Experience the Romantic Lake District this Valentines

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about what destination to choose should be high on the agenda.

A destination sure to appeal to both parties is the Lake District. The peacefulness and tranquillity of the lakes and hills provide a romantic setting to rival any. With a choice of romantic places to stay as well, you are sure to find the ultimate romantic break. Year after year magazine polls rate the Lake District as the top romantic destination for a Valentine’s break and it’s no hard to understand why. And that’s not to mention the Lake District being listed in National Geographic’s 50 Places to a Lifetime list.

Many hotels in the Lake District offer special Valentine’s breaks which can be anything from a romantic meal in their restaurant to 2 or 3 night Valentine’s breaks including dinner, champagne, flowers and even optional extras such as private use of a hot tub or pre-theatre tickets to add just that something else special.

For walkers, what better activity on Valentine’s Day then the two of you going up one of the many fells.

Once at the top, it’s just the tow of you and miles of spectacular Lakeland landscapes. When back at the hotel, which is sure to have a roaring open fire, you can cosy up and await a truly romantic dinner for two. The cuisine in Lake District hotels never fails to disappoint.

Even though all the lakes in the Lake District are beautiful, Ullswater and Derwentwater are two that truly enchant. Not only are they surrounded by some of the highest fells in the Lake District but you can even experience and take in the view from the water. Ullswater Steamers and the Keswick Launch operate boat trips up and down the lakes which never fail to create that romantic mood.

To further illustrate and confirm the status of the Lake District as a romantic destination, no one need look any further that the pros of Wordsworth. Artists and writers take their inspiration from their surrounding and none more so than when Wordsworth wrote “ I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”. Just reading the first verse and you are transported straight to the Lake District;

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Those with a head for adventure couldn’t choose a better location either. If leisurely strolls and boat rides aren’t your thing, then the Lake District is the number one destination for thrill seekers and outward bound enthusiasts. Whether you’re in to climbing, abseiling or mountain biking, the Lake District will still create alternative Valentines breaks when coupled with a stay in one of the Lake District hotels.

For a destination that is sure to offer everything and more expected from a Valentine’s break, choose the Lake District.

The valleys of the Lake District

The valleys of the southeastern fell country are amongst the finest of the Lake District and again glaciation has played its part in moulding their formLake District Honeymoon Hotel
. Perhaps they lack some of the grandeur and splendid ruggedness of Borrowdale or Great Langdale but their unspoiled character more than makes amends. Apart from Troutbeck, immediately north of Windermere, they are all blind and thus saved from the effects of through traffic. Their narrow roads, little more than a track in the case of Bannisdale and not even that in Crookdale , tend to discourage penetration so that to some extent this is a relatively unknown corner of the Lake District.

Things might have been different if the main west coast railway line to Scotland had been driven through Long Sleddale.

Long Sleddale is one of the more attractive of these eastern valleys, with the wild ruggedness at its head gradually giving way to softer contours near the southern entrance. The contrasting valley section is largely a reflection of the change in rock type and the way in which it has reacted to various external influences like glaciation. In its upper part above Sad gill, it is the Borrowdale Volcanic series which out¬crop, while downstream the Silurian slates, grits and flags take over. The glacier which once flowed down the valley has left its mark in both sections, though to different effect. Almost immediately above Sadgill hamlet there is a terminal moraine cut through by the River Sprint. The morainic debris is piled against a rock bar projecting into the valley from both sides at this point.

Upstream the river flows across a wide, open flat and to prevent flooding has had to be artifici ally straightened. The valley flat marks the site of a temporary glacial lake, and its richer alluvial soils carry crops. Beyond lies the unreclaimed part of the valley, and it still retains its marshy character. Towards the valley head the floor rises steadily, as a rock step, coinciding with hard lava beds, is reached. Near the old Wren gill slate quarries  the colliding across into the Haweswater valley begins. To the east there is a similar break in the valley wall leading across to the head of Mosedale. Both cols must have been lowered by ice passing through them as diffluent tongues from the main glacier pushed out in various directions.

