Lake District National Park in Cumbria has been featured three times in the best places to visit for Easter in a recent survey which is no surprise to us,
The beautiful idyllic towns and villages have tourists flocking all year round, but it seems that it may be a bit busier than usual according to a study by Airbnb.
The Yorkshireman reports that Windermere, Ambleside, and Keswick featured in the list with Windermere in 6th, Ambleside in 7th, and Keswick in 10th. With the stunning lake they sit on and the beautiful hikes that surround the areas – we love visiting the humble little spots.
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Amanda Cupples, from Airbnb says: “Easter is a perfect time to go away with your loved ones, but we know that choosing where to go, whether abroad or in the UK, can be a hard decision, especially in the current cost of living crisis.
“That’s why we’re excited to share some of the most popular destinations Brits love to travel to in Easter, to help provide inspiration, as well as a wishlist of Airbnbs in the UK with brilliant value for money.”
Brits looking for a weekend away this Easter are looking for beaches, amazing pools, iconic cities, National Parks, and countryside all of which can be found in good ol’ Yorkshire.
Check out the most popular domestic destinations in the UK to visit over Easter below:
The Lake District is one of the most beautiful National Parks in Britain with a vast landscape that’s waiting to be explored. Tourists and locals alike make it there mission to climb every fell in the area of which there are… Ambleside, Lake District is one of its most popular tourist destinations. Its sits in a valley with a vast beatuiful lake surrounded by woodland, so it’s easy to see why thousands of people flock here each year.
Along with its natural beauty, the area has cultural significance as well with literary icons Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth just some o fthe names to be associtated wit the area. There are also soem amazing historical places to visit in Ambleside such as Wray Castle and Bridge House. So whether you’re wanting to get out there hiking or just get a bit of culture there are plenty of things to do in Ambleside, Lake District.
Take a boat trip on Windermere Lake – Things To Do Ambleside
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Lake Windermere is England’s largest natural lake and was carved out during the Last Ice Age. At over 11 miles lin, but never more than a mile across it’s on your doorstep when you stay in the town of Ambleside.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the area is to enjoy an old-fashioned cruise on a steamer over Windermere. Cruises depart from Ambleside Pier, with plenty available in the summer months. If you heading to Ambleside during colder months, don’t worry as Lake Cruises’ Red Cruise run all year round. It does a return journey to Bowness, stopping at Brockhole – the insightful and sometimes entertaining commentary along the way will give you nuggets of information whilst you enjoy the view.
The boat cruises are also a great way to visit other attractions. You can take the Green Cruise to visit the National Trust Wray Castle.
Visit the World of Beatrix Potter attraction
If you decide to take a trip on a boat cruise across to Bowness, you can visit the Ambleside attraction brings the author beatrix Potter’s enchanting children’s stories to like recreating some of our favourite characters from her famous books. Peter Rabbit’s Garden has all your old friends and wandering around it you get to see the books brought to life, which is a real treat.
After visitors have made their way through the exhibition, they can head over to the character-themed faimly-friendly cafe and gift shop to take home a little bit of Beatrix Potter magic with them. If you visit on a Sunday you won’t want to miss out on storytime where you can enjoy 10 to 15 minutes of a reading from one of your favourite Beatrix Potter books, the slots are 11am, 1pm and 3pm – and you’ll also get a chance to take a selfie with Beatric and her foxgloves.
Don’t forget to take some pennies as you can also press a coin with one of Beatrix’s memorable characters – we still have our coin from our trip as a little momento. Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3BX
Head over to Ambleside Waterhead Pier, a short walk from the actual town as Lake Windermere actually end a little short of Ambleside by around a mile found in the village of Waterhead. The bay as a range of waatersude cafes, pubs, tourist shop and places selling food for you to feed the ducks and swans making it the perfect place for a stroll.
Steamers set sail daily throughout the year taking you to Bowness. You can also enjoy a romantic horse-drawn carriage experience between Waterhead pier and the centre of Ambleside. Waterhead also makes for a good start point to follow a path into the mature woodland that surrounds the show such as Loughridd Fell. Make sure you take plenty of water as its a steep ascent to reach the fell, but not too difficult.
