Discussion
Hi all
Looking at a short break in the Lake District to recharge the batteries. Never been or even know anyone who's been so I've not had the chance to get recommendations. Looking for somewhere relatively quiet with a decent pub/restaurant within walking distance.
Looks like a beautiful part of the country - all we would intend doing is a small bit of sightseeing, relaxing. Any recommendations on where to go - things to do welcomed.
Looking at visiting late May this year in order to miss school holidays.
Cheers
Looking at a short break in the Lake District to recharge the batteries. Never been or even know anyone who's been so I've not had the chance to get recommendations. Looking for somewhere relatively quiet with a decent pub/restaurant within walking distance.
Looks like a beautiful part of the country - all we would intend doing is a small bit of sightseeing, relaxing. Any recommendations on where to go - things to do welcomed.
Looking at visiting late May this year in order to miss school holidays.
Cheers
We stayed here last Spetemeber.
http://www.langdale.co.uk/
Good pub nearby, decent restaurant on site.
Spa included in price.
I enjoyed it lots.
We also had one of the ultimate rooms for one night which was a nice way to splash out.
http://www.langdale.co.uk/
Good pub nearby, decent restaurant on site.
Spa included in price.
I enjoyed it lots.
We also had one of the ultimate rooms for one night which was a nice way to splash out.
Me and the GF love this place..
http://www.the-angelinn.com/
Smack in the centre of Bowness right on Windermere. Food good, rooms lovely and you can use the
spa at the big hotel down the street.
But If you want to eat out plenty of other choices nearby.!
Simes.
http://www.the-angelinn.com/
Smack in the centre of Bowness right on Windermere. Food good, rooms lovely and you can use the
spa at the big hotel down the street.
But If you want to eat out plenty of other choices nearby.!
Simes.
Hotel or cottage??
My favourite area (probably throughout the world TBH) is Ambleside.
Relatively quiet with a good few bars/restaurants.
Hawkshead if you want quiter again.
Bowness on Windermere is probably the liveliest.
Anytime in summer is likely to get busy, particular weekends in bowness.
My favourite area (probably throughout the world TBH) is Ambleside.
Relatively quiet with a good few bars/restaurants.
Hawkshead if you want quiter again.
Bowness on Windermere is probably the liveliest.
Anytime in summer is likely to get busy, particular weekends in bowness.
Torquey said:
Hotel or cottage??
My favourite area (probably throughout the world TBH) is Ambleside.
Relatively quiet with a good few bars/restaurants.
Hawkshead if you want quiter again.
Bowness on Windermere is probably the liveliest.
Anytime in summer is likely to get busy, particular weekends in bowness.
Hotel My favourite area (probably throughout the world TBH) is Ambleside.
Relatively quiet with a good few bars/restaurants.
Hawkshead if you want quiter again.
Bowness on Windermere is probably the liveliest.
Anytime in summer is likely to get busy, particular weekends in bowness.
We have no idea of the areas etc. Good to read peoples opinions here. A few good recommendations so far. We are not major outdoors type people, i.e we won't be jumping on horses or anything like that. Maybe a nit walking sightseeing. Good food and a pint in the evening. Really looks a beautiful place.
Again - thanks for everyone's thoughts.
I live in the lakes nr Ennerdale which is mostly off the radar of main stream tourists as there's bugger all except the great out doors. The bulk of tourists head to Windermere, Ambleside, Bowness, etc there's very little distance between them. I take frequent rides on my motorbike doing a lap of the lakes and I'd say the southern areas are my least favourite although I see the attraction to tourists, it's generally mobbed in the warmer months, and the roads always seem pretty choked with cars, it's flatter and not as scenic IMO too.
I much prefer Keswick, less touristy and if you want to fell walk etc has better walks/scenery-some good mountain bike trails up at Whinlatter too. If you really want to get off the beaten track I can recommend some more isolated places or come pitch a tent in my back garden for a nominal fee......
