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AIBU?

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Original poster

The Lake District - WHY???

637 replies

washedoutandabout · 19/07/2019 19:03

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
28
lakeswimmer · 19/07/2019 23:55

For instance, if you had some lovely shoes, when could you wear them?

Well I don't have any lovely shoes as they don't really interest me and is probably one of the reasons I live in Cumbria and not London. If I did though I would probably wear them to go for a meal in one of the many upmarket restaurants or smart hotels! We do also have pavements and offices you know, especially in the larger towns around the edges of the county.

One of the reasons I like living here is I can spend my days in jeans, jumpers and flat shoes and no-one cares. I'm always a bit freaked out when I got to a city and feel as if I have to consider my appearance Grin

tobeforgotten · 19/07/2019 23:56

Green desert.
Let some trees grow.

CherryPavlova · 19/07/2019 23:58

Why the Lakes?
The children splashing and playing in mountain streams for hours, catching little fish in the Derwent at Grange, climbing a real mountain at five and the joy of seeing the other side from on high.
Older kids canyoning, kayaking and sailing on the lake. Picnics on little islands. Skipping pebbles and building rafters whilst waiting for the launch.
Walking all day and seeing nobody. Camping in a tiny tent with just the two of you and a tiny cooker. Listening to the rain patter on the flysheet as you snuggle up together.
Finding magical spots together. Skinny dipping in remote tarns.
Delicious food at places like Littletown farm, Casa Della and many more. Plum bread toasted for breakfast. Sunny evenings with a walk to the Swinside inn.Swimming at the Lodore Hotel with the most beautiful view of any pool in England. Giant scones from Nichol End after sailing or waiting for the launch. An excellent theatre.
What’s not to love.
High heels are for work!

Bluearsedfly36 · 20/07/2019 00:08

@CherryPavlova I love the swinside. Used to drink in the coledale too 😁

PickAChew · 20/07/2019 00:22

Haha at lovely shoes @washedoutandabout

If by lovely you mean heels, then I live in Durham and watching someone negotiate the uphill both ways city centre cobbles is a local past time. 9
0ne pair of heels and everyone stops what they're doing to observe.

Except on a Saturday afternoon, when they've buggered off unless they're getting ratted, too.

gollygoodnessgraciousme · 20/07/2019 00:24

If you're not bothered about the scenery and whatnot get yourself to Cartmel races tomorrow or Monday. It's a pretty big affair, and there are rides etc for the kids. It's good fun. And it is a beautiful little village!

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 20/07/2019 00:37

You're in one of the most beautiful places on earth. But I guess some people just aren't happy unless they're unhappy

The Lake District is lovely on a clear day, or even on a day with some clear intervals. But all-day mist and rain? Meh. There's not much benefit being in one of the most beautiful places on earth if you can't see more than three feet through the drizzle. DH and I once went on a weekend trip to the West of Scotland... we passed by some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK and we could see nothing at all. Just the road, a few wet trees at the roadside, and a wall of solid grey mist, for the whole weekend. I prefer the East coast, it's usually cold and windy and maybe it's not as beautiful but at least you can see the view.

I wouldn't wear high heels outdoors in North Devon either.

CherryPavlova · 20/07/2019 00:45

@ Yes Coledale too it a bit further for the children to walk back after a long day. We like the Pheasant at Bassenthwaite too but children were less keen until recently.

Snowy111 · 20/07/2019 04:19

Tomorrow is another rainy day - maybe drive to the Honister slate mine, or (if you are a confident driver) drive over the hardknott pass.

Sunday is nice - Hawkshead is one of the best places on Earth. Park in the one car park, there’s a little shop next to the car park with an very friendly man sat outside. He sells packs of easy 5 mile walks, all the walks are fab. If you walk up Latterbarrow from Hawkshead you can see almost the whole of Windermere - it’s stunning.

Hope you learn to love it!

Time40 · 20/07/2019 05:13

YANBU. I don't get it, either.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 20/07/2019 05:32

I go to the lakes every single weekend. It can be grey in the rain for sure but on a sunny day it's stunning.