Hike to the top of Lougrigg Fell
We really enjoyed this walk which is one of the easier fell walks in the Lake District. You can either start from the centre of Ambleside or start from Waterhead Pier like we did. It offers everything you’d want from a walk in the Lakes in a nice short ascent. We took the simple route by just scambling to the Loughrigg Fell to enjoy the views over Rydal Water and Grasmere before turning back and heading down the same way. But, you can take a 6-mile circulareither way you’ll experience, beatuiful woodland, fells and a whole lot of panoramic views.
We just typed the fell into Google, but this route gives an extensive explanation of the route for those wo like a bit more detail.
Found a short walk from the centre of Ambleside, just behind the Salutation Hotel is Stock Ghyll Force, a fantastic 70ft waterfall, whcih can be viewed from a railed viewing point. The hidden waterfall can be tricky to find unless you know how – luckily for you we’ve shared the cheeky secret to help you some this mesmerising body of water.
A tributary of the River Rothay which eventually drains into Lake Windermer, the waterfall used to be nicknamed Rattle Gyhll due to the areas industrial past. The river tumbles down a series of waterfalls to the centre of Ambleside and even passes under the popular Bridge House along the way.
The true power of the waterfall can be found in its history as it once drove 12 watermills along with other local becks all differing in the ir ouput.
Have an adventure day at Grizdale Forest
Grizdale foret can be found in the heart of the Lake District and has something for everyone who visits. You’ll struggle to find a da out as fun as this one/ With breaktaking views, stunning endless trails and more it’s a nature lovers dream. And, if that’s not all you can test your nerve and get stuck into swining from trees at Grizdale’s Go Ape course, or on one of the intense bike trails.
You can explore the woods via back, foot or horse back either way you should keep your eyes peeled for unique sculptures scattered around the forest. It’s the largest ‘sculpture in the forest’ exhibition in the country which in 1986 was awarded ‘the most outstanding contribution to art in a working environment’.
There is a cafe where you can have a reviving meal with the family after exploring the forest in the numerous ways listed. In fact there is so much to do that you may just have to plan more than one visit to the incredible spot.
Immerse yourself in nature at Rydal Water
One of the smallest lakes in the national park Rydal water is around 3/4 mile long and 1/4 mile wide, but none the less is still a popular choice for tourists due to its literary connections. William Wordsworth, Romntics poets, named Poet and described Rydal as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”.
“passing behind Rydal Mount and under Nab Scar…very favourable to views of the lake and the vale…The horse road…under Loughrigg fell, does justice to the beauties of this small mere, of which the traveller who keeps the high road is not at all aware.”
You can walk around Rydal Water and, as many have before, follow in the footsteps of the famous poet. The walk passes Rydal Cave, which is a large cave that is perched above the lake.
Seek out some history at Wray Castle
Built in 1840 for Dr James Dawson, a retired Liverpool surgeoen, the house is owned by the National Trust – and is not as the name suggests a castle, but a private house.
It has all the features of a castle from turrets, towers, turrets, as well as arrow slits aane even a mock ruins in the grounds and is in fact just an elaborate grounds with an interesting story. Apparently the house was built using his wife’s inheritance from a gin fortune. It’s said that when it was built the wife took one look at it and refused to live in it when it was finished.
These days it’s a great place to visit with a picnic and enjoy the views it offers up, or venture in the Kitchen Court Cafe and enjoy hot & cold bites to eat and something to drink.
Found standing over Stock Beck in the middle of Ambleside, Lake District, it’s a building steeped in history. It was built in the late 1600s to early 1700s by the Braithwaite family as an apple store of Amleside Hall and was built over Stock Beck to escape land tax. It’s the only surviving building of the estate and has had visotrs flockings to see it since the early 1800s.
It’s also said that, at one time, a family with six children lived in the two rooms. It’s one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District due to its unique placement. It’s been paid homaged to in numerous writers, artists, and photographers work such as William Green, Harriet Martineau, Edward Lear, Herbert Bell and Kurt Schwitters. It is now a shop for the National Trust.
It has been announced that one of the most popular long-distance walking trails in Britain is set to have a £5.6 million upgrade.
The amazing Wainwright’s Coast to Coast walk in the North of England is a 197-mile walk from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay and it is set to become a National Trail.
Watch the 190 mile walks over 14 days below:
Starting in Cumbria it heads through the Lake District and Yorkshire’s two stunning National Parks the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
Devised by Alfred Wainright, who it is named after, it is a challenging but extremely rewarding walk that showcases some of the UK’s most spectacular scenery such as Iron Age hill forts and medieval castles along with the natural beauty of the high fells and heather moorlands.
