Visit The Lake District 

The Lake District is a National Park and World Heritage Site in Cumbria in the northwest of England. It is a popular holiday destination known for its glacial lakes, rugged fells and historic literary associations. Market towns such as Kendal, Ambleside and Keswick, on the north shores of Derwentwater, are bases for exploring the area and home to traditional inns, galleries of local art and outdoor equipment shops.

Here are a few questions that are asked by people from all over the World so we hope you find the answers helpful.

What is the Best Area to Stay in the Lake District?

In our opinion the best place to stay in the Lake District is in the Northern Lakes. Just to the west of Keswick, by Derwentwater, is a small idyllic village called Portinscale which is perfect for travellers and tourists looking for a quiet and peaceful location surrounded by stunning scenery, with the convenience of a busy town nearby.

All of the Guest Houses have their own off-street parking. There is easy access to many Wainwright walks and the village has 2 marinas, a pub and a cafe.

Which is Better, Keswick or Windermere?

Windermere is the more touristy of the two towns with lots of day trippers arriving by coach. Keswick is known for mountain scenery and walks that are easily accessible from the town. Keswick also has many annual events that take place in the town, such as the Keswick Mountain Festival, Beer Festival, Jazz Festival, The Lakesman Triathlon, etc.

where should i stay if i climb scafell pike?

Portinscale is the perfect place to start your trip up Scafell Pike. You can drive along the shores of Derwentwater to Seathwaite, about 25 minutes, to start your walk or catch a bus from Portinscale to Seatoller.

what is the best time to visit the lake district?

The Lake District is an amazing place to go for a holiday/visit. It can be wet, hence the lakes, however it is beautiful in all seasons. We think the best times to visit are April/May/June for the spring and beginning of summer, and September/October to see the stunning autumnal colours.

Where should I stay when visiting the Lake District?

Portinscale is located on the shores of Derwentwater, a 5 minute drive from Keswick, or a flat 20 minute walk, and offers the best of both worlds – a peaceful village to stay in with all the facilities of a large town nearby. There are many local attractions that are easily accessible by walking, bus or car. Many of the Wainwright walks can be started from the village, or take a walk around Derwentwater. There are two marinas in Portinscale if you want to do water sports.

What is the quietest lake in the Lake District?

Ennerdale Valley, in the western Lake District, is one of the quietest areas of the Lake District. The lake itself is a reservoir, so canoes and kayaks can be used on the lake but boats with sails or engines are not permitted.

Is Keswick nice?

Keswick is a lovely lakeside market town nestled between Skiddaw mountain and Derwentwater. Its vibrant arts and literary scene has evolved over centuries since Wordsworth and other Romantic poets exalted the area's enchanting beauty. There are many pubs, cafes and restaurants to visit both in and around Keswick.

The town has a regular market each Thursday and Saturday with many diverse stalls ranging from butchers, hot food, clothing, memorabilia and fresh fruit & veg, all offering locally produced products. In the Christmas period it hosts an annual Victorian Fayre.

Is Keswick near Windermere?

The distance between Keswick and Windermere is 18 miles. The road distance is 21.3 miles. There are regular bus routes between the two towns if you don’t have your own transport.

How do people dress in the Lake District?

It's good to wear sturdy shoes and bring a torch for those walks back from the pub in the evening! Jeans, trainers, a light jumper and a fleece will be fine for most seasons, with a coat and warm hat during autumn and winter. Casual wear is the norm when eating in a restaurant or pub. If you are planning to walk up on the fells then proper walking footwear and clothing are essential as the weather can change quickly.

Can you walk up Scafell Pike?

Yes. Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at 978m high and is one of the mountains climbed on the Three Peaks Challenge walk. All the routes are a challenge, and well worth the effort to reach the roof of England.

How long does it take to climb Scafell Pike?

Walking up Scafell Pike is a day’s walk. The length of time it takes will depend on which route you take, how fit you are, how fast you walk, how many times you stop for a break, the weather conditions and your navigation skills. A round trip takes around 7-9 hours.

What is the nearest town to Scafell Pike?

Keswick is a large market town about 8 miles away from Seathwaite, the start of walking up Scafell Pike. It is about a 40 minutes bus ride, or about 25 minutes by car. There is another route up Scafell Pike, from Wasdale which is a small hamlet in the south west Lake District.

