Lake District for a day - ideas wanted!

[GoldfinchesInTheTree]

So we are staying just below the lake district and we have a free day.

I know we need longer - but give we have a day what would you do with it?

I can't walk a long way - more 15-20mins at a time so not looking for a hike.

But maybe a scenic drive stopping at some viewpoints or short toddlers?

We were think g of starting at Windermere.

Any ideas? What would you do??

This is tomorrow BTW!! So will be a bit showery.

What about Peter Rabbit place? The World of Beatrix Potter.

Have you been to Keswick or Ambleside @GoldfinchesInTheTree ?

From the South you could drive up over the Kirkstone Pass (the B592) to Ullswater, you pass Brothers Water on the way down. Then maybe take a steamer on the lake from Glenridding.

Or drive North up the A591 past Thirlmere to Keswick , down through Borrowdale , over the Honister Pass to Buttermere and Crummock Water, circle back.

Another great scenic route would be from Ambleside into Great Langdale, and do the loop round little Langdale.

Depends how far you want to drive.

Where are you starting from?

Bowness, ferry across to claife viewing station and joeys cafe and back. There’s a flat path on that side you could wander along to explore a bit.
Then you could carry on up to Ambleside. Lots of shops etc.

I’d recommend Chester’s by the river too- little cafe and shop. You can walk along to the waterfall too (skelwith force)

Are you National Trust members? Sizergh Castle is at the southern end of the Lake District. Hill Top has to be pre-booked.

Take the 555 bus from Kendal to Keswick -- it's one of , if not the top bus journey in England and takes you through the heart of the scenic Lake District .

Oooh will look at all these.

Realise I wrote toddlers. I meant toddle! As in a short stroll.

We're coming up from below. Never bean before and live a billion miles away so hoping to see a lake or hill or too and pretty views and or pretty village.

We're not currently NY members, very happy to drive and see a bit more by "scenic drive" as only got a day rather than go to any attractions as such but like to stop and look at places (that makes sense to me - as in I think we're more likely to stop and wander to a waterfall rather than Beatrix Potter world)

I literally have no clue and usually plan to the nth degree so a spontaneous drive through the lake district is rather exciting.

I think we'll be driving up to lake Windermere and starting there. We'd wonders about a boat trip but it's so cold we might just admire?

Husband a bit nervous of single track roads that you might fall off after a bad experience in Cornwall but happy to drive!

So here's the 555 route. We were thinking of driving it maybe? (ND teen who likes the car)

Don’t think car ferry’s running atm

If you drove off the M6 at junction 36 you'd be able to drive up to Kendal, then Windermere, Ambleside and down to Coniston. Grizedale Forest is a lovely wander, there's different lengths of trails and there's lots of lovely carvings in the woods to look at.

Wray castle has a spectacular view with no effort involved. It has a cafe too. You can drive there via Ambleside but I’d recommend via newby bridge and hawkshead as there’s 4 way traffic lights nr Ambleside atm, which are a pain

I love the Lake District but found Bowness on Windermere to be the worst part of it (just a bit dull and dirty). I'd go up to Ambleside or Keswick or Grasmere - actually anywhere apart from Bowness! Just driving around is spectacular and you can pull over in some places and have a short wander.

This is all amazing thankyou. It looks like either exploring a few spots above /to the left of Windermere.

Or driving upto kendal.

Or both??

I'm so excited 😊

I love a magical mystery tour! If you come off the motorway and up through windermere, ambleside keswick you could do Chester tea rooms, with a short walk to skelwith force, on to Grasmere to the gingerbread shop, then up to keswick, maybe photo op at thirlmere then castlerigg stone circle, which is the jewel of the lakes, park up at the lakeside car park in keswick for a short bimble to friars cragg for amazing lake view drive on to the bowder stone - google it and then more scenic views at surprise view and a wonderful drive to the NT cafe at watenlath. Either jump on the motorway at the top of the Lakes to head home or meander your way back down the scenic way. All these walks prob 20mins or less

Wow that's really helpful. We might well do that. I so wish I had more than a day!

What did you do in the end?… Shame the weather didn’t give you the views, but it was a cery atmospheric day 😊

Yes we completely changed plan as it was so misty and spent the day at Windermere with a boat ride and a steam train and came home early.

Wasn't really what I'd planned/I was so up for a mystery tour but you couldn't see anything and what we did do was a lot of fun!

We will have to come back again 😁

It was very atmospheric going down the lake in reduced visibility as the trees appeared all eerie. It was a lovely day tbh!

If it's a nice day I'd drive to Keswick and brave the parking to get the boat around the lake. it's incredibly scenic. It's a nice drive to Keswick up the Motorway even. Lovely places to eat in Keswick and it's less manically touristy than Ambleside (small pavements hard to walk with so many tourists) and Windermere.

Edited -oops seen you've already been!