Around 6,000 people complete the route each year and the new investment will include upgrades to surfaces and signage making it accessible to people of differing abilities, and the addition of shorter circular routes which is set to be complete by 2025.
There will also be more promotion to encourage domestic and international tourism.
TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who was an advocate in pushing it to be a National Trail described the walk as “just stunning” saying “I’m so pleased that this well-trodden route is to become an official national trail.”
Chairman of the Wainwright Society Eric Robson said: “This is a very exciting and important step and we look forward to working with partners along the route to establish the walk as one of the UK’s great National Trails.
“As Alfred Wainwright said of the walk he devised, ‘Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk’.”
We love the Lakes District and the rest of Cumbria, there is no place like it. Whether it’s lakes, mountains or waterfalls everything is bigger and better in the Lakes, which is why it comes as no surprise that it features on most people’s bucket list for staycation ideas.
Windemere, Coniston and more pull in visitors all year round, which is why the lakes came in fourth place in a list of bucket list places to visit in the UK. Only beaten by the Scottish Highlands, Cornwall & Edinburgh.
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It was beaten out by some stiff competition, so we’ll take the fourth place. People’s top five reasons for picking these places were due to their natural beauty, seen on TV, and recommended by friends and family amongst other reasons.
Travel restrictions over the past couple of years have led many Brits to explore the beauty of the UK rather than holidaying abroad, so it’s great to see that over half (52%) of Brits now want to visit the area in the UK because of the beauty of the area.
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The reasearch carried out by holidaycottages.co.uk four in ten (38%) people asked would choose UK staycation spots than international destinations on their bucket list, according to new research.
Interestingly, the study found that almost two in five (38%) Brits would rather visit more UK places in their lifetime than abroad, with over four in 10 (43%) saying they’d like to visit more UK locations, but still go abroad too.
Only 14% said they would rather visit places abroad in their lifetime than in the UK, showing that staycations are here to stay, even with the lifting of international travel restrictions.
Commenting on the research, Shannon Keary, Digital PR Manager at holidaycottages.co.uk, says: “We know how much the UK has to offer in terms of beautiful scenery and history, and we wanted to see where in the UK most appealed to Brits and which destinations in the UK topped their bucket list. It’s really interesting to see that so many would rather visit UK destinations in their lifetime than those abroad, so we can surely expect to see more and more Brits continuing the staycation trend of the past two years.”
The top 10 bucket list staycation spots that Brits want to visit most, are:
The Lake District National Park in Cumbria is full of wonderous natural sights. You need panovision to take in all the beauty that surrounds you as you hike its numerous trails. One of our favourite places to visit is Scale Force, which is tucked away in a deep tree-lined gorge and is alos the highest waterfall in the Lake District.
Sitting at 170 feet high, the largest waterfall in the Lake District is just a 2.5 mile walk from the closests car park at Lake Buttermere, Buttermere Cockermouth. So a nice 5 mile round jaunt for a beautiful sight. There re also two other 20 ft waterfalls in the area that is owned by the national park, wall of which are well worth seeking out on your visit.
The best thing about Scale Force, is its an impressive sight all year round, including the drier seasons. If you park in Buttermere you can head out towards Honister Pass and head on to the bridleway with will talk you along a lakeshore a path towards Scale Force. It’s just west of the lower part of Crummock Water in the beautiful Lake District
Found in the deep gorge, the single fall waterfall, not only impressive in its own right is surrounded by natural beauty. The gorge is full of lush greenery, plant life and more that you can explore whilst you’re there. We’d say that you should allow yourself a couple of hours to get there and explore.
If you’re quite nimble and adventurous there is a rope that you can climb to get a closer look at the waterfall, but we must stress that you be careful if you do so. If you’re inclined to do so, there is a pool to do a little bit of wild swimming also.
On returning to Buttermere, make sure you head over to the oldest pub in the Lake District, The Fish Inn for a well earned pint and a bit of food. We all know there is no better pint than that one after a well earned treck.
The Lake District, known for its rugged mountains and huge lakes is a great place to get back to nature, and there is no way quite like camping to bring you closer to the simpler things in life. And, it seems that we aren’t the only ones who think so with the Lakes featuing amongst the best camp spots in the UK.
Three of the Lake Districts camp spots where ranked amongst the best camping spots in the UK by Cotswold Outdoor, which asked 2,000 people were quizzed on where they’d like to reconnect with nature in a poll.
