Favourite lakes

[Bugsy73]

We are spending the weekend in the Lake District, staying overnight in a place called Great Clifton. Which lake/lakes would be the best to visit? We went to Keswick last time which was lovely but feel we ought to visit another one. Preferably one with nice cafes and maybe a few shops? Thanks

Definitely Windermere! Plenty of shops and cafés, lovely pubs too if that's your thing
Windermere Ferry trips operate every hour from the main area too, if you want to go out on the lake.

Thankyou. And your second favourite for day 2?

Now we avoid the touristy type places like the plague, these routes are much nicer but not as many cafes and shops
Drive past Crummock water to Buttermere, take the Honistor pass, back to Keswick Via BorrowDale
Now the road is very tight but worth it, if you are not a confident driver or any signs of Ice dont go.
From Keswick go to Watenlath Tarn again the road is tight with passing places.

Lakeland Motor Museum
www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk

is excellent and has a good cafe and views of the river from the outside seating area, from there drive to Hawkshead or Tarn Hows Not even a bog but very nice easy walk around the lake
www.visitcumbria.com/amb/tarn-hows/
If you go to Hawks head get the ferry to Bo ness to get your fix of Shops.
I like Keswick the most lots of good trips there, good variety of real shops and nice food

That's tough...are you with DC for your trip?
If so, I wouldn't recommend my 2nd choice which is Devil's Bridge
In Kirkby Lonsdale, I remember DH & I used to love being idiots daredevils and jumping from there as teens. Lots of fun for good swimmers but I'm not sure at this time of year!!
Plus, there isn't a lot of food places on the doorstep!

Aside from that, Coniston is lovely. There's enough nearby to keep you busy, also boat hire if you fancy getting out on the lake.

Have 14, 12 and 10yr old with us. We all liked Keswick on our last trip, especially the boat ride around the lake.
Thanks both of you.

Drive past Crummock water to Buttermere, take the Honistor pass, back to Keswick Via BorrowDale. I think this is a super recommendation. Windermere and Ambleside get rammed. You can sit in traffic jams for ages.I also really like Ullswater. Get a boat to say Howtown and walk.

My favourite is Buttermere although there aren’t really any shops in Buttermere it’s self just a couple of pubs and cafes. We walked around the lake at the weekend and is a lovely gentle walk which takes 1.5 hours roughly.

Is the Ullswater steamer worth a trip? Are there shops in Ullswater?

Now a little off subject, the problem with the lakes is its rammed full of tourists and the weather is often very wet.
People travel along the M6 and come off at junction 36 then head for the nearest place with chains of shops, I feel best avoided.
Why not head the other direction and go to Wensleydale, Mallam, ingleton?
www.yorkshire.com/places/yorkshire-dales/wensleydaleThe trough of Bowland?
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187064-d546481-Reviews-Trough_of_Bowland-Lancaster_Lancaster_District_Lancashire_England.html

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/articles/forest-of-bowland-food-festivals-britain-lancashire/
Nice little cafe here nice to feed the ducks too
www.visitribblevalley.co.uk/dunsop-bridge/
Then on to Clitheroe

Not that I am against the Lakes just its so full and there are lots of other places that are just as nice.

If you fancy a new place what about Llandudno?

Around Windermere is rammed with tourists but the north lakes is beautiful and much less busy.

What sort of shops were you hoping for? Keswick has a good mix of shops but most other places are good for walking clothes and not much else.

Just shops to potter around. For the teenager

You could potter in Keswick then go to Buttermere. That’s an easy walk. If you were feeling more energetic then you could do Cat Bells.