The Lake District & Cumbria : A Destination Guide

Reasons to visit

Famous for its forests, mountains and lakes, Cumbria is an extremely popular holiday destination, with 14.8 million visitors flocking to the Lake District each year to take in the breathtaking views, rare wildlife and historical villages. As well as being home to England’s highest mountain and the country’s longest and deepest lakes, the Lake District is associated with the early 19th century writings and poetry of William Wordsworth, who loved nature and was inspired by the county’s landscape.

Things to do

With so much rolling countryside to explore, walking, hiking and cycling are the most obvious ways to spend your time. Whether you want the freedom of choosing your own route or you’d prefer to rely on a tour guide for navigation, there are many walking circuits in and around the national park, from pushchair and wheelchair-friendly flat walks to the two day ‘Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge’.

Animal lovers will be treated to an abundance of varied and beautiful wildlife, including endangered red squirrels in Whinlatter forest and Dodd Wood, growing numbers of otters in the Eden Valley and the Solway Plain and Ospreys which can be seen at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre via the webcam display. If you’re a keen photographer, you might want to book a nature trail that’s tailored around a particular species, and for those who are really serious about taking pictures, there are a number of photography courses to choose from in the area.

But while there’s no doubt that you should dedicate some of your holiday to mountain biking around Grizedale Forest or wandering from Ravenglass to Saltcoats, there are many other worthwhile things to see and do in Cumbria too.

If history’s your thing, William Wordsworth’s Georgian house in Cockermouth is open to the public, so why not spend an hour or two admiring the authentic furniture and portraits of Wordsworth and other poets before buying some educational souvenirs in the onsite shop?

As well as its world-famous natural environment, Cumbria is known for its picturesque villages nestled in the valleys and charming market towns such as Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ulverston. They may not be as action-packed as the cosmopolitan city of Carlisle, but there’s still plenty to do, like signing up for a pottery workshop, shopping for Kendal Mint Cake or enjoying a pint of real ale in a cosy pub.

Also referred to as the Adventure Capital of the UK, the Lake District has a wide range of things to keep extreme sports enthusiasts occupied too. With activities like paragliding, kayaking, wakeboarding, abseiling and potholing, there’s no chance to be bored in this North West County.

Children’s attractions

From playgrounds to ten-pin bowling, there are numerous activities to entertain children of all ages. As well as taking in nature on a bike or boat ride at Coniston Boating Centre, children will love the Treetop Trek adventure playground, where they can zoom down zip wires, run around in the gardens or just sit and do some colouring in the indoor soft play area. If they’re Beatrix Potter fans, you could take them to Derwentwater (the lake Squirrel Nutkin sailed on) or Johnny Townmouse’s home of Hawkshead, and there’s even the opportunity to see Thomas the Tank Engine at the Ravenglass Railway.

Events

In order to get the most out of your holiday, it might be worth planning it around some of the events that take place in and around the Lake District. Food lovers should visit in March for the Kendal Festival of Food, while music fans should consider the Keswick Jazz Festival in May. The Appleby Horse Fair and Kendal Mintfest make summer a popular time to visit, however the winter brings snow-capped mountain tops and roaring pub fires, meaning it’s less busy and more magical.