The Lake District - WHY???

[washedoutandabout]

Rain, drizzle and yet more rain. Grey sky, grey houses and damp. Everyone in anoraks. Mist and fog and more grey. Plus I’m here with a bunch of American relatives who are all gung-ho and outward-bound and very loud, shrill “upspeak” voices, who think even the grottiest pub is “Awesome!!” Plus DH loves it and is showing off on his competitive extreme hikes.

Help - take me back to Fulham!

AIBU to think this is hell on earth?

Manky phone. Nothing manly about it.

Get your self to The Drunken Duck - Ambleside. It's a gorgeous pub & restaurant.

To be fair, I live in a similar type of countryside in the NW and it's been horrific today! Yesterday was glorious and it's meant to be lovely again from Sunday. It can be the most beautiful or the most gloomy place! I do love the lakes, but I'd avoid them in the summer, particularly in school holidays, but I'm a bit of a humbug.

kateandme as we come from Scotland, we've tended to base ourselves in the North Lakes. It depends what type of accommodation you are looking for and whether you want to be in a twon or village with a pub. We tend to go out during the day and just have dinner on the way home or eat in so we tend to go for a lodge as we are happy to be in in the evening. We like Keswick Reach or Thanet Well. More facilities at Keswick reach but we really don't mind as we are not really out in the evening. Happy with some nice beers/ciders/wine etc and snacks and cosied in playing games or cards or watching a movie.

www.darwinescapes.co.uk/parks/keswick-reach-lodge-retreat/

If you are not into high hikes, there is a hill nearby (name escapes me) that you can drive part way up so it's not a big walk and you get lovely views'

My in-laws are Cumbrian. I'd say 95% of the times we have driven up over the A66 from Yorkshire to Cumbria, in the 20 years we've been together, it starts to rain almost exactly at the point we pass the 'welcome to cumbria' sign. 🙄🤣
In the nice weather, the lakes can be beautiful, but as many PPs have said, probably in the less touristy, rambler heavy places.
And I find the people a bit weird, but I can say that I guess, because I'm married to one of them... 🤣

But it's defo not worse than London. I love London, but only for a few days at a time.

and again

Go to The Fulling Mill restaurant.

Latrigg, WaxOn?

I guess the OP has never seen any of the cartoons about Cumbrian weather. Too late now.

That's it tails!! thanks :)

Yanbu

The forecast is better from mid morning tomorrow, so hopefully that'll help.
Buttermere/Crummock are my favourite places to be (I live about 10 miles away) - I'm sure a low level walk round Buttermere (about 4.5 miles and refreshments available at both ends of the lake!) or a walk up Rannerdale Knotts with amazing views of Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater from the top, will change your mind:-) If not, then there's no hope for you I fear
For kids - Brockhole or Lowther Castle near Penrith worth a visit.

Just locked myself in the bathroom to escape screeching charades and to check MN.

I see TheMildManneredDuck outed me with photographic evidence on page 12.

I don’t know why I find it so hard here. It’s not just the rain and grey. Everything is so steep and awkward. For instance, if you had some lovely shoes, when could you wear them? I know I sound like a “soft Londoner” or whatever, but just the other day, I was strolling down the Thames when the light catches the water and that’s enough for me, without all this. If it rains in London, it rarely hangs all day like doom and it doesn’t really come at you sideways. Plus the lights and everything else distract you from the grim weather and you can walk on a flat pavement in normal shoes to a lovely cafe or something like that. I realise how much I’ve taken for granted really, in this respect. But everyone else here is raving about the Lakes and DH is delirious. There’s a whole hike planned for tomorrow so I’ll just go with it.

The view from my tent last year. I wish I was there now!

I do think the terrain can be a shock if you are from flatter parts of the UK, especially when driving (though this isn't lake District specific) but it can make you feel a bit out of place

Kateandne

How many, what does he like, what kind of pubs/ restaurants

I'm also not that keen. The lakes aren't a patch on the lochs in Scotland if you want moody atmosphere.

Really annoying lack of pavements if you want to walk anywhere too.

And to whoever said they didn't like Cornwall because it rains, you're crazy - the weather in Cornwall moves fast. I go there 3 times a year, it's never rained a whole day yet.

Beautiful place. Even in the rain. You have no soul. Bowness-on-Windermere is hell for crowds though.

Ooohh hope your footwear is appropriate for tomorrow OP, how long is your hike? Take sausage rolls n stuff to munch en route.

Could you head over to drigg and ravenglass? If it's even slightly nicer weather the beaches are lovely and it's a different type of scenic. Or go to Rheged!

I lived in the lakes all my adult life. Moved to Carlisle when I met DH and really appreciate that we don't have to rely on bloody Booths in Keswick for their overpriced everything. I also like living somewhere it's possible to buy normal socks. Wouldn't be anywhere near the lakes for the next 6 weeks if I could avoid it!

Ooh just read your update and you're quite right! Used to live in ambleside and the Charlotte Mason students turned up looking all glam and beautiful for the first term... and then everyone descended into fleeces and you wouldn't see a pair of heels until next September!

My favourite place on earth. YABU

You're not only BU but you're also deranged, trying to suggest it doesn't rain in London.

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. My husband loves the Lake District whilst I feel it's just all a bit too manicured and picture-perfect for my tastes. I prefer somewhere a bit rougher and wilder (ideally without gung-ho Americans, you have my sympathies on that one).

How rude of your relatives to have a different accent than you just because they come from another country.