You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > Areas of Cumbria > The Lake District
England’s best-known and most popular national park is a postcard landscape of shimmering lakes, craggy hilltops and ancient forests that has enchanted poets and painters since the late 18th century, when the Romantics first had their imaginations stirred by the panoramas that have remained unchanged to this day.
And what panoramas they are. There’s the classic Lakeland setting of Windermere, England’s largest lake and the primary destination for millions of tourists since the railroad was first built in the middle of the 19th century. On it is busy Bowness and the charming villages of Grasmere and Hawkshead, surrounded on all sides by beautiful mountains.
The north lakes – Ullswater, Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater, Loweswater – are quieter and wilder, in the shadow of the rugged Skiddaw range and with handsome Keswick at the heart of it. The lush Borrowdale Valley leads to the dramatic Honister mountain pass and into the natural lakes of Buttermere & Crummock.
Adventure seekers go west, to the higher ground of Great Langdale and the region’s major summits of Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and the biggest mountain of all, Scafell Pike.
The Lake District is an outdoor activities paradise, but its literary connections draw as many visitors as its walks do. William Wordsworth lived virtually all of his life here, drawing inspiration from the surrounding countryside to write some of the English language’s most enduring poetry. The landscape also proved a creative spark for the likes of Sameul Taylor Coleridge, Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter – who dedicated much of her life to protecting the Lake District’s beauty and heritage.
In all its beauty and diversity the Lake District remains as it has been for millennia, which is one of the reasons why in 2017 the national park was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site – its river valleys, lakes and mountains home to an unique hill-farming culture and ancient heritage that has been carefully preserved. Here in the Lake District we know how to take good care of you; we’ve had plenty of practice.
Explore
Originally premiering at the Edinburgh Festival in 1977; 'Bouncers' is still one of the most…
Create a unique piece of silver jewellery that will be a joy to wear or make a perfect gift.…
Join us for a splash of colour in this exciting and playful process. No experience needed, just…
Be inspired by the becks and gyhlls in the lakeland landscape. Based in the stunning Kentmere…
Welcome to an early Spring Forest Bathing walk! I am Kim Ainis, a Certified Nature and Forest…
Join us for an incredible adventure on Helvellyn in the heart of the Lake District. Our Guided…
Brought to you by the National Trust and Karen Whybrow Coaching, use mindfulness and ritual to…
A Flagship fundraising event for Walking with the Wounded, individuals, companies and organisations…
The full Pink moon aligns with spring flowers bursting into life and symbolises happiness &…
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of any sort of… disappointed love. Catherine…
Brought to you by National Trust and Karen Whybrow Coaching, carry out a powerful releasing ritual…
Wrap up warm and join our expert Ranger Rob for a chance to spot a hawfinch at first light.…
Performed by Tim Marriott (BBC's The Brittas Empire) "163 to win in twenty overs, we've got this -…
Blues Rock sensation, Sean Webster comes to the Old Laundry, with Mick McConnell and 'Blue Thunder'…
Join us for Easter Go Wild! at Brantwood on select dates in April. Immerse yourself in nature and…
The Cumbrian uplands include extensive areas of considerable nature conservation value. The…
Join us to welcome back the fantastic cast from After Dark for an evening of murderous…
This new display delves into the Townend archive collection, a treasure trove of four hundred years…
Discover two remarkable Arts & Crafts houses in the Lake District in one afternoon. Blackwell – the…
Historian and author Christine Raafat will be talking about her novel, The Will to Succeed, about…
Join us at the Armitt for a day of terrific tales and traditional Easter egg roll with Taffy…
Can you discover eight of the birds that call Sizergh home? Take part in the Spring Bird Challenge…
Brantwood Big Easter Weekend, Saturday 30th March & Sunday 31st March - Join us over the Easter…
The Kammerphilharmonie Europa gives a guest performance in Bowness-on-Windermere for this very…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
Number of results: 484
, currently showing 481 to 484.
Hartsop, Patterdale
Between Ullswater and Windermere, Scandanavian style lodges sit on a secluded site, in a quiet corner of the Lakes. Sleep up to six in all Lodges. Week, short-week & weekend breaks available. Equipped with fitted kitchen, colour TV & free Wi-Fi.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
106 reviewsAmbleside
If you are looking to take your hill and mountain walking to the next level, this could be just what you’re looking for! You’ll be scaling rocks to reach the summit, learning new skills along the way and enjoying those hard earned views at the top.
Braithwaite, Keswick
Based at the head of England's best trail centre, the Altura trail in Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. A well stocked trail centre bike shop offering premium bike hire, fast repairs and premium road and mountain bike sales. We also offer guiding and…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
153 reviewsWindermere
Tents can pitch in one of two areas. - Our Ghyllside camping area, allows you to reserve your pitch, with electrical hook-up (6amps) suitable for lighting, recharging devices and small appliances such as a travel kettle. These pitches are allocated…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
835 reviewsReceive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL