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?

Well I’m biased as I live in the Lake District.

You either love; hills,lakes, sheep, rain, fog, millions of back packer tourists or you don’t.

Basically, places such as Keswick get a lot of rain, it’s in a hilly position. But is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful at times.

Maybe you’re just a city girl at heart - nothing at all wrong with that x

@Evilspiritgin, the lady on the shelf was in Coniston water.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_in_the_Lake_trial. Paragraph 3. Unless 2 women were found on shelves?

I live an hour from the Lakes but am very much a city person. When you’ve seen one green field and tree, you’ve seen them all. I don’t understand the fascination with the lakes. It’s lovely but always raining and dull. I’d always rather venture down South than go North. Don’t even get me started on Wales though.

I think children do need training up if they don't walk regularly at home. Shorter, easier walks with picnics and/or games of hide and seek, spot the interesting thing etc etc. But I think most children can be brought to enjoy being able to race around a bit in the outdoors.

You have really put me off visiting! I think I would feel like you.

I'm guessing there may be a 'Man in the Lake' If OP's DH doesn't calm down with his peak thing

Another local here saying the same as many before, do not do Striding Edge, Mountain Rescue spend too much time retrieving people from it who really should not be there, it is not for the feint hearted.

If your DH is planning to start the walk from Glenridding at Ullswater, I would suggest you go into the tourist info there and ask for some details of shorter walks or my suggestion would be get the Ullswater steamer from Glenridding to Howtown then walk the lakeshore path back to Glenridding, far more enjoyable and safe!

The only bad things about the Lake District are the tourists that complain about the rain and overpriced jousing which means locals get shunted to places like Barrow or other not as nice places if they want to stay in the area.

Grew up nearby, miss it so much. Miss Booths, miss the changing views and weather. The glorious sunshine and the damp mist.

You can change your holiday around by looking for the good rather than the inconvenient. Trust me, you can do this.

I see you have changed your mind. Sorry I was a bit harsh.

The thing about the Lakes is as they are not high mountains and look quite gentle - not scary Alpine peaks for example, people do walks which would and do challenge serious mountaineers. Not just because the weather changes, but because you don't have to be high up to come across a narrow cliff edge path, or even get lost.

Nobody has ever slagged off the Lakes before, except for me, it’s not my happy place, I don’t get it either. 🙌🏻

@Boysey45

You’re right sorry, I got them mixed up

He said, don’t worry, we can “just” do Hellvellyn.

If you can do the Old Man happily, you should be absolutely fine doing hellvellyn from the Thirlmere side.

I am with you. I hate it. I also don’t get Cornwall, over priced, crowded . I am preparing to receive lots of negative comments just give me North Yorkshire, Norfolk or Sussex any day

lake district beautiful !! @AnyFucker do you go every week ?! lucky

I live and work here and family farms here too. It's beautiful I wouldn't live anywhere else but we dread all the visitors that arrive as we can't get on properly. But there is a place for everyone and if Fulham is your cup of tea that's fine

Yes, I am very lucky x

I’m starting to appreciate the shadowy mountains, but my favourite thing is the streams because they look so clear. It’s stunning in the light. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t live here, but it is distinctive and beautiful for sure and I can see why many people would love it. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to live here or in Scotland and if people feel isolated?

Also the children's would love the l'all ratty . It's a miniature steam train that goes through miles of countryside. At the end there's a couple of nice pubs and walks with plenty of streams for the DC to paddle in and a walk through Eskdale and Boot up to the best waterfall IMO.

It doesn't tend to get overly mobbed by tourists either. Simply because it's a bit more off the beaten tracks than the Lakes lakes. Thank goodness.

I can see you being converted, op

Wasdale is my neck of the woods, whoever mentioned it. Coniston is beautiful but a fair drive from the other side of the district! Hardly any tourists this side though, bar the usual hoards heading up the pike. I often walk the fells round there of a morning and often don't see another soul! (Except maybe the sheep kind) Bliss

You've inspired me to drag my DC up a fell tomorrow, OP! (probably not via a ridge though)

I adore Loweswater. Hardly any people and it's spectacular.

I stayed just outside Windermere 3 weeks ago and was expecting long walks by the lakes, but most of the lakeside land is privately owned or difficult to get to. Having tramped around Dartmoor, Exmoor, Bodmin Moor and South West coast, I naively expected similar freedom. Also found villages/towns very busy even out of school holidays and difficult to park (if you managed to find a space in a car park, you then have to pay a lot for the privilege).

However, the scenery is amazing and every pub we tried (and we tried a few!) was dog friendly and the food of a high standard. We did a circular boat trip round Windermere which was good fun.

Anywhere "outdoorsy" in the UK is pretty miserable in crappy weather. I'd find a nice pub, read a good book, and let the rest of your party scramble up screes in the rain!

@Parky04

Shush, now you’ve said that it will be as busy as hell

It would seem, Washdoutandabout, you are in the minority here. Yes its beautiful but also horribly expensive to eat, park and stay anywhere and is crawling with tourists from all over the world almost all year round. I gave iu all that 'ruffy-tuffy' hiking crap years ago. Instead I've found some beautiful 5 Star hotels which have superb views from the bar windows and really stunning after a bottle of fizz.