Below sad gill in the softer country associated with the Silurian strata the valley is more open though still possessing steep sides. In its journey towards the sea the River Sprint passes through a succession of basins and intervening rock barriers. From a point near where the Stockdale branch enters , as far as Wad's Howe Farm, the flat floor suggests a former lake basin. The farm lies on a side moraine which later crosses the valley and restricts the former lake flat. Between here and Ubarrow chapel  there is another basin. The chapel and nearby school lie on a moraine extending across the valley floor. Downstream from here and around Ubarrow Hall the open character of the lower part of Long Sleddale is well displayed. This is rich, well-farmed country.

At Bridge End Farm , however, the valley becomes restricted once again and between here and Nether House (514°°4 the River Sprint flows through a small gorge. The farms in this section lie on a distinct bench, which represents an old valley floor level well above the present river. Glacial erratic's, mainly flags, litter some of the fields, especially behind Nether House Farm, and must have been much more extensive before systematic clearance took place for farming. Yet another former lake basin lies below the farm, but within a quarter of a mile the river has begun to cut deeply into it and enter a steepened section of its course. Below Garnett Bridge a true gorge is developed before the river finally breaks out of its restricted valley to enter the glacial lowland country which extends to Kendal and beyond.

Lake District Pubs - Eskdale

Eskdale is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Lake District. Situated in the quieter side of the National Park, it has a peaceful tranquillity that makes it especially appealing to those who want to avoid the crowds. Amid all this tranquillity are several fantastic pubs serving great food and some fine ales. There are several cottages in the lake district which make a great base from which to explore Eskdale and what better way to finish the day of adventure off than to visit one of these fine establishments. 

As you come to the main village, Eskdale Green from the south, you come to The King George IV. Under new management the pub has regained its status as one of the main focal points of the valley.  It’s a welcoming pub with open fire, oak ceilings and slate floors.  There is a sunny patio outside and pets are welcome both in and out.

The King George IV has a self catering Apartment called the King George Apartment, which sleeps 8 and a luxury self contained caravan for 4/6 called The Cabin and if that wasn’t enough they’ve even got a flat sleeping 2 people.

At the other end of Eskdale Green is The Bower House Inn.  Here there is a lovely beer garden with a small wood and a stream at one end, plus a play area for children.  The building itself has a lot of character being a 17th Century coaching inn.  Nowadays it combines traditional Lake District hospitality with modern comforts such as wifi and regular events.  The food is locally sourced and the ales are locally brewed.

Arriving in Eskdale over Hardknott Pass, the first pub you come to is The Woolpack Inn (and after a trip over the steepest pass in England, you will be glad of a pint or two to bring yourself back to reality).  This pub was taken over by Harry & Paddington Berger in 2010 and they have worked wonders with it.  The surrounding scenery is stunning, the ale is real stuff and the food is good and honest, made from local ingredients wherever possible.  There is a large beer garden and your dog is more than welcome.

Heading down the valley you will then come to Boot which is a tiny hamlet with two pubs – The Boot Inn and the Brook House.  Both are just a five minute walk down the road from the Ravenglass and Eskdale steam railway.  The Brook House is classic.  It is family owned and all the food is home made on site (and available all day).  Their real ales include Cumbrian specials such as Hawkshead Bitter, Jennings, Barngates and Yates.  And if ale isn’t enough to tempt you there, they also serve over 150 malt whiskeys.

The Boot Inn is further up the road and has a great children’s play area at the bottom of the beer garden.  Inside there are darts and pool and the pub prides itself on being a lively pub with a good atmosphere.

Between them the Woolpack Inn, Brook House Inn and Boot Inn host a beer festival in June.  With over 70 beers from nearly 70 breweries, each pub has a different choice.  The 5-10 minute walk between the pubs can provide welcome fresh air, and a chance to plan the next pint!

Just outside of the valley, going towards Wasdale is The Santon Bridge Inn. Sunday lunches are a speciality here but the pub is great any time of the week with its open fire, real ale and country inn atmosphere.  Wifi is available here, as well as a friendly smile from Humphrey who works behind the bar! If you are visiting in November, then don’t miss the World’s Biggest Liar Competition held at the Santon Bridge Inn.  Staying in Lake District Cottages is a great way to explore the lakes and all it has to offer.

