What to see on a weekend in the lake district?

[patmahe]

Hi all,

Travelling to the UK from Ireland soon and would like to know from peoples first hand experience rather than a website (which is just used to promote everything good and bad) what's actually worth seeing in the lake district and what is best avoided? We have 2 days in the area.

Thanks

[madala]

.....lakes......

[martinmac]

Loads to do and see.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits...

What sort of stuff do you like.

[Dr John]

madala said:

.....lakes......

And rain.....

[TWSTEEL]

Midweek or weekend? OOPS! (reads thread title again )

North or South Lakes?

Roughly when? Weather is everything there

Edited by TWSTEEL on Sunday 18th January 18:10

[Shaw Tarse]

martinmac said:

Loads to do and see.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits...

What sort of stuff do you like.

Think there's a car museum in the Lake District?
What are you looking for, there may be some locals who can help.

[moleamol]

Fast jets flying through the mountains.

[patmahe]

We're heading over at the end of the month, have a car for the couple of days so going anywhere won't be a problem. Ideally would like some awesome scenery and some gentle walks. If the weather isn't good then some interesting visitor centres or car museums would be good. A few nice villages with craft shops and some decent grub would be good too.


ETA: ^^^^ any way to get info on where to view these training excercises and when they go on because that really would be fun.

Edited by patmahe on Sunday 18th January 18:16

[missdiane]

The beer? some excellent microbreweries in the LD

Coniston was good, a brewery in a pub, a boat trip on the lake, a walk up the hill (mountain) and some quaint shops

And Hawkshead very pretty, good pubs too

Edited by missdiane on Sunday 18th January 18:27

[SystemParanoia]

lots of greenlanes

[TWSTEEL]

Where will you be collecting/returning car from?

[moleamol]

patmahe said:

ETA: ^^^^ any way to get info on where to view these training excercises and when they go on because that really would be fun.

You can find out where on this website but I think when they are going on is more luck than anything else and dependant on the weather. Someone who lives/works up there can probably help more.

[patmahe]

TWSTEEL said:

Where will you be collecting/returning car from?

Manchester

[elster]

The Pencil Museum????

[ofcorsa]

Keswick motor musuem, Somewhere to keep out of the rain for ten minutes

[TWSTEEL]

You must factor in some strange journey times. The nature of the terrain and the "unique" quality and width of some of the SatNav routes beggars belief. Use a map and stick to the main roads only. Keswick has been mentioned but for tourists with limited time at least you've got a bit of everything that you want there. The Motor Museum is a bit strange but worth a look. Just look for some garage doors at the end of the car park, last time I looked I think they were green

http://www.carsofthestars.com/

If it's typical January/February Lakes weather you might want to try this

http://www.rheged.com/

It's right on the M6 and is only about twenty minutes from Keswick.

Bugger! Forgot Sellafield.

http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/svc.htm

Never been myself but it gets glowing reports

Edited by TWSTEEL on Sunday 18th January 19:11

[kendalmint]

a good walking site which gives directions and pics is:
http://www.walkthefells.net/laces

Being new to the area I amsure others will give more details but a couple of good walks around windermere area are:

Tarn Ho takes abount an hour, flat walks but the setting is great, all weather path) the Drunken duck pubis 10 mins away and very nice

Gummers Howe - bottom of windermere great view up the lake (only takes about 45 mins) 15 minumtes away are two really good pubs Strawberry Banks (masons arms) and the punchbowl at crossthwaite (there are several pubs with the same name, this is a next to the church)

Or a proper great views walk - near grasmere village (top side of windermere) Helm crag (takes about 3 hours round trip, shrt share walk) if you are brave the summit is via a rock climb which is fine going up, but down !!)

Hope this helps - being new to the lake district all I can say is its fantastic, hope you enjoy your visit

[DocJock]

TWSTEEL said:

You must factor in some strange journey times. The nature of the terrain and the "unique" quality and width of some of the SatNav routes beggars belief. Use a map and stick to the main roads only. Keswick has been mentioned but for tourists with limited time at least you've got a bit of everything that you want there. The Motor Museum is a bit strange but worth a look. Just look for some garage doors at the end of the car park, last time I looked I think they were green

http://www.carsofthestars.com/

If it's typical January/February Lakes weather you might want to try this

http://www.rheged.com/

It's right on the M6 and is only about twenty minutes from Keswick.

Bugger! Forgot Sellafield.

http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/svc.htm

Never been myself but it gets glowing reports

Edited by TWSTEEL on Sunday 18th January 19:11

Yep. Sellafeld is well worth a visit.

[TVC]

Once went to the lakes for the weekend with a woman who decided to be a bit of a pain. Took her to Sellafield: http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/svc.htm. She behaved after that. HTH.

I doubt she frequents PH but if she does then yes, the full story involves profiteroles and yes, this does mean you.

ETA: I see I'm not the only one.

Edited by TVC on Sunday 18th January 19:18

[eldar]

Try driving some of the passes - Wrynose & Hardknott are entertaining (unless it snows!). The usual touristy (Kendal & Coniston) bits are OK. Worth making the effort to go a bit further west, places like Ravenglass, Gosforth, St Bees & Cockermouth. Excellent food a lot better value than the main bits.

Just ignore Sellafield.