Though it might feel a little strange for a mass of land and water to accumulate awards (just imagine a hulking mountain ambling up to the stage to collect a commemorative plate), in its 70 years of being a designated national park, the Lake District has done just that.
Given World Heritage Status by UNESCO in 2017, the Campaign for National Park’s Park Protector Award this year, and bordered by three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, if the Lake District wasn’t so vast, its trophy cabinet would surely be full by now.
But it’s that expansiveness, all 2’362 square kilometres of it, that makes planning a holiday here something of a challenge. Instead, it’s sensible to narrow down your options when visiting the Lake District into just one area. Boasting fantastic accommodation options, an abundance of activities for families and some serious fine dining options, today we’re heading to the North Lakes.
While you’re there, here are the top things to do on your visit to the North Lakes, the Lake District.
WHERE TO STAY?
Keswick is the obvious focal point of the North Lakes area of the Lake District. With a population of around 5’000, a market that dates back 800 years held every Thursday and Saturday, and the town itself just a short stroll from Derwentwater Lake, Keswick is a bustling, agreeable place to base yourself.
What’s more, you’ll be spoilt for choice for hotels in Keswick and the surrounding area, with a range of accommodation options available, including four-star Scandinavian style lodges at Keswick Bridge, and family run guesthouses like the Inn on the Square, the Edwardene and Hazeldene Bed and Breakfast.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to enjoy the last vestiges of summer al fresco, you can bring your tent along and check into one of Keswicks many closeby campsites, the Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club, the Derwentwater Camping and Caravanning Club Site, and Castlerigg Hall Glamping Park, to name but a few. Do check the weather before you decide to pack your tent, of course!
The ancient market town of Cockermouth contains the North Lake’s other main cluster of hotels and guesthouses. The birthplace of William Wordsworth, it’s an incredibly attractive place to spend some time, defined by Georgian architecture and the majestic spire of All Saints Church. Though it doesn’t quite match Keswick’s close proximity to any lakes, Cockermouth is just a half hour’s drive to St. Bees Beach.
WHAT TO DO IN THE NORTH LAKES
If it’s activities you’re looking for, you’ll certainly have a wide choice if you stay around Keswick, Borrowdale, Ullswater, and Derwentwater, the North Lake’s centrepiece area.
Watersports
For water lovers, there are plenty of opportunities to get out on the lakes and enjoy activities both serene and sprightly. Take a leisurely lake cruise across Derwentwater to see some of the unique views of Catbells, Skiddaw and the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’ up close.
Or, on Ullswater, England’s second largest lake, you can try out surfing in the wake of a speed boat at the brilliant Ullswater Wake & Surf. They also offer paddleboarding opportunities for those looking for something more laid back.
On the same lake, the guys at Adventure Vertical host half or full days of kayaking lessons and explorations, all for just £25, which feels like a bargain to us.
Walking, Hiking and Climbing
The Borrowdale Valley, just three miles south of Keswick and sitting on the south shore of Derwentwater Lake, boasts some incredible hiking opportunities. In fact, England’s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, can be reached through Borrowdale’s Corridor Route, a 15km, four hour ascent of tough but rewarding terrain. It’s worth it for the stunning vistas of the Lakes along the way.
If you prefer to clamber rather than hike, Borrowdale is considered one of England’s best locations for rock climbing. Little Chamonix in Shepherd’s Crag is the pick of the bunch, but this isn’t one you want to tackle without a guide. Fortunately, Keswick Mountain Adventures in Seathwaite, just a mile from Borrowdale, is open 7 days a week, 8 am to 6 pm, and offers rock climbing instruction.
Should you be keen on a more pleasant stroll, there are many tourist routes, paths and climbs you can take around Catbells, to catch a sight of Glenthara and the surrounding fells.
Art Galleries and Museums
If there’s time, you could spend a happy afternoon in the museums and galleries of Keswick, too. The Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, the Derwent pencil museum, the Puzzling Place (full of amazing optical illusions!) and the Cars of the Stars motor museum are just some of the many cultural points of interst to visit in the town.
For arts fans, there’s Gallery 26, the Northern Lights Gallery, the Cook House Gallery and the Treeby & Bolton Gallery & Cafe, too.
Enjoy a Spa Day
If that all seems a little too frantic for what is supposed to be a holiday, then rest assured there are places where r’n’r is the only aim, and the North Lakes is blessed with plenty of opportunities for a relaxing spa day.
You can enjoy a facial treatment, sauna and massage at the Armathwaite Hall, Langdale Hotel & Spa, the North Lakes Hotel & Spa, the Lingholm Estate and Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, all within a 10 mile radius of Keswick. Result!
Explore Cumbria’s Famous Food Scene
Cumbria and the Lake District’s food scene is going through something of a moment right now, with several Michelin starred restaurants opening here in recent years.
Just 4 miles west of Keswick in the gorgeous Whittaker Forest, you’ll find the Cottage in the Wood, a sophisticated, ingredients led restaurant that celebrates the finest produce of Cumbria and the Lake District.
The menu, titled ‘Taste Cumbria’, features dishes representing the ‘stream’, ‘sea’, ‘woodland’, ‘coast’, ‘fells’, ‘farm’ and ‘forest’ of the county’s diverse landscape.
The ‘forest’ course uses douglas fir and blackberries foraged from just outside the restaurant to intoxicating effect, whilst the ‘fells’ main course utilises Herdwick hogget, a breed of domestic sheep native to the Lake District and famed for its deep flavour. What better way to explore Cumbria’s food scene than that?
If you’re after something more humble for your supper, Cumbria is the county that brought us the Cumberland sausage and sticky toffee pudding. You’ll find both on the menu at many of the Lake District’s local pubs.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The North Lakes offer the escapism and tranquillity of the Lake District without the crowds of the more famous Lake Windermere and Ambleside town. As such, the area and its main town of Keswick represents a wonderful break for all the family.