Where to stay in Lake District for nice walking?

[Petals23]

As the title suggests, we are experienced walkers and would like to know where to stay in lake district. Also, we'd be travelling from Ireland - is Manchester the nearest airport? Thanks.

Not sure on airports, but I'd stay somewhere like Cockermouth - easy access to quieter Western Fells, Crummock and Buttermere, not far from Ennerdale and Wastwater. Traffic is a lot easier than say, Keswick or Bowness, there are far fewer people, and Cockermouth has some good restaurants/pubs.

The Great Langdale valley. There's some great walks from there.

Not sure about airports. I think Manchester is the nearest.

I love Ambleside, lovely if busy little town. Loads of great walks on your doorstep.

Carlisle Airport operates flights to/from Dublin and Belfast.

Sorry, due to start Spring 2019 so Carlisle not connected yet.

You can stay basically anywhere and have a lovely time, though I'd avoid Windermere as it's so busy. Keswick, Grasmere, Buttermere, Ambleside, Coniston, Glenridding are all excellent walking bases. Properly off the beaten track is Bampton Grange, and we love the Haweswater Hotel just near there down the side of the Haweswater reservoir.

Ambleside is our favourite.

Thackwaithe, it’s west of Penrith

Airports wise you're looking at Manchester, Newcastle, or Glasgow, they're all roughly the same distance in terms of time it takes to get here.

Walks wise I'd agree with PP that west is best, but I am bias. Buttermere is lovely, Ennerdale and Wastwater are great for escaping the crowds.

We like to joke up here that we've given Windermere to the tourists and kept the best bits for ourselves. Cockermouth is a good base for exploring the west, again, not too crowded and easy to get to from the M6. Lots of lovely B&Bs in the area and the Trout hotel is fab. There's a premier Inn if you prefer cheap and cheerful.

You can access some pretty iconic fell walks from here, including Skiddaw, Haystacks, and the Coledale Horseshoe. Keswick is 25 minutes away, Grasmere about 45 minutes, and that's where you really hit the crowds.

Ahh just noticed this post is a few months old. Hope you found a good place to stay OP!

Newlands if you like splendid isolation and Borrowdale if you like it a bit busier.
A few places in Newlands- Littletown farm or a few self catering. The farm does meals a couple of times a week.Walking distance of Swinside Inn too. You can walk over Catbells to the Derwentwater launch or up Maiden Moor. Good walk through valley and over higher fells via Honister to Buttermere. There is a beautiful series of two pools and a waterfall right at the end of the valley that are truly magical for a picnic and dip.

Borrowdale has more hotels and is on a bus route,so easier access to Keswick. Borrowdale Gates hotel is nice. Lodore Hotel has a beautifully sited outdoor pool but is bigger and busier. Lovely walks up to Watendlath, Seatoller and some lovely tarns to dip in.

Little Langdale.

National trust cottage

Coniston
Glenridding
Anywhere really, Windermere will be very busy though.