This time of year is awful for crowds though and I do think the traffic has got a lot worse over the past ten/twenty years.

Best to go in January!

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 20/07/2019 05:38

And lol at "Hard Knock Pass" 😀

Pipsqueak11 · 20/07/2019 05:53

I'm with you OP. I went there last year and couldn't wait to get away and it wasn't even raining that much.

PriestessModwena · 20/07/2019 06:00

It depends really on what you like, if it's a grim day, even the prettiest places can seem dire.

Although we're part of the VW campers, so even if it's a bad day we'll park up somewhere nice & just read / chill / watch TV / etc from the back of the van.

I'm quite lucky that I hated camping, although I love our camper van. We've been lucky to get good weather most of the time.

I went to the Lakes when I was about 18/19, whilst I wasn't impressed having to walk for the sake of walking, it was sunny and it was pretty. Another time it was overcast, we parked a mile from the pub, even though the pub had the same road we walked down leading to it. That I thought was madness. I just opted to stay back, or if there's somewhere you think you'd like suggest that.

I can't remember now is it a group holiday? As they can be tiresome, feigning enthusiasm when you're really thinking WTAF.

Good luck for the rest of your stay.

sashh · 20/07/2019 06:37

Yabu the lake district is one of the most beautiful places in this country

When you can see it. OP I feel your pain and used to love hiking and camping, the lake district has a special kind of wet.

I have once seen it in bright sunshine (and strangely snow) but mostly it's grey.

Find a pub and stay there.

Or fake a twisted ankle and get on a train.

Lolly25 · 20/07/2019 06:45

Lake district is my happy place, my roots are there, Mums family are from there, my aunt was married to Wainwrights son, we are there every 6 weeks (we live in London) and would move there like a shot, work permitting.
I literally get high the moment I see that 1st mountain, doesnt matter what the weather is like.
We all have places that are kind to us and others that we would never go again.

TheRedBarrows · 20/07/2019 06:54

Ooh, enjoy your walk today OP.

Blencathra via Sharp Edge?

PriestessModwena · 20/07/2019 07:16

@washedoutandabout

What beaches would you recommend on the Jurassic coast? Have you ever found anything interesting?

We plan on going up North to the Lakes, so far we're pretty stuck on local pretty places, Cornwall & Somerset. Although when at Glastonbury I wanted to try and find the coast I visited as a Uni student decades ago, that had varying history. Just couldn't remember the name of it.

Captaindaddydog · 20/07/2019 07:25

I live just outside the lake district so we get the sea and mountain views. It's throwing it down here this morning but it is still beautiful.

historysock · 20/07/2019 07:51

Plenty of spas in the posher hotels. Get in one til it stops raining.
Ditto afternoon teas with booze.

It's stunning when it's not chucking it down.
I also strangely liked the Beatrix Potter museum-Worth a look? But only if you liked the books as a kid I suppose...

historysock · 20/07/2019 08:02

I don't think the roads are any worse in the Lakes than any other bit of the British countryside. I grew up in Derbyshire and now live in a village in Hertfordshire (the only way out of which is country lanes) but only a 50 minute drive from London. There are idiots on the roads wherever you are. I used to drive into Islington every day-that really was every man for himself!

Meangirls36 · 20/07/2019 08:05

They literally have a fountain of chocolate in kendal. Kendal is lovely and very nice. It's a place for high tea and Beatrix potter. Also Kendal mint cake

Silky77 · 20/07/2019 08:08

The beauty of The Lakes overwhelmed me when I visited Ambleside a year after the death of someone I loved dearly. I was so moved, I actually burst out crying in the car. I've never had that experience entering any urban landscape. YABU.

WhiteDust · 20/07/2019 08:09

This thread has made me laugh!
I live north and very rural! I think the weather is against you OP! You were expecting view in pic 1 and got pic 2... Grin

The Lake District - WHY???
The Lake District - WHY???
Kazzyhoward · 20/07/2019 08:11

But all-day mist and rain? Meh.

Plenty of indoor things to do.

Cities are pretty miserable in the rain too! (Well actually I think cities are pretty miserable whatever the weather, good job we're all different!)