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Lake District Recommendations?
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Thinking of maybe going to the Lakes for the weekend, never been before any
recommendations on things to see/do, decent accomodation and dining, etc?
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Langdale - Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel
Handy for most of the tourist bits including Hardknott & Wrynose Passes for a
bit of a thrill - especially on a bike ;^)
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Hardknotts and Wrynose Passes ....
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Oh yeah. mate and I had gravity fed carbs unable to fuel on the steepest
bit once.
Langdale's good as has been pointed out. There's a stone age axe factory
up there but for ****'s sake don't try and get to it unless you're an
experienced climber and well equipped. Stick to the rather challenging
walk up the back to the tarn instead... .and then go on up to the crags.
Less strenuous is Elterwater, the Brittania Inn there had a good
reputation (but that's from a while ago). While yer there take a look at
the force by the greenslate quarries. Do not try taking a Kayak down it
unless you're very *very* good.
Most Lakes hire row boats, some motor. You can hire. Kayaks at Conniston.
Or if you're an idle sod there's an old steam yacht Gonadula or some such
you can go on instead.
At this time of year the top meter of the lakes is usually quite warm but
it chills rapidly below that. If you're bored you can immerse yourself
and experience warm shoulders and cold toes then bore other people
rabbitting about thermoclines in lakes.
I always fancied having a trip in the submarine which sailed out of
Lakeside at the sooth end of Windermere but it wasn't cheap and I'm a
pikey .. and as I can't fond a reference to it now suspect it may have
packed up : (
If you suffer from an artistic bent and like wandering about in fields and
woods the outdoor sculptures at Grizeldale is worth a look.
Lucini's ice cream in Keswick is ****** excellent (they're near the co-op
'supermarket).
Oh, and the North and West bits are quieter than the South and Central
bits.
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Great views, great scenery, excellent fun to be had. ;)
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Windemere is ok, a bit touristy, Bowness bay is ok too. I stayed at a
hotel called the lakeside, round the other side of the lake, it was
nice. Plenty to see & do over that way, just set off & you'll find
something to look at or do.
It will be busy at this time of year too.
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The road from Coniston to the coast is nice, especially if you travel from
Coniston. You get nice views along the valley to Furness.
The coast road from Whitbeck to Whitehaven is good too. Comparatively
traffic free and views across to IOM on a clear day. Ravenglass has a steam
railway if that interests you.
I can't recommend any accommodation, as a mate had a bungalow in Bowness,
so I stayed there. At that time, mid 1990s, Bowness was a nice enough
place. It even has a Michelin starred restaurant if you fancy splashing out
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I did that on a school trip when I was 9 I did. Well not climbed it as
such but walked up it a bit and then down again in the liquid fog that
is the norm for weather in those parts. It was mostly grey and wet as I
recall and we hadn't visited Kendal to buy Cake yet so I couldn't enjoy
munching on that either. That was an odd sort of disappointment that
was cos it isn't cake. Nice though but lying about its promised texture
for which I have never forgiven them. We didn't come straight down
mind, we hung around for a bit halfway down pretending to look for Fatty
Dickinson but we were secretly hoping he had fallen off the edge so we
didn't look hard but we did eat our sandwiches because by that time we
were hungry enough to swallow what northerners call Meat Paste and
Bread. The Marg we were familiar with. He was at the back and nobody
liked him, not even the teachers, so nobody noticed when he decided that
he need a breather and stopped for a rest. Best bit of the whole day
that was, until they found him and it seemed to start raining even
harder then.
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Riding ... what is this "walking" you speak of ? ;)
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All the walking gear gives me a good excuse to take the car instead of the
bike.
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If you're anywhere near Ambleside, and are not averse to veggie food,
I much recommend:
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Etc? Take an umbrella. Better yet, take one each, it keeps the
peace.
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I have some floor space with no need of umbrella to those that have no
fear of 3 year olds, mad dogs, and meowing cats.......
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Don't know about accomodation, but go to Hawkshead on the ferry (costs about
a quid and takes 5 minutes). It's a bit like stepping back in touriem time.
Great food and places to drink and even somewhere for the other half to
indulge in a little retail therapy.
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