Lake District National Park in the north-western part of England is a mountainous region with some of its highest peaks and largest lake: Scafell Pikes (3,162 ft) and Windermere respectively.
The 2 main bases are Keswick and Bowness/Windermere which also explain why Lake District may feel like a seaside resort swamped with tourists. Less hectic alternatives could be Cockermouth or Grasmere.
Train / Bus / By foot - Take your Pick!
By train, Windermere is about 3 3/4 hours away from London's Euston Station. The frequency is about 4 hours between each departure. From the main London-Glasgow line, alight at Oxenholme for the spur off line.
A free paper, Explore, is available from TIC which gives information on bus and boat timetable details for Cumbria and the Lakes.
There are also 2 National Express buses a day from Manchester via Preston and on to Keswick. Cumberland has a number of important services, check with them at 01946-63222.
There are a million B&Bs around going for about £15-16 a night. But if you would prefer a youth hostel, there are about 30 YHA hostels in the region.
England has the most veritable accommodation booking system that I’ve ever experienced. The ubiquitous Tourist Information Centres (TIC) arrange for stay at any Bed & Breakfast (B&B) at any corner of the United Kingdom. The beauty of this system is that you can plan and book ahead then have fun without having to worry about having a roof over your head if you reach your destination when the shops are shut.
Personally, I enjoy the homestay version of B&B more than a commercialised inn or hotel. These B&Bs tend to be more personal in their approach and you get a real feel of how it’s like living in a traditional English house. You might even get to play with the rubber duckie left over from the owner’s son. (Well, I did anyway.)
B&B where we stayed: Heather & Michael Sanderson, Lindisfarne House, Sunnybank Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 2EN
For the budget conscious, there is a Youth Hostel in Grasmere: Grasmere Youth Hostel, Thorney How, Grasmere. Tel: 015394-35591. Call 015394-43543 for the YHA at Windermere/Keswick.
For more listing on accommodations in Lake District, visit Hot Links.