Visiting England’s Lake District for the First Time

I had heard several people say that England’s Lake District is lovely.  Well, let me tell you after spending only a day there, it did not disappoint.  I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to go back and explore more.  

In addition to the beautiful lakes, there are so many cute towns and plenty of places to go hiking.  It’s a quiet area, but you will not be bored.  We visited the Lake District in August and the weather was just perfect.

It may have been our first time in the Lake District but it won’t be the last.  Let me share some of the things we did during our short visit so that you can plan your own trip.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Please see disclosure below for information.

About the Lake District

The Lake District is a region in northwest England that is part of the county of Cumbria.  It is a popular tourist destination because of its lakes, forests, and mountains (also called fells). The Lake District National Park was established in 1951 and it was made a UNESCO heritage site in 2017.

How Many Lakes in The Lake District?

It’s a trick question! There are 16 bodies of water in the Lake District National Park, but only one actual lake – Bassenthwaite Lake.  The other bodies of water are technically considered waters, meres, and tarns.  We spent most of our time around Windermere but we did see Bassenthwaite Lake when we drove to see the Ashness Bridge.

Windermere is the largest body of water in England, so we decided to spend most of our time around it.  Lake Windermere Cruises offers several different cruises on the lake.   We went on the Red Line, which would take us from Bowness to Ambleside and then back.  Boats run about every 30 minutes, but you should check the schedule for your visit.

*In case you were wondering the Lake District is one of 15 National Parks in the UK!

What to Do in the Lake District

Since we had little time and previous experience in the Lake District, we wanted to experience a bit of the best the area had to offer.  That meant we wanted to get out on the water, do some hiking, and see some of the villages.

We wouldn’t have time to see everything.   The Castlerigg Stone Circle, all the Beatrix Potter attractions, William Wordsworth’s home Rydal Mount, the Derwent Pencil Museum, the Honister Slate Mine, and tasting Grasmere gingerbread would have to wait for a future trip.

Boat Ride on Lake Windermere

Lake Windermere Cruises offers several different boat tour options.  We decided to take the red line which would go from Bowness (Windermere) to Ambleside and back.  You can stay on the boat the whole time, but we choose to get off in Ambleside and explore for a bit before returning to Bowness.

The boat we took had plenty of space for everyone.  We choose seats on the right side so we would be facing the shoreline the boat would be closer to.  The views from the lake are lovely so I’m sure wherever you sit you will enjoy the view.  The ride to Ambleside takes about 30 minutes and the narration provides interesting trivia facts and some of the history of the area.

Returning to Bowness, we caught the last shuttle from the town of Ambleside back (4:30 pm) to the dock.  Since we weren’t in a hurry to leave, we got drinks inside the shop and then sat at a table right by the river to relax for a bit.  We got in line a little before the boat was scheduled to leave to make sure we would get seats with a view.  

We had a different boat on the ride back and sat on the top deck.  For this trip, the boat went along the opposite shore.  They told us about the story of child book author Beatrix Potter and how much she loved the area.  She is a big reason why the Lake District is so well preserved.

Exploring Ambleside

Once we got to Ambleside, we opted to take the shuttle that was waiting for us (£2 each) rather than walk the 15 minutes into town.  We figured we would be walking enough on our hike.  The shuttle dropped us off at the Red Lion, which is right in the Ambleside town center. 

Next time I visit the Lake District, I might stay in Ambleside.  The town (just like Bowness) is one of the best in the Lake District and definitely worth exploring a bit.   We didn’t have enough time to see everything on this trip.

I was really impressed by the bridge house, it was just so cute! You can even go inside it.  I was a little surprised that there is only a door on one side so you can’t walk across the river through it.  

Hiking in the Lake District

Then it was time for our hike.  We bought a booklet of Ambleside walks from the visitor’s center in Bowness (also available online).  We had a tough time deciding which walk to do but ended up going with the Stock Ghyll with the Sweden High Bridge extension.   The booklet estimated the 5 ½ mile walk would take about four hours and described it as:

“Ascend alongside the spectacular ‘Stock Ghyll’ waterfalls and enjoy the fantastic views across this beautiful corner of Lakeland.”
 