 

Hiking in Wasdale and Ennerdale Valleys in the Lake District Feb 2010

This is a low level (we dont have crampons or ice axes) hike me and Jack did in the Lake District (Feb 2010). We started in Ennerdale Valley, camping by the lake on the first night. The next day we walked up the valley and over Black Sail Pass into Wasdale Valley. We found a lovely camp spot low down near Riscon Falls we where played in the snow as the sun set. We started late (to warm and cosy in our sleeping bags!) and walked up the Nether beck River and found another superb camp spot perched on the top of the river gorge. After another late start we made our way up the south ridge of Haycock, and then traversed around the SW side when we hit the snow line (this way we could play in the snow but also skirt round it if needed). Our last camp sport rates as one the best mornings I had wild camping due to watching the sunrise over the snow caped mountains illuminating Ennerdale valley with golden rays beneath a blue sky, all from the comfort of my sleeping bag in my tent!
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Me and Lucy camping at Low Wray campsite near Ambleside in the Lake District

Lake District Homes

At the heart of the two-unit house was the living room, variously called the house, the firehouse, the kitchen etc. and this contained the principal or only hearth or fireplace. Off this room opened a room serving as a parlour or ground floor bedroom. In the earlier and smaller examples this room was unheated; later a gable fireplace was included. A dairy, or similar ventilated storage space, was partitioned off the parlour or was included in a leanto extending behind the living room. Virtually all surviving examples of the two unit houses have an intermediate floor, the earlier and smaller buildings having an undivided loft in the roof space, the later and larger farmhouses having quite well-proportioned bedrooms upstairs.

A tight winding staircase ran either from the rear of the living room or, rather surprisingly, from out of the parlour. Most commonly, however, the staircase was contained in a deep projection from the rear wall. The main heat source was the open fire burning peat on a hearthstone in an inglenook. The focus of domestic life and the centre of folk practices and superstitions connected with the house, the inglenook dominated the traditional farmhouse interior until it was superseded by the coal-burning castiron range. The upper part of the inglenook was the hooded chimney consisting of a wide flue gathered together in a half pyramid to join the chimney stack.

The hooded chimney was made of studs lined with wattle, clay daub and plaster, and joined a stone chimney stack which was carried on wooden cantilevered beams. In later examples both chimney and stack were made of stone, retaining the original shape but modified to a graceful curve. At one side of the hearth was a stone or timber partition called the 'heck' and this shielded the inglenook from the worst of any draughts coming through an adjacent door. At the other side, the front wall of the house included a small window, the 'fire window', which lit the deep inglenook. The hearth wall usually included a recess which served as a salt or spice cupboard and other recesses or 'keeping holes' for a lamp or the farmer's pipes. Usually the spice cupboard had a carved door but many of these have been removed.

Occasionally houses of this plan were entered through a gable wall but in nearly all the examples now to be seen the main doorway is placed near the centre of the elevation and opens directly into the living room. Only in later centuries, it seems, was a single-storey porch added to help counter the draughts from the winds sweeping in from the fells. The basic plan of the two-unit house was employed until well into the eighteenth century. It met the minimum domestic demands of the small farming family for a more public room for eating and entertaining, a more private room for the master and mistress and for storage of seed corn and fleeces, and some loft space for the children. At the same time the room sizes and the room heights could be increased without altering the plan so that later and more progressive farmers could enjoy a familiar plan in improved form.

Like the two unit plan, the cross-passage and downhouse plan consisted of two main living rooms on the ground floor but in addition there was a substantial service room at one end. A cross-passage ran from the front to the back of the house alongside the wall which contained the principal or only hearth; access to the house was through a doorway in the hearth wall near the end of the cross-passage and by way of a short lobby formed by the heck partition.

The Lake District's Lost Railway

I love maps of The Lake District and take great pleasure in the tiny detail of the 1:25,000 series.  There is nothing better than spreading out on the carpet with a map of central Lakeland and a steaming cup of tea. That’s what long winter nights are for, planning your summer adventures!

