2 Bedroom The Lake District cottages

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The stunning surroundings of the Lake District are famous for their beautiful expanses of water, open moorland and mountain fells. Associations with the early 19^th century poetry of William Wordsworth and Lake Poets such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, still bring both nature and literary lovers to the area in huge numbers each year.

Located in the north west of England, at its centre the Lake District includes the largest of the thirteen National Parks in England and Wales. The Lake District National Park includes all of the land in England higher than three thousand feet above sea level; in addition to containing the deepest and longest lakes in the UK, the National Park is also home to the highest English mountain, Scafell Pike.

Things to do in the Lake District
The geography of the Lake District encourages some of the most committed of walkers, rock-climbers and nature-lovers. Much of the local wildlife is unique to the area, including at one point, England’s only nesting pair of Golden Eagles.

During the 18^th century many travellers descended on the Lake District as an alternative to the war-ravaged destinations of the European Grand Tour. With tourism further encouraged, first by the coming of the railway and then by the popularity of the motor car, the Lake District is now one of the major holiday destinations in the UK. Numerous hostels, pubs, B&Bs and hotels cater for the hordes of keen and committed walkers, but there are many alternative leisure opportunities, including cycling, fishing and sailing, as well as more modest options for exploration on foot - with countryside routes for visitors with limited mobility, in addition to ornate open gardens and quiet riverside strolls.

Pony-trekking, windsurfing and rock climbing also make the Lake District a popular destination for activity holidays for all skill levels.

Top Destinations
Grange-over-Sands – This pretty town was transformed from a small fishing village into a fashionable Victorian resort by the advent of the Furness Railway, and the rail line still runs along the coast with Morecambe Bay.

Penrith – A regional centre for the eastern Lake District, Penrith was once the capital of Cumbria. With its strategic position on the route to Scotland, the town has been a military centre since Roman times. Penrith Museum is housed in an Elizabethan building and covers much of the local history and archaeology of the area, whilst high above the town, Penrith Beacon offers walkers spectacular views across Lakeland.

Keswick – A pretty market town, with a charter dating back to 1276, the rural economy of Keswick was transformed by the discovery of various minerals – most notably first copper, and then black lead. Pencil-making is still a major industry in the area, and is further commemorated in Keswick by the presence of the fascinating Cumberland Pencil Museum. 

Coniston – Behind the village, the Old Man of Coniston rises dramatically; the town is a focus for local walkers and climbers, and its position on the edge of the five-mile long Coniston Water also makes it a popular destination for visitors, many of them taking trips across the water on a restored Victorian steam launch.

Ullswater – In addition to exceptionally fine local routes for experienced walkers, Ullswater offers less strenuous paths around the lake and valley. The lake itself is a typical Lake District ‘ribbon lake’ and is regarded by many as the most beautiful of the English lakes.

Cockermouth – Just outside the boundary of the National Park, at the confluence of the River Cocker and River Derwent, Cockermouth was the birthplace of Dorothy and William Wordsworth. The site of a Roman fort and a 13^th century castle, the town now offers visitors a more gentle introduction to Lakeland life.

Ambleside – Promoting itself as the centre for English rock-climbing, Ambleside also offers a unique combination of galleries, museums and specialist shops, making it a popular centre for both outdoor activities and more cerebral pursuits.

Gosforth – Close to the Wasdale and Eskdale valleys, as well as to the coastal regions of Cumbria, the village of Gosforth is the site of the tallest and oldest Viking Cross in England.