The booklet also said that sturdy waterproof boots with a good grip on the soles were essential.  Well, both Russell and I just had sneakers.  Traction wise the sneakers were fine as it was not a technically difficult hike.  

However, based on our experience I would recommend waterproof shoes (click here to check out the selection on Amazon).  Even on a perfect sunny day, we went through some wooded areas and fields where we encountered some muddy spots.

In addition to making sure you have waterproof shoes, you will need detailed directions to do this walk.  The hardest part of the walk is making sure you don’t miss a turn.   

This was not a typical hike where you follow a trail.  We walked on trails and streets, crossed fields and bridges, and went through several gates plus crossed a few cattle guards.  Quite the adventure!  So I would recommend either getting the booklet or finding detailed directions if you are doing another walk.

The waterfalls are actually very close to the town of Ambleside, so even if you don’t want to go for a long walk you should check them out.   After we passed the waterfalls, we walked along a narrow road and through some fields with stunning views of the countryside.  We saw more sheep than people, and the sheep were quite talkative!

Then we were back on a main road with a nice downward slope.  Our next turn would be a “stony track signposted Ellerigg.”  

We were really enjoying our downhill walk when I realized we had walked way more than the 200 yards we were supposed to.  We had to trek back uphill to try to find it.  Luckily we run into two other men on the road and they showed us the way.

The extension to the High Sweden Bridge was definitely steeper than the rest of the walk but still manageable.  The first part of it you again have breathtaking views, but as you go higher trees get in the way.  

After crossing the bridge, you still climb higher but without trees to block the view (or the sun).  After reaching the peak, the rest of the walk is all downhill with more great Lake District views.

Our Lake Windermere Boutique Hotel

Once we got back to Bowness we headed to our hotel, the Ryebeck, just outside of town.  The Ryebeck is reasonably priced and one of the romantic hotels in the Lake District. 

Our room was lovely and had a great view looking west to Lake Windermere.  While the room did not have wifi, it was available downstairs.   The gardens in the back were also lovely.  They actually have over five acres of grounds but we didn’t have time to explore it all.  

Click here to check availability and rates at the Ryebeck.

The staff at the Ryebeck could not have been more accommodating.  There was no elevator so I think it was the chef that carried our luggage upstairs for us.  They also prepared the continental breakfast early for us since we planned on leaving early.  The breakfast menu looked really delicious, so next time we will try not to leave so early.  I would have also liked to have afternoon tea on the terrace.

The Lake District is also an amazing area for camping.  If that’s more your style, check out the best campsite in the Lake District.

Leaving the Lake District

When we left, we headed north and made a little detour to see the Ashness bridge, which is not too far from Keswick.  The Ashness Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the Lake District due to its setting and stunning views.  You can look out over Derwent Water, Bassenthwaite Lake (the only true lake in the Lake District), and the River Derwent.

Our drive was a scenic tour of the Lake District along curvy roads.  The road that actually goes to the bridge is very steep and narrow.  At first, we questioned if it was a two way or one-way road, but while we were taking pictures of the Ashness bridge we did see a car go the other way.  

I also saw the trailhead for a few hikes there.  We didn’t have time this trip, but I would love to do more hiking there.

Our Time in the Lake District Video

In summary, the Lake District was everything people had told me and more.  You can get more of the feel of the area from my video below.  I was really impressed by the natural beauty, plus I found the Lake District towns so charming.  My time there was just an introduction to the Lake District.

 I would have really liked to have more time to explore some of the other areas, like Buttermere.  Well, we will just have to go back.  

Is the Lake District Worth Visiting?

Yes! The area is absolutely beautiful and definitely has a quaint feel to it.  There is plenty to do from hiking, to boating, to exploring the towns and villages.  Don’t let the fear of lots of tourists stop you from visiting this special place.

Have you been to the Lake District? I would love to hear what you thought. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Lake District as much as I did.

–Anisa

Pin for Later

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you.  Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit.  The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.

Two Traveling Texans is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Last Updated on December 12, 2022