lake or peak district in september with a 10 month old

[ursigurke]

We are not British but living in London and planning to go on holiday in september (DD will be 10 months) and we would like to discover another beautiful part of the UK.
We have heard many nice things about both Lake and Peak district. Are those good destinations with a baby?
In the past we used to travel from B&B to B&B but now we look for a week (or two not sure yet) in a self catering accomodation as this seems better with the baby. So what would be a good central base for our stay? Or even better: any good recommendation for family friendly cottages?
We are planning/hoping to be a lot outdoor, to enjoy nature and hopefully to be able to do a couple of walks (rather short ones I guess).
We are usually not affraid of rain but I guess with a baby it is a bit different. So I'm actually not sure what we will do when the weather is too bad.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

[LordPanofthePeaks]

The Peaks are the centre of the universe, over which I am Lord.

Peak District is less 'dramatic' than Cumbria, which has many scenes which are reminiscent of the Scottish highlands. Peaks will no doubt be less expensive, and there are lots of varieties of walks and centres of population in the Peaks, and so touristy venues for those rare moments when the sun goes in, and we have liquid sunshine...........

[Lilymaid]

Both areas are fantastic - Lake District has more dramatic scenery - higher mountains and the lakes and tarns. Anywhere between and including Keswick to Ambleside would be in the central Lake District area.

However, if you opt for the Peak District, one advantage is that you can hire bikes (with child carriers etc) and cycle along the old railway tracks - Tissington Trail/Manifold Way and others - a lovely change from a walk.

I don't know about family friendly cottages, but thinking back (many years) I would think that having children's playgrounds etc on site is not important at 10 months, whereas it is a real boon when your children are older. Check whether there is a cot/high chair available and have a look at the cottage photos to make sure that it isn't full of the sort of knick-knacks that small children will try to eat/pull down etc!

[Catz]

We went to the Peaks at that time last year and stayed here which was nice (comfortable though not luxurious), near lots of places and had the major advantage of a pool that was v useful when it rained/when DD having nap. MN discount on cottages4you too. DD was 2 and I was 7 months pg so diff from you but we were looking for quite a relaxed hol but with nice walks nearby.

[ursigurke]

Thanks for the advice so far.
LordPan what an honour to meet you, I feel a bit under pressure which destination to choose
Lilymaid, I love biking, that could really be an idea. And with "family friendly" I was more thinking about cot, no problem with noise (although DD does really cry)... But I guess, when they advertise as family friendly it is actually about older children, so thanks for the tip about checking out photos.
Catz, that looks really nice, and a pool could be nice too. I guess it is always worth to have some indoor activity for bad weather.

[fifitot]

Langdale.co.uk

Hotel, country club, self catering lodges.

Pricey but lovely and there is a fab pool. Also a amall soft play, bar and restaurant on site and only around 4 miles from Ambleside and in terrific scenery. Oh and a spa! Well worth the expense. If you can do out of season there are some good offers on the s/c part of the site.

[fifitot]

www.langdale.co.uk/

[Blu]

I love the Lake District and the Peak District...but I think I would go to the Lakes for this hol, for the variety of fells and lakes. You can put a 10m old in a backpack and doa good litle walk - to a tarn or whatever, or a small fell top and get a great view, and also take a few easy days on the lakes - Ullswater, Wndermere and Derwentwater have steamer trips - on Derwentwater you can get on and off, and cover part of the way on a lovely flat lakeside path. The scenery on the Lakes is absolutely spectacular - but the small centres like Keswick, Ambleside or Grasmere are interetsing and charming, too.

[Blu]

It's a hell of a drive fom London to the Lakes (unless you are Canadian and drive 7.5 hours for a lunch date, and used to it )...if you went for 2 weeks, you could stay in the Peak District for the first week, as it is on the way, and then on to the Lakes!

[ursigurke]

thanks again for the advice. It seems at it will be rather the Lakes even if we aren't Canadian, Blu. It's rather the opposite, small country (Austria) and I'm always shocked that it takes more than just 3 or 4 hours to cross a country as it "looked so small on the map"
But as we have plenty of time this time it might just be worth to go up all the way and do the Peak District when it's just for a couple of days.
Oh, I'm really already looking forward to it.

[midnightexpress]

We stayed here in May and it was fabulous. It's in the woods, with just a couple of other houses nearby, and a short walk through the woods to the visitor centre at grizedale where there's a playground and a cafe. Lots of lovely walks from the cottage and a couple of miles from Hawkshead village (which is choclate box pretty). We had a wonderful week.

Oh and the garden is completely enclosed, so quite safe for a little one.

I disagree that it's a 'hell of a drive' to the lakes - it's only about 4 hours. It's not that bad.

[serin]

I love them both.
No use to you at all.

[Blu]

4 hours from where, MidnightExpress? Not from London, where the OP is driving from!

[midnightexpress]

Well, yes from London, it certainly isn't much more than 4 hours. I live in Glasgow and regularly drive down to London in 7 hours.

[Blu]

Blimey!

The AA routes site quotes Central london to Keswick as 306 miles, and taking 5.5 hours - but I do think they do their timings at 5 am when there is no traffic on the road. And NEVER encounter an over-turned caravan at the junction of the M6 / M42! Although I have done it in maybe 6 and a half hours not including a stop, when traffic not too bad. But unless you live at the bottom of the access road to the M1 or M40, it could take an hour getting out of London. And Keswick can be accessed fast from the M6 and A66 - anywhere in the middle of the Lakes will be a slow windy drive from big roads.

They quote Central London to Glasgow as 405 miles, and 7 hours 20 mins.

You must drive very fast

[ursigurke]

In all that discussion about the journey you shouldn't even forget that we are travelling with a 10 month old... Who is actually not used to sitting in the car as we do not have a car in London and therefore only drive on "special occasions". So we expect to need to stop very often. But anyway, we'll do the Lakes in the first week and keep the second week open. We'll see how it goes and maybe add a second week in the Peak district or just a couple of days and just go back to London.

[Blu]

I am WEEDY about driving long distances, esp with child in car, and we sometimes stop halfway overnight if we leave after school on a Fri night. You can get a room in a Travelodge on the M6 - Stafford, or a few more miles further North Crewe Barthomley for £23 for a family room if you book far enough in advance. Stafford better as it has a M&S and proper servoces with a microwave for baby food etc. Crewe Barthomely just has a horrid little Chef and a petrol station.

[ursigurke]

I'll keep those in mind, thank you very much. At the moment we rather think to leave early though and make the most of her nap times with longer breaks to play somewhere. Well, we still have time for those details!