My latest exciting map purchase has been of single sheet Ordnance Survey maps dating back to the 1950’s covering areas like Buttermere, Borrowdale and Ullswater. The fells have not changed and happily most of the settlements remain the same too. However the map covering Keswick shows a section of the railway between Penrith to the West Coast. The North Lake District line connecting Keswick to Penrith closed in 1972 and is now a scenic 4 mile trail for bikes, boots and dogs. There are several dog friendly Lake District cottages in the surrounding areas which would make an ideal base from which to explore this lesser known historic part of the Lake District.

Trees line the route through Greta Gorge as the trail makes its way out of Keswick.

A boardwalk section takes you round the hillside, which the train would have passed through. You can see the remains of the tunnel arch if you look behind you as you finish the boardwalk.

The original railway crossed 78 bridges between Keswick and Penrith, 8 of them remain on the path between Keswick and Threlkeld, offering excellent stopping points for peering over the girders into the water below and daydreaming.

There is a wealth of natural and manmade features along the route and I like to look out for the hidden relics of the time when the trains ran along here. See how many you can find! Stop to explore every gate and stile. Some lead into woodland and ancient silver birch plantations, others right under the modern A66 road and towards Castlerigg.

Along the route you will find two old railway huts, great for a lunch stop on a chilly day. I am always fascinated to think what history these little building have. Look out for the blackened walls inside, relics of the days when a fire would have burnt to keep the workers warm. The information boards inside tell you about the wide variety of wildlife to be spotted along the route. Apart from the stalking herons in the river below, I like to look for red squirrels when I reach the final bridge to Threlkeld.

There are plenty of Lake District cottages ideally located for enjoying the railway line whether you walk, cycle or even run. The Salutation Inn and The Horse and Farrier, both in Threlkeld are highly recommended for a lunch stop before turning back to enjoy the route from the opposite direction.

CAMP 2010 Lake District 5th Leigh Guides

This is what happens when you send 9 Guides and their leaders to the Lake District for a week.

Effects of geology in the Lake District

On a grander scale the geology has had one final profound effect on the present landscape of the Hotels lake district. After the rocks were formed they were subjected to intense pressure caused by earth movements. Occasionally the rocks were folded but more often they were subject to faulting and associated shattering, with the result that linear belts of weakened strata were formed.

In time these belts were exploited by the various forces of erosion so that today many of the well-known valleys and passes of the Lake District have been carved out along these lines of structural weakness, as, for example, parts of the Great Langdale Valley, already noted. The fault zones vary in direction but many of the major dislocations have a distinct north-south trend.

The result is that, although the drainage pattern is broadly radial in plan, the more dominant elements are north-south. One major zone of shattered rocks runs from the head of Coniston Water across the col of Holme Fell and then continues into the lower end of Little Langdale, across the col of Red Bank to Grasmere. Its north¬ward continuation from here is along the line ofDunmail Raise, by Thirl¬mere into the valley of Naddle Beck and possibly extending right into the Skiddaw massif by the Glenderaterra Valley.

For much of its length erosion has succeeded in removing the weakened rock and thus created either valleys or low cols across the fells. The zone forms the one major break in the east-west watershed of the Lake District. On a much reduced scale the gorge of the River Duddon near Seathwaite follows another of these shatter belts. The same relationship is apparent in the valleys of Trout beck, Kentmere and Long Sled dale which run deeply into the SouthEastern Fells. Although they do not break through the high country to the north they nevertheless form distinctive topo¬graphic elements in this littleknown corner of the Lake District. The presence of belts of shattered rock and their relationship to the drainage pattern must not be taken to imply that all the Lake District valleys owe their alignment and form to this process of development.

Clearly in many instances the more potent force of ice erosion has played a dominant role. But, even then, many of these faulted belts determined the lines along which the valley glaciers moved. The weakened rock also allowed the glaciers to bite deeply into the valley floor and thus create the hollows which later formed the lakes. These are, after all, the most distinc¬tive features of the whole landscape and certainly the one element which has given the area its regional designation.

