Tell me about the Lake District

[MissDollyMix]

Planning a trip to the Lake District for our family of 4 (DC will be 8 and 11) and 2 canine companions. Looking at various cottages but am honestly completely overwhelmed by choice! I want something with a bit of luxury, nice garden, lovely views and a pub (dare to dream!) in walking distance. DH wants some good walks nearby. So we don't want much then! Thing is, I haven't been to the Lake District for years. I actually don't even know what is there, what are the main things to see and do (and in turn, what we need to be near)? Is it best to be somewhere out rural, or should we head for one of the busier villages? Which are the best bits? Which are the bits to avoid? Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Pick somewhere you can access walks from the door and don’t need to drive anywhere. Parking a major issue at busy times

Second keswick the only downside is uk holidays will be popular this year can see lakes being jammed

Look at Sally’s cottages.
They have a beautiful cottage in Grange, with a lake fronting garden and Catbells immediately behind you.
A short drive- or more fun, launch - to Keswick. Walk across boardwalk and via Chinese bridge to Lodore hotel for Spa and pool.
Swimming and splashing in river at Chinese bridge is fun.
It’s right at entrance to Borrowdale with high fells ready accessible via Seatoller.
More gentle walking up to Watendlath from Ashness via launch or with car part way and an end point with a tea and ice lolly stop.
Catbells is a good starter walk and you can go over the saddle to Lucy of Littletowns house past a small waterfall stop - to Littletown farm that does teas too.
Nearby is Honister slate mine which is good day I feel ta too wet or the Whinlatter visitor centre.
Kayaking and sailing readily available at Nichol end as end point to round the lake walk (biggest and most varied scones in the world). Young can use launch to watersports if you don’t want to walk.

Ambleside and Grasmere are nice and not as busy as Windermere/Bowness. Keswick is more a small town so more amenities.

I love the Lake District and you will have a great time

Definitely wasn't grey and full of tourists when we visited in September...

@MissDollyMix

Thank you for all of these inspirational ideas!

I keep seeing lots of cottages in Cartmel but looking at the map it seems quite far off the main tourist area. Is it a good place to be based or too far out?

Lovely foodie place to visit traditional bakers etc.

www.lenclume.co.uk

If you go to Grasmere, make sure you try Grasmere Gingerbread. It's not actually a traditional gingerbread, more like a ginger shortbread. Tis yum. Never seen it other than in Cumbria, my home county, and though I have a recipe, I can't seem to make it the same!

Yy - the gingerbread is delicious!

@CherryRoulade I agree, I booked with Sally’s cottages and got full Covid refund, and will rebook when times are better
. I have a tourer caravan and we love the lakes ... keswick is fabulous, loads of nearby walks and the town is lovely. Ther is climbing wall fans a puzzle place. It can get busy but even so it’s well managed. The chippy in the centre is epic

[quote Lollypop701]@CherryRoulade I agree, I booked with Sally’s cottages and got full Covid refund, and will rebook when times are better
. I have a tourer caravan and we love the lakes ... keswick is fabulous, loads of nearby walks and the town is lovely. Ther is climbing wall fans a puzzle place. It can get busy but even so it’s well managed. The chippy in the centre is epic[/quote]
You’re making me want to go now, Lollypop.

@CherryRoulade I would but it’s all closed😩walk to Top of walla crag, down into into Keswick, mooch round market on a Saturday, food (wine) and walk back to site... perfect day... for my 17/14 yo but does all ages Lake District gyro planes is amazing . Can’t wait till I can go again

Lollypop701 We’ve had this booked a while and moved it twice
www.sallyscottages.co.uk/the-warren/photos

We used to go to a huge old rambling place near Littletown but it’s been sold by the family so no longer available. That was stunning location but a bit faded glory.
We’d walk over Catbells saddle to Grange, stopping at the waterfall for a cup of tea. Then a swim in the river with the cows and onto the Lodore for more tea.
The fish and chips are excellent. We love the theatre too.

Hi

I just wondered if you found an area & accommodation you like in the end as I am more or less looking for all the same requirements!
Your Post has helped me a great deal with whittling down locations but we've never been so it's a lot to choose from etc!
The post from ITS JUST A RIDE , suggested she knew of a gated cottage that she would recommend, don't suppose we could get the name or website?
Thanks again & let's hope after all this research & planning we actually get to go away this year!!

We've booked a cottage on the beach at Haverigg. We're well aware that the nearest lake (Conniston) is 30 mins drive with Windermere & Ambleside about an hour. That's fine though as we love the beach and there look to be some fab ones around there so thought we' d do 2 or 3 day trips into the Lake District and spend the rest of the time exploring the area around where we're staying.

I have toyed with the idea of extending our trip by a couple of nights & booking a Premier Inn or similar the other side to where we're staying and exploring that side of the lakes too. Choice would look to be Cockermouth, Penrith or Kendal. Does that sound like a good plan? Any thoughts or opinions on that or the area generally appreciated!

Haverigg is nice, and the coast is a bit wild, but lovely. I lived just up the road, and miss being by the sea. Kendal is nice for a visit. A pretty riverside town, with a good museum, and some really nice places to eat. If you do go there, try Farrers coffee shop. Really old, and you can buy their own coffee beans to take away. We love the Westmorland 1817 one. There is possibly more to do in Kendal than Cockermouth or Penrith, but I know Kendal better (I gre up very near there ) so I might be biased.

Can anyone recommend a really nice hotel In Grasmere? We need to stay there for a weekend (sporting event) and I'd like a real treat as it will be our first time away without the kids for years.
It's very hard to distinguish between the various 4 star hotels online. I probably sound awful but lots of the photos online make the hotels look a bit fuddy duddy to too try-hard.
Ideally we'd stay in Another Place but sadly it's too far away, but that's the sort of thing I'm after ideally. Not Forest Side as I'm not keen on super-rich michelin food for 3 days, and some spa facilities would be great, or access to open water swimming (or both).

I posted earlier looking for advice on staying in the Lakes & I got great advice on locations but I always seem to struggle with getting what I deam to be good quality accommodation at a good price & most importantly availablilty.
We don't mind spending out but we want quality experience in return .
I feel since we've all had to holiday at home in 2020 & now into 2021 the availablity & choice is just not there .
I've given up on the Lakes for now & are looking at Greece for August 🤞😆

Greece sounds wonderful!
Good point about it being busier than usual, maybe I should just snap up whatever I can find..

Suggestion of Cockermouth seconded. Stayed nearby a few years ago and it was surprisingly nice. Went to a lovely art gallery and had lunch at the nearby Lake District distillery and did a Llama (or was it Alpaca) walk.