Does it rain a lot in the Lake District?

On average there are about 200 wet days a year in the Lake District, which is why we have the Lakes. There are on average 145 dry days a year and about 20 days with snow a year. You can never fully predict the weather on the fell tops as the height and mountainous region can cause rapid change to the weather. The wettest inhabited place in England is Seathwaite in Borrowdale. This valley has about 3300mm of rain per year. Having said that we have some really beautiful sunny days here in the Lake District which makes the whole landscape absolutely stunning.

Why does it rain so much in the Lake District?

The winds coming across the Atlantic Ocean pick up large amounts of moisture. When the air hits the Lake District hills and is forced to rise where it cools and the moisture condenses to form rain.

What is the average temperature in the Lake District?

Keswick is the town situated at the north end of Derwentwater, it has an average daily temperature of 4.7 degrees C in December which rises to 15 degrees C in July. However in July 2019 Keswick was recorded as the hottest place in the UK with a temperature of over 31C.

How many days do you need in Lake District?

If you visit for a 2 night stay you are limiting yourself to just 1 full day in the Lake District. There is so much to do that you will have a more relaxing trip if you spend 3 or more nights in the Lake District and you will not rush around the places you choose to visit.

Can you go to Lake District without a car?

Absolutely. There are really good public transport facilities available with trains to and from Penrith and a good bus service to major towns, such as Keswick. There are many regular bus services that run between Keswick and Windermere and between Penrith and Cockermouth, via Keswick.

There are smaller buses that take you around Cat Bells, Grange, Seatoller, Honister Mine, Buttermere, round Lorton and along past Whinlatter Forest, starting and ending in Keswick. Many visitors either come by public transport or arrive by car and use public transport throughout their visit. If you base yourself near Keswick there are many walks and sights to visit that are accessible by foot.

Is Keswick worth visiting?

Keswick is a gorgeous market town in the Lake District that truly shows what a stunning region of the UK the Lakes are. Keswick has its own brewery, the Keswick Brewing Company. They run tours of the brewery and have built a new conservatory where you sample the local ale.

As you walk around Keswick you will see the area is surrounded by the beautiful Fells, of which there are Skiddaw, Cat Bells, and Latrigg, to name a few.

Why is Keswick popular?

Keswick is set on the northern shores of Derwentwater surrounded by Fells. The landscape inspired the Romantic poets of the past and is now known as the 'Adventure Capital' of the UK with many annual sporting events starting and finishing in Keswick itself. It's famed as the home of the world's first pencil, was a location for a Star Wars film and offers retail therapy for those who are looking for it.

Is the Lake District crowded?

A lot depends on when you want to visit. The towns are really busy during the school holidays so if you want a quieter time then term time is usually a better time to visit. In Keswick there is an annual 3 week Christian Convention in July. This is an ideal time to visit as the pubs and restaurants are quieter and the Fells are virtually deserted.

Is Ullswater worth visiting?

Ullswater is surrounded by glorious fells on either side with easy access to Helvellyn. There are two lovely villages on the shores, Glenridding and Pooley Bridge, and the picturesque Aira Force Waterfall. There are regular steamer boat trips around the lake or you can just use one of the trips to take you to the far side of the lake for a gentle walk back round to Glenridding. It was also the setting for the poet William Wordsworth's famous poem Daffodils. Ideal for a day trip while you visit the Lake District.

Can you walk anywhere in the Lake District?

Where can you walk in the Lake District? The Lake District has 1,913 miles of public rights of way. These are mainly footpaths, bridleways (which can be used by horse riders and cyclists) and paths where the landowner has agreed that the people can cross their land. Always check your route before setting out to make sure you have access to cross the land on your route.

Is Keswick a good base for Lake District?

Portinscale is the best area to stay in the Lake District, with Keswick being a flat 20 minute walk away. You will benefit from being in a peaceful village with the nearby town of Keswick which has plenty of pubs and restaurants. Portinscale also offers free parking at all of its Guest Houses. In Keswick the back streets where most of the Guest Houses are located the parking is difficult on road, and new restrictions are coming so you may have to park in a pay car park.