter Scott. At the back of the cottage is Wordsworth’s ‘domestic slip of mountain’ and the half-wild garden where he liked to sit and compose poetry.

Tour the Lakes Distillery

The Lakes Distillery is a relative newbie to the scene, having only opened in 2014, but it’s fast becoming a go-to- destination in Cumbria. Tours and tastings run daily and at the weekend you can meet their resident alpacas. There’s also a fully-stocked shop, should you want to take a little something home. Need to soak up some of that booze? There’s a decent little restaurant here, too.

Go on a rabbit hunt

A farmhouse in Near Sawrey is where Beatrix Potter created some of her best-known stories. She bought the house in 1905 (funded largely by royalties from her first book, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny) and bequeathed it to the National Trust following her death in 1943. Potter scholars will spot many features from the author’s illustrations – including Mrs Tiggywinkle’s kitchen and Mr MacGregor’s cottage garden.

Sample the Local Tucker

Victorian baker Sarah Nelson, who once lived in the cottage, came up with the concoction there in 1854. This delicate, spiced, wonderfully chewy gingerbread has been a big seller ever since, and you can only get it from a few select places. Our recommendations would be the shop, naturally, or the Wordsworth Hotel next door, where you can sit down and enjoy your gingerbread with a cuppa.

Stroll around the shores of Derwentwater

Keswick’s fortunes were founded on graphite and slate-mining, but this busy market town is now chiefly worth visiting for its handsome location beside Derwentwater, said to be Beatrix Potter’s favourite lake. Cruisers putter across the lake from the jetties beside Hope Park, or there are traditional wooden rowing boats if you want to explore at your own pace.

Saunter to Castlerigg Stone Circle

From the centre of Keswick it’ll take you roughly half an hour to walk to the circle. Look out for grazing sheep while you’re at it; they roam freely around the stone circle. If you’re after something free and family or dog-friendly, this is a good option. Plus, the Stone Circle has a solar alignment, so head along for summer solstice – it’s one of the more tranquil midsummer celebrations.

If you want to make the most of your trip to the Lake District, we have a collection of holiday cottages across Cumbria, in locations including Keswick, Threlkeld and Windermere.