If you have always wanted to visit the Lake District but have somehow never quite found the time, then spring really is a great time to make those plans. The Lake District is stunning at any time of the year but as an area that inspired the poet William Wordsworth to write his most famous poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” spring, and those all-important daffodils, really do give it a special quality.
Here, we look at just some of the things that you might want to include in your plans for your getaway. With so many things to do in the area, you will probably want to stay for a few nights, but fortunately, there are plenty of Lake District Hotels to choose from.
Towns and villages worth visiting
The main road through the Lake District runs from Windermere, through Ambleside and passing around the village of Grasmere before meandering through more open countryside to Keswick. This route, whichever direction you choose for exploring, offers plenty of interesting places to visit. If you want interesting shops, then Windemere is a great choice and it is also home to the popular Beatrix Potter Experience, which children will love. Ambleside is well known for its plethora of shops specialising in walking clothing, and Grasmere is an incredibly popular village with its famous Gingerbread shop. It is also, of course, known as the place where Wordsworth is buried. You will also find Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth lived just on the outskirts of Grasmere.
Keswick has plenty to recommend it as well. It has plenty of quirky shops, the stone circle of Castlerigg, and, of course, Derwent water with its Lake cruises.
Other towns and villages you may want to include on your list are Hawkshead, which has connections to both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, and the village of Glenridding, which is incredibly popular with hikers and those looking for spectacular views.
Walking
The most obvious activity to have on your list for a visit to the Lake District is, of course, walking. Whilst there are plenty of spectacular climbs to be had, with some of the most breath-taking views you will ever have seen, these are not always suitable for everyone. So if you are not a keen walker or are holidaying with smaller children, don’t worry. There are plenty of gentler walks that will give you a great opportunity to explore.
Museums
The weather in the Lake District can be a little unpredictable, so it can be a good idea to have some wet weather ideas on your list. Keswick is home to three very unique museums with something for everyone. The Derwent Pencil Museum is a smaller museum with a quiz to keep you entertained on your visit. The Puzzling Place is a really unusual attraction, and one that you should visit regardless of the weather, and if you want a more traditional museum, the Keswick Museum is the ideal place to spend a couple of hours.
Lake cruises
The Lake District has plenty of Lakes to choose from and one of the best ways to explore is to take a cruise around the lake. This will give you a great view of the lake and the surrounding scenery and will often provide you with an insight into the local history. Some of the available cruises allow you to get on and off at different points on the lake so that you can really explore. This is something that is well worth doing but be warned, even in the spring it could still be quite chilly out on the water, so remember a to pack a warm coat.
