Almost everything you need to know about the Lake District
Cumbria, The Lake District National Park and more recently a World Heritage Site. This epic walking location in the North West of England needs no real introduction.
Formed by glaciers, once home to wolves, lynx and bears, exploited in the industrial revolution, and muse to the literary greats, the fells and lakes of Cumbria are steeped in history and have long held wonder for those who visit.
A trek is a wonderful way to experience this area, walking for several days allows you to really engage in the environment, get closer to nature and tune into the natural rhythms of the countryside. As well as being able to enjoy the countryside, there are great health and wellbeing benefits.
At 2362 square kilometres (912 square miles) the Lake District is the largest National Park in the UK and is home to thousands of footpaths, bridleways and national walking routes. A walker’s dream.
Things to see in the Lake District
The Lakes! Of course these are one of the main features of the lake district national park, there are 16 waters, mears and tarns, the Cumbrian name for a lake or pool.
The 5 Largest Waters in the Lake District
- Windermere – 14.8 square kilometres
- Ullswater – 8.9 square kilometres
- Derwentwater – 5.5 square kilometres
- Bassenthwaite Lake – 5.3 square kilometres
- Coniston Water – 4.0 square kilometres
The Mountains! Formed millions of years ago by glacial action the lake district has some of the highest mountains in the UK.
The 5 Highest Mountains in the Lake District
- Scafell Pike at 978 metres (3210 feet)
- Scafell at 964 metres (3162 feet)
- Helvellyn at 950 metres (3114 feet)
- Skiddaw at 931 metres(3053 feet)
- Great End at 910 metres (2986 feet)
What is the weather like in the Lake District?
Before you plan or set off on your walking holiday, taking the weather into consideration is really important. You might experience a wide variety of weather in the Lake District, from hot summer days and thunderstorms, to freezing ice and deep snow on the summits in winter. We suggest checking a mountain forecast like MWIS http://www.mwis.org.uk/ before you depart to check local conditions and planning outlook.
Which are the main towns in the Lake District?
The main towns in the Lake District are Keswick, Ambleside and Bowness on Windermere. In each area there are numerous villages that are often well stocked with supplies for tourists and locals.
Keswick
Located on the shores of Derwentwater and in the shadows of Cat Bells and Skiddaw, Keswick offers a hub for tourists and is a popular destination for people from all around the world. A plethora of outdoor shops, cafes and craft shops offer the passing walker everything they could need for a stay in the area.
Bowness – on – Windermere
The largest town in the Lake District, Bowness is a popular tourist hub for most of the year. It is especially busy in the summer months of course and is home to many large Victorian Hotels, boating access to the Lake and the main train station is located about a mile away.
Ambleside
A major destination for outdoor lovers, Ambleside is the gateway to many locations on the western side of the Lakes and is located on the North shore of Lake Windermere. Home to many outdoor shops, restaurants and cafes it is a great place to stock up before a big trek.
Have a great time
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Lake District, it is of course one of our favorite places to explore. If you would like us to organise your next walking holiday in the lake district, please get in touch with the team or have a look at our Lake district Self Guided Walking Holidays.
Our most popular Lake District Walks are the Lake District Round and the Cumbria Way and we will be looking at both of these in more detail in our next blogs.