I much prefer Keswick, less touristy and if you want to fell walk etc has better walks/scenery-some good mountain bike trails up at Whinlatter too. If you really want to get off the beaten track I can recommend some more isolated places or come pitch a tent in my back garden for a nominal fee......
Mate [ Petrolhead ] runs this business if you're after a cottage!
http://www.holidaycottagescumbria.com/
http://www.holidaycottagescumbria.com/
If you're a first time visiter I'd stick to Ambleside, we live in Cumbria but regulary take a couple of holidays a year there.
Although you can recommend anywhere in the lakes as most of it is stunning for a first time visit Ambleside has it all-good restaurants, great pubs, reasonable shops & most importantly (if you like the great outdoors) fantastic walks that start in the town centre itself.
You can walk down to Windermere (about 10-15 mins) to the ferry port & catch a steamer to the other side of the lake, over there it's more secluded then catch the ferry back to the other side at bowness for some lunch & then take the next steamer back to Ambleside. So if you're an inexperienced hiker you've just been on a couple of boats on the lake, had a nice hours walk, had a few beers & it's back home again
To explore grasmere you can walk that in an hour or so quite easily, again there's nice restaurants over there & you can walk back on the opposite side of the road to the way you went for some different scenery (if you're walking towards grasmere the route on the left of the road takes you past some old slate mines & more importantly, past an open farm house that make you fresh scones & drinks in their front room
)
If you have a bit more experience with the walking boots & kagools there are plenty of wainwright walks from the town, plus plenty of great driving roads right on your doorstep.
Never stayed in any hotels-we always rent a cottage so I guess it depends on your budget, but the Rothay garden hotel in grasmere will get you some serious brownie points off swmbo-I recommend the stone Arthur suite.
Although you can recommend anywhere in the lakes as most of it is stunning for a first time visit Ambleside has it all-good restaurants, great pubs, reasonable shops & most importantly (if you like the great outdoors) fantastic walks that start in the town centre itself.
You can walk down to Windermere (about 10-15 mins) to the ferry port & catch a steamer to the other side of the lake, over there it's more secluded then catch the ferry back to the other side at bowness for some lunch & then take the next steamer back to Ambleside. So if you're an inexperienced hiker you've just been on a couple of boats on the lake, had a nice hours walk, had a few beers & it's back home again
To explore grasmere you can walk that in an hour or so quite easily, again there's nice restaurants over there & you can walk back on the opposite side of the road to the way you went for some different scenery (if you're walking towards grasmere the route on the left of the road takes you past some old slate mines & more importantly, past an open farm house that make you fresh scones & drinks in their front room
)If you have a bit more experience with the walking boots & kagools there are plenty of wainwright walks from the town, plus plenty of great driving roads right on your doorstep.
Never stayed in any hotels-we always rent a cottage so I guess it depends on your budget, but the Rothay garden hotel in grasmere will get you some serious brownie points off swmbo-I recommend the stone Arthur suite.
cragswinter said:
If you're a first time visiter I'd stick to Ambleside, we live in Cumbria but regulary take a couple of holidays a year there.
Although you can recommend anywhere in the lakes as most of it is stunning for a first time visit Ambleside has it all-good restaurants, great pubs, reasonable shops & most importantly (if you like the great outdoors) fantastic walks that start in the town centre itself.
You can walk down to Windermere (about 10-15 mins) to the ferry port & catch a steamer to the other side of the lake, over there it's more secluded then catch the ferry back to the other side at bowness for some lunch & then take the next steamer back to Ambleside. So if you're an inexperienced hiker you've just been on a couple of boats on the lake, had a nice hours walk, had a few beers & it's back home again
To explore grasmere you can walk that in an hour or so quite easily, again there's nice restaurants over there & you can walk back on the opposite side of the road to the way you went for some different scenery (if you're walking towards grasmere the route on the left of the road takes you past some old slate mines & more importantly, past an open farm house that make you fresh scones & drinks in their front room )
If you have a bit more experience with the walking boots & kagools there are plenty of wainwright walks from the town, plus plenty of great driving roads right on your doorstep.
