A Guide To Getaways in The Lake District

A quick trip to the Lake District can be the ideal way to escape the city and spend a few days relaxing, unwinding, and forgetting the stresses that you’ve left behind – even if it is only for a long weekend. With the Lake District, one of the biggest challenges can be choosing the area that you want to venture to; each town, village and lake have their own special personality and atmosphere, with each tailoring to a different type of holiday-maker. If you’re stuck trying to find the right Lake District location, don’t worry – we’ve put together a guide to the top spots across the region, so sit back, relax, and we’ll take care of the rest!

Derwentwater

Our first pick is the majestic setting of Derwentwater, where you’ll find some of the most breathtaking fells in the country and the gorgeous town of Keswick, where you can spend your evening exploring the town and diving into some of its top bars and restaurants for a tasty bite. Derwentwater is home to some great family-friendly walks, such as Cat Bells, as well as some more advanced trails for those who are looking for a truly adventurous getaway! Whilst you’re in Keswick, we recommend the Brossen Steakhouse at the dog-friendly hotel, Inn On The Square – it’s an AA Rosette Award Winning restaurant that’s sure to fill you up after a long day of exploring the local sights. You could even use the hotel as your base for your trip!

Windermere

Onto our next suggestion, and it’s a big one – in fact, it’s the biggest body of water in the Lake District! We are, of course, talking about Windermere, which is a great all-rounder that offers a little bit of everything for everyone. You can take a lake cruise, hike the surrounding hills, enjoy some water sport activities whilst you’re at the lake or visit the home of Beatrix Potter, the creator of some of the most timeless children’s stories of all time; it’s sure to be an action packed weekend! Whatever you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it all at Windermere, so for a getaway that’s got a little bit of everything to please everyone, it’s a fantastic choice.

Coniston

The water at Coniston is steeped with history. It’s the spiritual home of speed record holder father and son duo Malcolm and Donald Campbell, who attempted and succeeded in breaking the water speed record on the water at Coniston in their hayday. Fatally, these water speed record attempts were also the downfall of Donald Campbell, who tragically died during a failed attempt at breaking the water speed record again in 1967 – you can find out all about the history of the lake at the museums in the village. Furthermore to this, the lake is also famous for being used as the setting for ‘Swallows and Amazons’, the adventure book by Arthur Ransome, adding to the mystical and magical aura that the water possesses. There’s great lake cruises on Coniston too, as well as more of the fantastic hiking routes around the water that the Lake District is famed for, so it’s a brilliant mix of history and adventure for those looking to truly get to grips with the Lake District.

With any luck, you should have a clearer idea of which area of the Lakes is best suited to you and your travel companions, so we hope you have a great time exploring the tranquil settings and quaint villages that the district boasts. Whether it’s Keswick, Windermere, Coniston, or anywhere else in the Lakes, we’re sure you’ll have a great time and that you’ll feel refreshed and revitalised when you dive back into city life!