Cornwall or Lake District ?
Discussion
Afternoon.
My fiance is turning 30 next week, and I want to take her away for a couple of days, and I have the above in mind. I'm leaning more towards the lake district, she's told me to surprise her.
So what is the PH Massive' thoughts. Can you reccomend either, or anywhere else, with hotels. I'm in London, and really want to drive there, up to 6 hrs max for a decent place / hotel.
I guess there are boat trips etc. and good walks around windermere, and good restaurants, not looking for loads of activities, but it'd be good to get out and about wherever we go.
Cheers.
My fiance is turning 30 next week, and I want to take her away for a couple of days, and I have the above in mind. I'm leaning more towards the lake district, she's told me to surprise her.
So what is the PH Massive' thoughts. Can you reccomend either, or anywhere else, with hotels. I'm in London, and really want to drive there, up to 6 hrs max for a decent place / hotel.
I guess there are boat trips etc. and good walks around windermere, and good restaurants, not looking for loads of activities, but it'd be good to get out and about wherever we go.
Cheers.
rossw46 said:
Afternoon.
My fiance is turning 30 next week, and I want to take her away for a couple of days, and I have the above in mind. I'm leaning more towards the lake district, she's told me to surprise her.
So what is the PH Massive' thoughts. Can you reccomend either, or anywhere else, with hotels. I'm in London, and really want to drive there, up to 6 hrs max for a decent place / hotel.
I guess there are boat trips etc. and good walks around windermere, and good restaurants, not looking for loads of activities, but it'd be good to get out and about wherever we go.
Cheers.
North Lakes MUCH prettier and quieter. www.Kirkstile.com is very Lake District and Fab beer My fiance is turning 30 next week, and I want to take her away for a couple of days, and I have the above in mind. I'm leaning more towards the lake district, she's told me to surprise her.
So what is the PH Massive' thoughts. Can you reccomend either, or anywhere else, with hotels. I'm in London, and really want to drive there, up to 6 hrs max for a decent place / hotel.
I guess there are boat trips etc. and good walks around windermere, and good restaurants, not looking for loads of activities, but it'd be good to get out and about wherever we go.
Cheers.
GetCarter said:
North Lakes MUCH prettier and quieter. www.Kirkstile.com is very Lake District and Fab beer
The Kirkstile is a local favorite of mine Great pub.
Mr Carter is quite correct, have a go at avoiding the ever popular Bowness on Windermere and head for places like Buttermere, Conniston, Crummock, etc.
North Windermere areas such as Waterhead, Ambleside, Grasmere, and the south end at The Swan Inn are great though.
It is touristy but I would still recommend Keswick for a visit,
Edited by NinjaPower on Sunday 4th August 21:47
I have just spent a long weekend in Cornwall and cannot stress enough how much more of a better time I would have had in the Lake District. Driving anywhere down here is 'follow the slowest driver in a massive phalanx of oversized 4x4's, campervans, and retired civil servants in Hyundais' followed by the 2 hour drive round your target destination in an ever increasing circle looking for somewhere, anywhere, to park. It's a f
king nightmare. And the pubs are full of white van man and his family, hippies, and enough alcoholic ex-civil servant/middle manager wkers to fill Wembley three times over.
king nightmare. And the pubs are full of white van man and his family, hippies, and enough alcoholic ex-civil servant/middle manager wkers to fill Wembley three times over. Voldemort said:
I have just spent a long weekend in Cornwall and cannot stress enough how much more of a better time I would have had in the Lake District. Driving anywhere down here is 'follow the slowest driver in a massive phalanx of oversized 4x4's, campervans, and retired civil servants in Hyundais' followed by the 2 hour drive round your target destination in an ever increasing circle looking for somewhere, anywhere, to park. It's a fking nightmare. And the pubs are full of white van man and his family, hippies, and enough alcoholic ex-civil servant/middle manager wkers to fill Wembley three times over.
The above reminded me why we stopped going to Devon and Cornwall for our Holidays.king nightmare. And the pubs are full of white van man and his family, hippies, and enough alcoholic ex-civil servant/middle manager wkers to fill Wembley three times over. The Lake District was much better despite it being school holidays (I Don't think many Sun reading chav families visit the lakes).
We Did 900 pleasurable miles all in all (300 each way and 300 driving about).
Will be back up there next year I'm sure of it.
Another vote for the Lakes, for all the reasons given above.