The research was done as part of its #ProjectRewild campaign that aims to encourage more people to enjoy and reconnect with nature.
Credit: Cool Camping
The poll featured Waterside House campsite at Ullswater, near Penrith, Tarn Foot campsite, near Ambleside and Turner Hall Farm, at Seathwaite all featured in the list of the UK’s top campsites.
Cumbrian, Piel Island off the Barrow coast also featured in the list of places
Jose Finch, managing director of Cotswold Outdoor, said: “Watching the sun set and rise in these locations is a joy to behold and camping can often be the best way to enjoy them. Living in the UK, we’re treated to some amazing outdoor locations which can often be easy to forget.
“Hopefully this research reminds people of the amazing experiences that can be had on our doorstep, while thinking more about what they can do to preserve the beauty of the outdoors.
“We’ve all got a part to play in preservation of the great green spaces in this country and spending quality time outdoors can really drive home its importance.”
There is nothing better than a hotel in the countryside and this Lake District stay at Cedar Manor in Windermere won across three categories in the TripAdvisor Hotel Awards 2022 including 2022 Travellers’ Choice® Best of the Best Awards for Hotels, which highlights travellers’ favourite hotels worldwide.
The 2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards are based on ratings posted on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period along with the quality and quantity of traveller reviews from the 1st of January 1, to the 31st of December, 2021.
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Steeped in history, the 1854 Lake District retreat, provides a home from home including fine food just minutes from the lake, village and railway station. It serves up the best Afternoon Tea in the Lake District made by skilled chefs and served on the finest quality china.
The hotel came top in the UK for luxury and 10th in Europe. It also came second in the UK for the most romantic hotels and 10th in Europe again, and third in the UK for small stays and 15th in Europe. Not bad going – eh.
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It wasn’t the only Cumbrian hotel to feature in the list. Windermere Boutique Hotel also featured in the UK’s most romantic list coming in 14th place and also in the top 25 of the UK’s romantic stays coming in at 21.
Kanika Soni, chief commercial officer at Tripadvisor said: “We know that travel is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so the Travellers’ Choice Awards have you covered–no matter what type of trip you’re planning.”
Credit: Cedar Manor
“Winners for 2022 span six continents and 90 countries, ranging from cave hotels to overwater bungalows to castles and even family-owned B&Bs.
“Browse through these winners for a dose of wanderlust along with recommendations from the best guides in the world: other travellers.”
Planning this winter’s getaway? Staying a little closer to home never looked so good, with not only the entirety of beautiful Yorkshire on our doorsteps, but also the iconic Lake District, too. Sure, we’re ambassadors of loving all things God’s Own Country, but every once in a while, it doesn’t hurt to head further afield.
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Perched on the waterside of Lake Ullswater, you’ll find a stunning little boathouse – which, even from the exterior, oozes sheer cosiness.
A traditional stone building on the outside, on the inside, guests will stumble on a lot more than expected – with a deceptively large interior that’s cosy enough for two. And while it overlooks the stunning views of the water, at the rear of the property, you’ll be treated to 10 acres of beautiful woodland, perfect for a romantic stroll or a bit of peace and quiet from the world.
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The beautiful bolthole comes well equipped with everything you need for your break away, including a snug living area complete with a log burner, a small but fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with a walk-in shower, and most notably, a stunning balcony overlooking the picturesque lake.
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The stunning local area is just the cherry on top of a wonderfully delicious cake, with Penrith, Pooley Bridge, Dacre and more right on your doorstep. Not only that, but there’s a ton of activities to take part in, too, from boat trips, kayaking and sailing, to horse riding, nature walks and heading to a luxury spa.
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But what else did you expect from the second largest lake in the Lake District? For keen hikers, nearby you’ll find the third highest peak in England, Helvellyn – and for water lovers, there’s even a 20-mile lake walk to take part in, too. Better pack the hiking boots!
The spot is truly idyllic all year round, with the snowy months providing a magical air about Ullswater that can’t be experienced at any other time of year. To find out more about The Boathouse or to book your stay, check it out here.
Craving a little piece of luxury this summer? We don’t blame you. And, we have the perfect holiday in the UK, that will make you forget about the golden beaches in Spain. There are some beautiful places right on our doorstep that we didn’t even know existed. One of which is The Boathouse Derwent Water in the Lake District, which is a feat in architectural beauty.