Two decades were to pass before their true significance was realized. Follow¬ing studies of the glaciers and mountain scenery of the Alps, the glacial theory was evolved. In December 1850 the Reverend Professor Buckland, in an address to the Geological Society of London, drew attention to the abounding evidence in the Lake District for the former existence of glaciers. Not only did the ice scatter boulders of distinctive rocks, like Shap granite, far and wide an explana¬tion that would have satisfied Jonathan Otley but it also dumped great assem¬blages of rocks and gravels on the margins of the area. In this connection Buck¬land mentioned the group of moraines by the roadside near Eden Hall, four miles east of Penrith.

Holidays in the Lake District fun for kids and grownups alike

Holidaying in Cumbria’s Lake District is a dream come true for most families, the quiet, rural and beautiful location in the heart of Cumbria in the centre of the UK is surrounded on all sides by green fields, forests, lakes and mountain ranges. Enjoying your family holiday time in the Lake District couldn’t be easier with the range of accommodation on offer from the local community, with hotels lining the high streets of the major towns in Cumbria’s Lake District, there are bed and breakfasts to consider and also a great range of locally run and maintained lake district holiday cottages.

Whatever kind of accommodation you choose for your family in the Lakes, consider highly the holiday cottages on offer in this rural UK location.

Holiday cottages are a great way for a family to rule their won holiday experiences, on arrival you are handed over the keys, shown around the cottage by a member of staff and made sure you are made to feel welcome to the area. Quite often in the Lake District, the holiday cottages which are available to rent are located just out of town or on adjoining farm land. Quite often the tradition location for a cottage is just off a main or side road which would lead you in the one of the towns in the Lake District, below we have included a map of the Lake District and here you can see where the Red Dot is the typical location of a family holiday cottage.

Christmas In The Lake District Idyllic

We've all been warned that the snow is heading this way, it's the middle of November and the bets are being placed for another white Christmas! Will it or won't it? The tips of the Lakeland Mountains are covered with snow, but at such a distance we cannot make out whether the depth is adequate to justify a white Christmas. How does the white Christmas bet system work anyway? Is it based on snow actually falling on this festive day or does it mean to wake up on this day, to draw back your curtains and be greeted with a white feathery like view?
Either way whether this is on or prior to the day there really is nothing better than to wake up on one of the most glorious days known to man, with a crackle of the fire in the background and ever so melting scent of mulled wine seeping through.

The perfect vision, the idyllic dream of waking up on Christmas morning with the greeting of excited children scampering into the bedroom to enthuse you with the same enthralling attitude they have, to jump onto the bed ever so lively while you lie toasty under the feather filled duvet, daring to dip your toe out into the air.

When energy gained and a certain percentage of enthusiasm has been allowed to grasp you, you are then able to take a leisurely stroll into the living quarters where yet again the children ensure you are wide awake by ever so kindly increasing the volume as well as adding musical notes to the unwrapping of their gifts. This is now the time where the mulled wine or bucks fizz comes into play, a large glass of your favourite Christmas tipple first thing in the morning is acceptable on this particular day, besides it's so full of snow out there, there is certainly no way you are willing to take the risk of venturing into the frozen midst of the beautiful Lake District while you can enjoy the comfort of your log fire and the magnificent view on your terrace.

If you are lucky enough to stay in a cottage with an Aga then Christmas dinner is a case of letting the Aga do the work, alternatively you may be also be lucky enough to stay in a Lake District village with restaurants that are open for Christmas day, in which case do ensure it is not far to walk as to make plans for journeys using your vehicle at this time of the year in the Lake District is not a wise idea!

Whatever your plans your Christmas in the Lake District is a sure set winner, there really is no better place to be at this magical time of year with or without children, the Lake and mountainous terrain add further sparkle and the crackling of the fire the smell of the fire fumes that add warmth to the cold night air, brings back all memories of Christmas past, present and for the future.

Corrie basins in the Lake District

One striking feature of corrie basins is the way in which the majority have a north or northeast aspectThings to do in Windermere
. There are obvious exceptions like those which serrate the southern slopes of Blencathra, but taken as a whole a northeast orientation is dominant. It is this preferential development which gives many 66 of the ridges their asymmetrical appearance. No greater contrast of landforms exists than on the opposing sides of Helvellyn or the internally ridge separating Ennerdale and Buttermere.