ETA:
But I'd avoid Windermere - I can't stand the place. Anywhere north of Ambleside is good - the Langdale Valley, Grasmere, Keswick are all good. Windermere is the most built up area and unless you like spending time sitting behind a long line of Micra's and A-Classes then I'd head further north. P
ETA:
But I'd avoid Windermere - I can't stand the place. Anywhere north of Ambleside is good - the Langdale Valley, Grasmere, Keswick are all good. Windermere is the most built up area and unless you like spending time sitting behind a long line of Micra's and A-Classes then I'd head further north. P
Edited by tenohfive on Monday 5th August 09:44
Just come back from a weekend in The Lakes.
Busy at this time of year, but you can't beat it.
Bowness is the main place to avoid. Ambleside is a much smarter town if you want to be on or near Windermere but there isn't much lakeside walking on Windermere. Better to head to (nearby) Rydal Water or Grasmere if you want to walk next to a lake. You can get ferries up and down Windermere though if you just want a lake view.
If you like posh food give Holbeck Ghyll tasting menu a try. Very(!) expensive but a great experience.
Failing that The Britannia at Elterwater does a good ploughmans for £7.95 and then you can go into the Langdale valley to see one of the prettiest valleys you will ever see.
It's a long trek for the weekend though. Have you thought about The Peak District?
e.g. http://www.devonshirepilsley.co.uk/
You'd be coming off the M1 at J29 so it would probably be half the journey of The Lakes.
Busy at this time of year, but you can't beat it.
Bowness is the main place to avoid. Ambleside is a much smarter town if you want to be on or near Windermere but there isn't much lakeside walking on Windermere. Better to head to (nearby) Rydal Water or Grasmere if you want to walk next to a lake. You can get ferries up and down Windermere though if you just want a lake view.
If you like posh food give Holbeck Ghyll tasting menu a try. Very(!) expensive but a great experience.
Failing that The Britannia at Elterwater does a good ploughmans for £7.95 and then you can go into the Langdale valley to see one of the prettiest valleys you will ever see.
It's a long trek for the weekend though. Have you thought about The Peak District?
e.g. http://www.devonshirepilsley.co.uk/
You'd be coming off the M1 at J29 so it would probably be half the journey of The Lakes.
tenohfive said:
Another vote for the Lakes, for all the reasons given above.
ETA:
But I'd avoid Windermere - I can't stand the place. Anywhere north of Ambleside is good - the Langdale Valley, Grasmere, Keswick are all good. Windermere is the most built up area and unless you like spending time sitting behind a long line of Micra's and A-Classes then I'd head further north. P
This was our 2nd visit stayed just outside Windermere (to the East of the town) both times and drove through there everyday, then either headed North, NW or south for pre-set on TomTom loops around the area...never found it an issue getting through or into Windermere (had brunch there on one of the days).ETA:
But I'd avoid Windermere - I can't stand the place. Anywhere north of Ambleside is good - the Langdale Valley, Grasmere, Keswick are all good. Windermere is the most built up area and unless you like spending time sitting behind a long line of Micra's and A-Classes then I'd head further north. P
Edited by tenohfive on Monday 5th August 09:44
Edited by y2blade on Monday 5th August 10:26
Rosscow said:
GetCarter said:
Also used to be my local... next time you're in there look at the photo on Loweswater Gold - I gave them the photo, they gave me lots of free beer. Now that's what work should all be about!
This one?!
Here's the original
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 5th August 10:24
y2blade said:
This was our 2nd visit stayed just outside Windermere (to the East of the town) both times and drove through there everyday, then either headed North, NE or south for pre-set on TomTom loops around the area...never found it an issue getting through or into Windermere (had brunch there on one of the days).
I've stayed south of Windermere on about 4 trips so was driving past/through daily and it always just seemed like hard work - I'd always have someone in front driving much slower than I wanted. The town itself was always crowded and overly touristy - there are much nicer parts of the Lake District. Having stayed elsewhere and realised how much more pleasant it could be I've developed a disliking for Windermere - but that's a personal preference I guess. It doesn't have the monopoly on either tourists or traffic but there was always more there than any other part of the Lakes in my experience (think I've been up that way about 8 times in the last few years.)tenohfive said:
I've stayed south of Windermere on about 4 trips so was driving past through daily and it always just seemed like hard work - I'd always have someone in front driving much slower than I wanted. The town itself was always crowded and overly touristy - there are much nicer parts of the Lake District. Having stayed elsewhere and realised how much more pleasant it could be I've developed a disliking for Windermere - but that's a personal preference I guess. It doesn't have the monopoly on either tourists or traffic but there was always more there than any other part of the Lakes in my experience (think I've been up that way about 8 times in the last few years.)
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