Where to stay/ go/ do in the Lake District

[deanogtv]

Fancy a long weekend in the lakes at the beging of March. I've never been on a visit to the lakes, played rugby that way many a time, and really fancy taking the missus and dog to stay in a cottage. Can anyone recommend any near by romantic/ realxing areas that way. I've heard Windermere gets very busy so I'm not sure that would be a good choice for a quite break.
If anyone could recommend a cottage too that would be ideal?

Recommend away, pubs, sights, must sees ect ect ect

[manic47]

You could try the Masons Arms - it comes highly recommended by several couples I know.
It's also nice and close (about a 10 minute drive) from the Lakeland Motor Museum

It all depends what you are after for the weekend... Honister Slate Mine is a pretty interesting trip but takes an age to get to from the South Lakes.

You've also got the joys of the Hardknott/Wrynose passes to enjoy

[Kneetrembler]

We always stay here it is a B&B but has parking and is more like a small luxury boutique hotel in Ambleside.

www.easdaleambleside.co.uk

Easdale Lodge Guest House
Compston Road,
Ambleside,
Cumbria
LA22 9DJ

Tel:- 015394 32112

Also right in the middle of Ambleside go and eat at Lucys Kitchen for great food in the evenings, make sure that you book.

[Farmerpalmer]

http://www.langdale.co.uk/
stayed here many times, and always love it.
breakfasts are great

[rudecherub]

Langdale Chase worth a visit, if only for a cup of tea.

Lowther Castle gardens are now open

[geordieracer]

Ambleside is a great base; I'd recommend the Cherry Garth Guest house http://www.cherrygarth.com/
And just opposite there's the Log House restaurant... I love it there.

There's some great walks starting from Ambleside, or head over to Coniston for a quieter Lakeland village. There is of course, the amazing Drunken Duck restaurant over that way too.

Keswick is an easy place to while away an afternoon, and the motor museum is there too.

[Hard-Drive]

Well worth a trip to Wast Water if you like the more remote lakeland scenery without the crowds.

[nammynake]

deanogtv said:

If anyone could recommend a cottage too that would be ideal?

Take a look at Sykes - they have hundreds of properties in the Lakes.

Grasmere is a pleasant little village but can get busy during holidays.

[northwest monkey]

I personally find the Lake District a bit "marmite". I can be in the South Lakes in just over an hour from where I live, but I just don't like the place. I can appreciate the beauty of the place but the crowds spoil it for me & it just seems very "touristy". And full of chavs in summer.

Good friend of mine however loves it & visits there a lot.

Northwest Scotland Highlands for me every time

[billzeebub]

Just stay away from Windermere and Kendal and you won't go far wrong. Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick my favourite all-round locations. Coniston a good spot for a stop off with the Donald Campbell history, and the museum should be open then too. The further away from Windermere you head the more natural and beautiful it feels in my opinion, though to be fair in March even Windermere shouldn't be too bad. It's just in the late spring/ summer when the coach loads of foreign tour groups have Windermere on their itinery.

My favourite local delicacies are the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding (available widely) and Grasmere Gingerbread, the shop in the village..make sure you sample both of these