Lake District National Park

The Lake District is one of the most popular destinations for walkers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.  With its craggy hilltops, mountain tarns and glittering lakes, The Lake District is one of England’s most beautiful areas to visit.  Walks along the lakes and through the mountains offer breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.

If you enjoy your literature this region is rich in literary history with connections to William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, Arthur Ransome and John Ruskin, whom all found inspiration from the area.

There are 16 lakes in total in the Lake District plus many more tarns (smaller than lakes) including Windermere, Coniston and Grasmere.

Windermere is the largest natural lake in England and is 10.5 miles long and 220ft deep. It has always been an important waterway throughout the ages and the Romans built their GALAVA fort at Waterhead – the northern end of the lake. There are lots of opportunities to take part in outdoor activities and Bowness-on-Windermere, a bustling tourist town on the shore of Windermere. People flock to the town to go sailing on the lake and take part in various watersports.

Coniston is the third largest of the Lake District lakes and is 5 miles long and 184ft deep. In the 13th and 14th centuries the lake was an important source of fish for the monks of Furness Abbey. It was also used more recently to transport materials to the mines in the Coppermines Valley.

Grasmere is perhaps most famous for being described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found” by William Wordsworth. It is only a mile long but is brilliant for canoeing and boating. Visitors can hire boats out during March until early November. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere in a cottage now known as Dove Cottage. Visitors can discover the traditional Lakeland cottage and discover what life was like at the turn of the 19th century.