Never stayed in any hotels-we always rent a cottage so I guess it depends on your budget, but the Rothay garden hotel in grasmere will get you some serious brownie points off swmbo-I recommend the stone Arthur suite.
Thats great information. We are first timers and what you have said at the start about catching steamers - going for a walk and a a beer sounds perfect for us. Ambleside looks good so far.Although you can recommend anywhere in the lakes as most of it is stunning for a first time visit Ambleside has it all-good restaurants, great pubs, reasonable shops & most importantly (if you like the great outdoors) fantastic walks that start in the town centre itself.
You can walk down to Windermere (about 10-15 mins) to the ferry port & catch a steamer to the other side of the lake, over there it's more secluded then catch the ferry back to the other side at bowness for some lunch & then take the next steamer back to Ambleside. So if you're an inexperienced hiker you've just been on a couple of boats on the lake, had a nice hours walk, had a few beers & it's back home again
To explore grasmere you can walk that in an hour or so quite easily, again there's nice restaurants over there & you can walk back on the opposite side of the road to the way you went for some different scenery (if you're walking towards grasmere the route on the left of the road takes you past some old slate mines & more importantly, past an open farm house that make you fresh scones & drinks in their front room
)If you have a bit more experience with the walking boots & kagools there are plenty of wainwright walks from the town, plus plenty of great driving roads right on your doorstep.
Never stayed in any hotels-we always rent a cottage so I guess it depends on your budget, but the Rothay garden hotel in grasmere will get you some serious brownie points off swmbo-I recommend the stone Arthur suite.
Thanks for the advice.
http://www.forestsidehotel.com/
We stayed here in 2010. They have some apartments away from the Manor House that were absolutely perfect. Think I paid £280 for 5 nights. Beautiful situation. Lovely amble down into Grasmere on an evening. Lovely people that run the place too.
Main house has a lounge with wifi, bar etc...
<5mins to Ambleside. 15-20mins to Windermere etc...
We stayed here in 2010. They have some apartments away from the Manor House that were absolutely perfect. Think I paid £280 for 5 nights. Beautiful situation. Lovely amble down into Grasmere on an evening. Lovely people that run the place too.
Main house has a lounge with wifi, bar etc...
<5mins to Ambleside. 15-20mins to Windermere etc...
Queens Head Hotel Troutbeck
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=54.4259...
Not stayed there but had plenty of great evenings there on our lads weekend away.
Great food and beer, lovely setting and the inside is just what a country pub should look like.
http://www.queensheadtroutbeck.co.uk
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=54.4259...
Not stayed there but had plenty of great evenings there on our lads weekend away.
Great food and beer, lovely setting and the inside is just what a country pub should look like.
http://www.queensheadtroutbeck.co.uk
a311 said:
I live in the lakes nr Ennerdale which is mostly off the radar of main stream tourists as there's bugger all except the great out doors. The bulk of tourists head to Windermere, Ambleside, Bowness, etc there's very little distance between them. I take frequent rides on my motorbike doing a lap of the lakes and I'd say the southern areas are my least favourite although I see the attraction to tourists, it's generally mobbed in the warmer months, and the roads always seem pretty choked with cars, it's flatter and not as scenic IMO too.
I much prefer Keswick, less touristy and if you want to fell walk etc has better walks/scenery-some good mountain bike trails up at Whinlatter too. If you really want to get off the beaten track I can recommend some more isolated places or come pitch a tent in my back garden for a nominal fee......
Another west Cumbrian PH'er Beckermet here. You have a PH sticker on your car, I've seen one a couple of times? I much prefer Keswick, less touristy and if you want to fell walk etc has better walks/scenery-some good mountain bike trails up at Whinlatter too. If you really want to get off the beaten track I can recommend some more isolated places or come pitch a tent in my back garden for a nominal fee......
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