The train station is at Windermere which is somewhat the ‘main’ town of Lake District as well. The TIC is conveniently situated beside the station. Do pop down even if you’ve already booked your accommodation - you may get some inspiration on what to do and where to go in addition to the free maps. Just a stone’s throw away is a supermarket so grab whatever foodstuff you may need.
There’s an average selection of English pubs where meals are served. We tried one near the town centre that provided us with poker cards while we were waiting for our fish n’ chips (sigh* traditional British fare). Over at the counter were several middle-aged men hovering over their beer. However, far from it being rowdy, the atmosphere was congenial and cosy.
Despite it being a relatively busy town, Windermere has retained plenty of ol’charm that one can only endear to. Quaint little shops that sell bric-a-brac and homemade ice cream parlours all along the same street make for a delightful afternoon strolling.
Grasmere’s claim to fame is perhaps Dove Cottage, the place where William Wordsworth lived and wrote one of his most famous poem - ‘Daffodils’. For any serious literary geek, visiting Grasmere is akin to the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. There, one could visit his grave at the local parish or a guided tour of his former home.
Explore the tiny village square and sample their delicious gingerbread cookies. Finally, take a walk round the scenic Lake which may take the entire afternoon depending on the route you take.
Surrounded by gradulating hills, the calm and pristine blue lake is wonderful while the air is crisp and fresh.
There are a host of activities for everyone: from the simple and pastoral to the vigorous and active.
Leisurely walks provide the most luxurious way of exploring Lake District. Near the place where we stayed was a pasture. The open and free spaces with fresh and cold tingling air of the countryside was the balm of all our fatigue. In fact, a herd of cows grazing lazily and some restless looking bulls just 200m away completed the picture of an idyllic country.
We found another enchanting spot straight out of our childhood storybooks - a meadow dotted with tiny yellow flowers. The feeling was magical. It was enhanced all the more when there were absolutely no other tourists jostling about, no hot dog stands and no disturbance - a great change from London.
Cycling in Lake District is great only if you are physically fit. However, being on that 2-wheeler thing allows you to cover a great deal of ground on a single day so it is still a worthwhile consideration. The cost of renting a mountain bike is about £12 at either Ashtons, 12 Main Rd, Windermere or South Terrace, Bowness. Be sure to ask for a map though.
We cycled round Lake Windermere for the better part of our day. (More precisely, I pushed my bike up whenever an insurmountable daunting hill approaches and for which there seem many.) However, despite ‘mountains’ and all, we enjoyed the scenery of rolling plains and the feel of cold wind in our faces as we whizzed down the hills. The adrenaline rush of going at breakneck speed downhill was also addictive. All said, the satisfaction of seeing the beautiful country and the sense of achievement made the cycling expedition one of the most memorable thing I’d done in UK, though I ended up with sore bum and definitely tighter calves the next day.
How about having a picnic in a boat right in the centre of the Lake? Just buy some pastries from any bakery for which there seem to be a selection of. Then, rent a boat for about £4/person/hour. Sigh* c’est romantique, n’est pas?
What can be a more beautiful way to start a day than watching the sun rise over a shimmering lake? Hmmph… catch is, you have to be up by an unearthly 4:30 a.m. (May) to catch the moment. Daily sunrise and sunset times can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre either at Windermere or Keswick.
There are lots of hiking treks around Lake District. At Lake Grasmere, the treks look tempting as they beckon to the beyond. Wear hardy boots and protective clothing as weather can get pretty unpredictable. Get more information or buy a walking guide from the TIC before embarking on one. Read of my trekking experience at the Valley of the Rocks, Exmoor National Park.
Well, I was told by a friend of mine that he intends to do exactly That in Lake District. Strange, I didn’t notice any exceptionally large balloons when I was there. Anyone has any information on this?