The Lake District in the summer
Discussion
We usually rent a cottage for a summer holiday and over the past 10 years have visited Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire, North Wales and Norfolk. With 2 small children a beach holiday was perfect fun. However, now the kids are getting older and we have visited the same places a couple of times I am thinking of going somewhere else for some variety. The Lake District was mentioned but I have always been under the impression that it is overrun during the summer. Can anyone confirm if this is true? We are used to things being busy in Devon and Cornwall in July/August - is it as busy as that?
My parents live there so this comes from that perspective and spending half my weekends / holidays with grand parents as a child.
The main towns on the Windermere - Keswick route do get very busy in the summer. Helvelyn or Catbells or the other tourist places are full. However go a few miles off the tourist areas and I think it's fine.
It all depends on what you want and what the children want. I have very happy memories of messing about in boats or playing in streams during my childhood.
Keswick in Convention time is not particularly nice but on the flip side the Convention-goers stay in town the local area can be quiet.
The main towns on the Windermere - Keswick route do get very busy in the summer. Helvelyn or Catbells or the other tourist places are full. However go a few miles off the tourist areas and I think it's fine.
It all depends on what you want and what the children want. I have very happy memories of messing about in boats or playing in streams during my childhood.
Keswick in Convention time is not particularly nice but on the flip side the Convention-goers stay in town the local area can be quiet.
Thank you for that info. I've just been speaking to a colleague who has announced that they are leaving to relocate to the Lake District and they said very similar things.
I worry that the kids might have got a bit old for building sand castles and would like to try something different (they will be 12 and 9). I'll have to find out what they would prefer.
I worry that the kids might have got a bit old for building sand castles and would like to try something different (they will be 12 and 9). I'll have to find out what they would prefer.
The Langdale is a great place to go with kids of that age. You can book one of the lodges and they then get free roam of the place.
Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
I live up here, loads to do, our kids 8 & 9 are never short of stuff to do, in the Summer we tend to find the less popular areas to walk and have fun. Everything is accessible though within a reasonable time and when the weather is good we tend to either go our really early or much later in the day.
The traffic isn't great in the summer and I would recommend avoiding Windermere which is literally overrun.
The traffic isn't great in the summer and I would recommend avoiding Windermere which is literally overrun.
sinbaddio said:
The Langdale is a great place to go with kids of that age. You can book one of the lodges and they then get free roam of the place.
Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
Couldn't agree more. My family has a couple of the lodges at Langdale and we're there twice a year, every year. My wife (and myself) has access to the Spa and of course the kids have the pool/play areas. Lovely estate, not at all "holiday park-ish" and as you say, 2 very good pubs nearby. A short stroll through Elterwater, over the bridge, gets you to the Eltermere Inn. Great rooms, superb views and a great to drop in for a drink/lunch/dinner. Not many walkers make there as it's a bit more expensive and out of the way compared to the Brit/Wainwrights (the other pubs nearby). For this reason you can have the run of the bar and gardens most days; remarkable but true. Drunken Duck is just a short ride away and you're in the middle of walking country. Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
I'm there in May and can't wait. Can you tell....?
sinbaddio said:
The Langdale is a great place to go with kids of that age. You can book one of the lodges and they then get free roam of the place.
Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
Wow thanks for posting that link, I visited Cathedral Quarry about 20 years ago on a school trip and had forgotten all about it! Fantastic place and I've added it to my list of places to visit in the summer Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
We go to the Lake District every summer and hire a cottage usually, avoid the tourist areas and you'll be OK. the North Lakes around Keswick, Troutbeck Head is nice, Pooley Bridge, or in the south around Haverthwaite.
Parking can be a problem, the trouble with the Lake District is the weather is very unpredictable, it can be glorious in February and very wet in July.
It's a lottery.
Parking can be a problem, the trouble with the Lake District is the weather is very unpredictable, it can be glorious in February and very wet in July.
It's a lottery.
Vvroom said:
sinbaddio said:
The Langdale is a great place to go with kids of that age. You can book one of the lodges and they then get free roam of the place.
Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
Couldn't agree more. My family has a couple of the lodges at Langdale and we're there twice a year, every year. My wife (and myself) has access to the Spa and of course the kids have the pool/play areas. Lovely estate, not at all "holiday park-ish" and as you say, 2 very good pubs nearby. A short stroll through Elterwater, over the bridge, gets you to the Eltermere Inn. Great rooms, superb views and a great to drop in for a drink/lunch/dinner. Not many walkers make there as it's a bit more expensive and out of the way compared to the Brit/Wainwrights (the other pubs nearby). For this reason you can have the run of the bar and gardens most days; remarkable but true. Drunken Duck is just a short ride away and you're in the middle of walking country. Also you get use of the pool/spa etc if the weather's a bit grim, and there are two decent pubs in easy walking distance. Plus it's a good central location.
If you do got there you can also walk up to Cathedral Quarry which is stunning. https://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/
I'm there in May and can't wait. Can you tell....?
As people have said the LD is busy in the summer, but no more than Devon or Cornwall. Once you get to Elterwater, there's no need to leave, loads of walks and mountain biking on the doorstep, small supermarket, lots of pubs and if you fancy a change you can walk over the hill to Grassmere.
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