Credit: The Lingholm Estate
Boasting the type of decor and design that would usually be associated with the rich and famous, the Lingholm Boathouse sits on the shore of stunning Derwentwater, looking out to a picturesque scene which, if I’m honest, doesn’t even look real. It’s that breathtaking.
A romantic bolthole especially built for two, the Boathouse embraces uninterrupted views of the lake directly in front of it, with the whole front of the home fully glazed to allow for panoramic views as far as the eye can see.
Credit: The Lingholm Estate
It’s a very cosy affair nestled in one of the most beautiful spots in the Lake District, with Borrowdale, Blencathra and Skiddaw all close by to see during your stay. Oh, and did we mention it’s walking distance to the nearest pub?
In the snug, modern bedroom, guests will find a plush, comfy bed with all the amenities, including the luxury of a freestanding tub that looks out over the lake through a huge glass pane. Fancy, huh?
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Elsewhere in the home, guests can pop their feet up to a bit of tele (although why would you with that view?) and cook in the open kitchen space. Afterwards, you can cuddle up for the night in the ultra-peaceful and secluded spot. Well, if your partner will allow for it. Mr Yorkshireman has a strict no-cuddle policy while the TV’s on.
In terms of activities, guests are conveniently located nearby to some of the best walking routes the Lake District has to offer, with routes around Derwentwater and towards lovely Keswick to take advantage of.
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The estate itself, known as the Lingholm Estate, boasts interesting literary history – with Beatrix Potter spending many of her summer holidays there giving The Boathouse on Derwent Water a beautiful literary past.
The Lingholm Kitchen Garden is also said to be the inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Enjoy an uninterrupted dinner with your partner on the gorgeous balcony, or watch the sunset from the bath with a glass of champagne. Whatever you do in this house, you’re sure to be feeling incredibly relaxed upon leaving. Find out more or book your stay here.
Now, this is a holiday! This private estate in Ullswater, the Lake District is absolutely mesmerising! Boasting beautiful views, the coolest indoor cinema, and home spa equipment – it’s the ultimate location for gathering with friends and adding a little spark to your summer. Known as ‘Waternook’, the 5* conversion has recently been awarded the Visit England Rose Award for “service excellence”, so you know you’re in for a brilliant stay.
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Nestled on a 26-acre lakefront estate in the heart of the English Lake District National Park, the stunning location is nothing to be sniffed at. Enjoy breakfast while staring out over the dramatic setting on the edge of one of Britain’s favourite lakes surrounded by rolling wilderness.
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It’s so vast, you’ll feel like the only people in the world. The home sleeps 12 people in six gorgeous suites, with The Great Barn sleeping an additional 8 people in similarly lavish comfort, and 8 deluxe bathrooms.
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The lavish interior of the house is just as exciting as the incredible views, too. The spa and wellness sanctuary has a bar for you to enjoy a drink while you make use of the amenities, and you can enjoy an evening with some bubbles in the hot tub with the most beautiful backdrop, and feel like you are living like the other half live for a few days.
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Elsewhere in the house, there’s a state of the art cinema with a huge screen and comfy seating, with space enough for all the gang to kick back and relax to a movie of your choice. Additionally, there’s a lounge area with a wood-burning fire for you to sit and rest after a hard day of relaxing.
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When it comes to eating, you don’t have to skimp on the luxury – because you can take advantage of the place’s private chef and enjoy having a beautiful meal cooked just for you. Although this property is self-catering, guests can make the most of several additional services, including private chefs, butlers, beauty therapists and personalised yoga lessons (talk about the lap of luxury).
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The 17th Century property has bedrooms that match the lavishness of the rest of the house, with wood beam features, exquisite beds and even free-standing tubs for the ultimate finishing touch. The views out of the windows (which the tubs just so happen to be placed in front of) are superb, and are perfect to take in with a morning coffee.
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During the day you can head out on horseback or bike, or simply go for a walk in the woods. The Lake District Park is spread out over 912 square miles and has some of the most picturesque views, deepest lakes and an amazing array of wildlife to spot during your visit.
Dreaming of staying at this property? It’ll set you back a fair bit, with the price tag currently £7600 for a 3-day weekend in low season, through to an eye-watering £14,000 for a week in high season (and £17,700 for Christmas and New Years). But hey, what’s £17K between mates?
Lakes Life 