T'is the season to get stuck in traffic (Lake District Edition!)

[OtterTails]

I haven't been away or to the Lakes for about 5 years. It was extremely busy between March and Oct back then, and only a bit quieter in winter. DP and I are considering a two week break and are happy to take the train as we used to love the scenic buses and wouldn't' have to worry about parking each day.

However, we have friends who live in Windermere and Newby Bridge, who both say that since the pandemic the vibe has really changed and the atmosphere can be quite manic in the towns, not to mention modded cars blasting through the tiny streets at all hours. A family member who visited a few months ago said the main circuit felt more booze and loud music than dogs and walkers, if that makes any sense.
We were told a typical street set way back from the town centres (which always used to be sedate) would now be chock to the brim with loud vehicles and a much louder boozy atmosphere compared to before the pandemic. Loud vehicles were agreed to be the main issue throughout, rattling the houses, even off the main roads.

Stuff like that sets my teeth on edge.

Anyone live locally? Or visited since Covid?
We used to love hiking and visiting all the typical places, and even though the honey pots were always extremely busy, it was still so friendly, and we didn't mind the bustle if we had a nice place to go back to to cosy up at night.
We don't really want to face disappointment if the general tone has altered, so could look around elsewhere.

I go every school holidays - from there originally and visit Mum. I think this may be true of Bowness and Ambleside to some extent, although I have always found them busier and more touristy. We stay up Keswick end and it’s still fab. There are still quieter corners and lakes to go to and avoid the crowds.

Been loads. Central Ambleside (and maybe Bowness/Windermere?) are busy in summer, restaurants full etc, but I didn’t notice major noise problems. If it worries you maybe stay in Keswick or Grasmere or Hawkshead or one of the villages on a bus route. Borrowdale valley is lovely and quiet.

I wouldn’t go to Windermere or Newby Bridge as they’ve gone horrible busy (and they were always busy!!) there’s so many quieter areas though. Keswick is heaving constantly but very much full of walkers and dogs. I’ve never thought it was rowdy, totally wrong crowd for that as a general rule. I love Cockermouth, it’s a beautiful town, much quieter and you’re in easy reach of the western fells. The only issue is that the further north and west you go the more shit the public transport gets. What about Penrith?

Thanks, i think we might want to take the car if going further out from transport links. Will have a think about that.

I think what i meant wasnt about it being busy exactly, but that the atmosphere was different. We never heard revving or any kind of 'townie' type behaviour (loudness, littering etc) 5 yeas ago, and the evenings were dead quiet outside of the main strips. I am told that the boy racer types have took a shine to the place and there's a lot more entitled, anti social behaviour.

Our family member was in Windermere more recently and said even though they were set back from the main areas, the front of the house was disturbed throughout the day and night by revving and slamming - people giving their cars a wash, blocking entry to the houses whilst full volume drum/bass deafening the residents.

Sounds bloody awful.

People washing cars aren’t usually tourists. I’m not sure there’s been a particular influx of residents with loud vehicles to Cumbrian tourist towns and villages as far as I can see.

I did a google search and found a few issues with 'clashing' stag do's and vehicle noise, not a lot of info out there really.

Perhaps due to marketing and a growing interest in airb&b's there's a different crowd hading up there? Then again, we live in a quiet suburb and noise levels seem to have increased in general. To my mind, vehicles in general are much louder nowadays. Perhaps it's everywhere.

I remember a man from a quiet Derbyshire village saying the roads became a menace during covid.

Sounds like your friends are a bit grumpy…it’s fine. Busy in areas you expect to be busy but not in the proper mountains/further away from the motorway access, Covid was very busy but has returned back to normal now.
people are still welcoming but lots of the small cafes and places have struggled with staffing (thanks brexit) and people spending less so often have reduced opening hours and are very happy to have business if you go.

Not my experience at all. Of course Bowness attracts a younger crowd, thankfully, but The Lakes continue to welcome all.
I think you'll find Ambleside, with 3 Michelin starred restaurants in the village, now attracts more 'foodies' who used to be more Cartmel based.
The major routes are busy, particularly because the Kirkstone Pass is having improvements throughout this year. I'm seeing more electric cars though, so I haven't noticed more noise.
Keswick has been particularly quiet this week and Grasmere was busier than last March. Open water swimmers are flocking in, but they don't tend to be the littering type.
I have no problem finding isolation when I want it.

There is also noticeably more electric cars in the lakes which make less traffic noise.

I'm just back from 3 days in keswick and 4 in coniston. I'm a regular lakes visitor but I'm not sure I'll be back. The whole vibe is busier and more frenetic, especially at the weekend.

Thanks everyone, this is interesting.
My friends and family aren't grumpy but I will tax them on it, lol.

It might be a case of we all perceive it differently, but i do recall a lot of bad press during the pandemic (and even on here) about a rise in antisocial behaviour, littering and carelessness in the Lakes.

My sister lives in Keswick and it isn’t as you describe!
She lives just 2 streets away from the town centre and in high season they do not use their car at all as it’s just so busy with tourists cars. However, they manage just fine either walking or using the bus.

Wouldn't that be the residents though? I know someone who rented for 6 months near Smithy Brow in Ambleside and the bikers going up the hill every day were a dealbreaker for him.
People love the place and who can blame them??!! It's a toughie.

We’ve been a couple of times since Covid and make a big effort not to use the car in the busy areas as traffic is just impossible. Around Windermere we use bikes and the hop on off boats. Or we go to a campsite somewhere like hawkshead where there’s enough to do without moving the van (we have a campervan).

I live in Windermere. It was super busy post Covid and a lot more antisocial behaviour around the lake etc but I do think it's calmed down now.

I usually only go in winter these days. I don't like crowds, I go to the lakes to get away from it all.

I went to bowness for a week's holiday to meet up with a friend last August (location not my decision) and it was pretty awful tbh. Traffic was mad, queues for everything, shops rammed, restaurants fully booked. Everything had to be planned in advance.

Never mind though, the weather was beautiful and we did a lot of walking!

Can't say I've experienced any of what you've been told OP.

Are your friends trying to put you off visiting

Thanks, this is looking more hopeful!

Are your friends trying to put you off visiting
No, not at all, they love the place and usually defend it at all costs.

I mentioned up thread that maybe the loud vehicles are country-wide now, so towns and hot spots will get more than their share. So maybe not a Lake District problem but a change in our general environment. We live in a quiet suburb at the edge of a busy town so get very little traffic noise, but even that has increased in the past 5 years. If we go out walking into town the magnitude of farting exhausts hits you like a tsunami the closer you get to the centre...i think they like being seen

All the tourist places were busy in the pandemic when it was risky or illegal to go abroad. I don’t think there’s been a lasting change though I wouldn’t go to say Ambleside on a bank holiday but then I wouldn’t have 5 years ago either. There are whole swathes of the Western lakes in particular which still seem pretty undiscovered (though the pay off is they’re difficult to get to)

I agree, Ambleside or any of the densely visited towns would be hell on a bank holiday, but then it doesn't seem to stop people. They are braver than I !

We are considering the Peak District at the moment for a change, we used to love going to Castleton and Edale long ago, walking up Kinder Scout and MamTor. It would be lovey to revisit.

I do have a very soft spot for Bowness though, regardless it's reputation for being the Lake District's 'Blackpool'. We only ever tend to visit in the low season, so a bit late in the day now for peace and relaxation as Easter appoaches..