Can you give me your Lake District must see/do tips

[WonsWoo]

DH and I are planning on going to the LD next year - likely May/June.

We have a caravan and have some sites earmarked.

What are the things to do and see that you wouldn't miss on a trip there. We'll be there for a week. We like walking. Not all day walks or anything too massively strenuous but up for a bit of hill walking for great views.

It's just called the Kirkstone Inn - right on the Pass opposite Red Screes.

Agree! Lovely little place

We’ll be there in early February, will have to look up bus availability then.

From this page you can download the Lakes Rider brochure from Stagecoach. There are also buses run by local companies from Ulverstone, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle, and other towns outside the Park

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/cumbria-and-north-lancashire/explore-the-lakes-by-bus

Ravenglass and Eskdale railway and then a visit to Muncaster castle. Lovely views from the castle.

Generally speaking, the West and Northern Lakes are a bit quieter than the South/Central areas, and if you avoid half term it won't be too bad, especially midweek. The weather is often better in late Spring/early Summer than the middle of the holidays too. Obviously there are no guarantees - it's not green and full of lakes for no reason - but in my experience (we've lived here for over 25 years) it's a good time to visit.
As well as the area already suggested, I'd recommend Ullswater. It never gets as packed as the other big lakes, the steamers are lovely and there are some good walks. Have a look at the Ullswater Way, and though short, the walk up Aira Force is lovely. You can go up Gobarrow fell from there too - lovely views from up there.
Out to the West, Ennerdale is one of my favourite places and there are a variety of walks of varying lengths and difficulty you can do from there. As previously mentioned, Wasdale is stunning too.
On bad weather days there are a number of NT properties and museums. I really like Windermere Jetty Museum and it has a nice cafe too. Honister Slate Mine is good, and if you're adventurous, they've got a Via Ferrata. A bit off the beaten track but I love Muncaster Castle and the narrow gauge railway at Ravenglass. Good pub food to be had in Ravenglass too.
Windermere is something of a marmite place. Yes, it can get hideously busy at peak times, but there's a reason why lots of people go! The views are fantastic and there's lots of places to eat in both Bowness and Ambleside though my personal favourite is the Badger Bar in Rydal. If you go to the South end of the Lake there's a short steam train trip which is quite fun and a car museum which is good if you're interested in that kind of thing. I think if you ever been before you should probably visit Windermere for one day. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare in but the best thing to do is probably to get up early, dump your car and use the boat or bus to get around.
Have a great time. I may be biased, but it's a beautiful part of the world.

It's not a traditional pub any more. It's been bought and refurbished as luxury self catering accomodation. I'm not sure if non residents can eat there yet but apparently there's going to be some kind of restaurant. The change has not generally been well received locally from what I've heard,

Oh crikey, that doesn't sound good @MrsAvocet - I haven't been that way since autumn last year on my way up to High Street. Mind you it was a bit run down then. The bikers won't be pleased ...

It's haunted as well x

Oh bugger 😕

There's also an old place called Wray Castle near Ambleside. There's and Arboretum there where you can see a tree planted by William Wordsworth.

Poorly bridge is lovely as is keswick
we loved the puzzling place (if raining)
Aira force water fall
buttermere lake
reghad centre at Penrith
whinlatter forest
ulswater
I enjoyed wordsworths cottage

Have a look at walk lakes, lots of great suggestions for walks as well as advice for parking and a very sensible grading system that isn’t going to tell you that Sharp Edge is a great walk for anyone

Most - yes, but not the ones that are reservoirs.

Most get very very deep very quickly, and with that comes serious cold, so it is wise to take great care.

Fred Whitton Challenge Sportive?

Thank you x

If you camp at one of the sites near Pooley Bridge and drive down to Howtown Hallin Fell is a wonderful short fell walk - fantastic views. Park by the little church up the hill from Howtown.

Coniston Old Man is what I would call a proper hard core fell walk. Personally. And I have done many of the big fells (including via Sharp Edge)

Be prepared to spend hours sitting in traffic to get there and find out there’s no where to park:

Wordsworths school at hawkshead is really good

I go every year, mostly between end of May and beginning of July. Except for school hols / bank hols it is not ridiculously busy.

Fleetwith Pike is a modest walk from Honister Slate Mines - go up the old path not the horrid grey gravel road - spectacular views of Buttermere and Crummock Water, and over to Haystacks and Great Gable. If you like extreme 'experiences' you can do the Honister Slate Mine Via Ferata or infinity bridges etc.

Be aware in the Warmer months many are not advised to swim in due to blue/green algae . Also raw sewage can be in Windermere .
Which sites have you shortlisted ?

Take the bus!!!

Fleetwith Pike is a modest walk from Honister Slate Mines - go up the old path

I did Fleetwith Pike from Buttermere (there's a very lovely scenic bus to all the good starting points for walks from Buttermere) on one of those days when the weather might have cleared, or not.

It was the 'not clearing' in the end, and the scramble over wet rock to the top of Fleetwith Pike was more of a scramble than I like! Then practically running down to the slate mine in the face of driving rain. So make sure you have good grippy walking boots and a hood (mind you my hood and walking cap were no use when walking into the wind ...)

You need to be prepared for weather if you want to do anything but the flat walks like the old railway line out of Keswick and similar.

Given what you’ve just said, maybe coniston in July?