On the one side are smooth even slopes broken occasionally by rock crags and low precipices while on the other glacial erosion has bitten deeply and successfully to create what has been called 'biscuit topo¬graphy'.

With rock type not exerting any great influence, other explanations have to be sought to account for the preferential northeast aspect. As early as 1917 Enquist noted that the aorries tended to lie on the lee side of a mountain range, that is in relation to the dominant snow bearing wind. More recently Manley has shown that in this situation the wind which blows over the ridge top the helm wind considerably aids snow accumulation on the upper part of the lee slope through the development of a back eddy. The presence of the eddy can often be detected on the waters of a tarn where wavelets move towards the back¬wall of the corrie basin. During the Ice Age thick snow would be likely to accumulate in any hollow on the lee slope, and through the addition of successive layers be ultimately transformed into ice.

In time this ice would gouge out a deeper hollow and ultimately a true corrie basin. Having reached this stage, the rapid build up of snow and ice would bring about increased erosion of the floor of the hollow. Due to the effect of the helm wind, the greatest amount of snow would accumulate on the upper part of the corrie glacier just below the bare upper part of the backwall. Differential loading on the upper surface of the corrie glacier would tend to cause the ice to move in a rotatory manner. With continuous additions at the head and constant depletion at the snout through melting, the rotatory movement could be instrumental in scooping out the floor of the corrie .

Other processes like frost shattering of the bare rocks of the upper part of the backwall and the grinding action of rock debris within the glacier would also contribute to the enlargement of the corrie basin. It follows that if the prevailing snowbearing wind was from the southwest then the northeast facing lee slopes would become the most suitable sites for corrie development. This northeast aspect also happens to be one of minimum isolation so that snow and ice would persist longer here. When the snow had long since disappeared from the upland peaks and plateau tops, some of the deep shadowy hollows would retain their active glaciers. Even today snow patches last until late Mayor early June in situations like the steep northfacing buttress of Great End.

Wordsworth, in his poem Fidelity, mentioned the persistence of snow under the lee of Helvellyn which he had noticed on a walk across to Patterdale in early June. The ice which was so prominent in fashioning the landscape of the central high part of the Lake District also left its mark in the peripheral lowland, though to different effect. Here various ice streams jostled for occupation of the low ground. In addition to the local glaciers fanning out from the mountainous core, a great wall of ice moved in from the Irish Sea and impinged on the western coasts. Passing over the softer rocks of the lowlands, the ice was able to incor¬porate great quantities of sands, clays and rocks which it subsequently deposited on melting. In contrast to the highland area, the glacial landforms of the margins 68 are nearly all associated with deposition rather than erosion.

Railways And Tourism In The Lake District

However, other routes clearly had tourist potential, and the Lakeside and Coniston lines turned increasingly to this source of revenue. The Furness Railway also encouraged the development of select seaside resorts at Seascale and Grange. At Seascale a grandiose design never came to fruition, the location being too remote. However,Grange became quite a success as a retirement resort, although it never took off as a centre for family holidays; it was essentially a genteel seaside version of residential Windermere.

Rail closures began in the 1920s and continued through to 1972 with the final closure of the Penrith to Keswick line. Tourism was not the saviour of the railways, chiefly because the companies did not rise to the challenge it presented. Perhaps if the closures had been postponed only a few years, more lines would have survived, for some of the railways once feared by Wordsworth and Ruskin have come to be revered as tourist attractions in their own right.

If many lines were short-lived, their impact on the landscape was immense; within a few years green fields sprouted mines and quarries, with all their buildings and spoil tips. The arrival of the railways allowed the minerals to be mined and then used in industrial processes; mining villages and industrial hamlets sprang up in the landscape, and some settlements such as Aspatria, Harrington, Frizington and Millom grew into sizeable towns. The established towns such as Maryport and Workington grew as well; Whitehaven by contrast was already a town of 20,000 in 1851, and grew more slowly.

The effects of the railways were complex; they did not always allow rural industries to survive, but agriculture benefitted by being able to send milk, butter, cheese and meat to the industrial towns. They allowed local people to migrate out of the Lakes, whilst allowing other workers to migrate in (notably to Cleator Moor); tourist access was meanwhile dramatically improved. They provided employment both in the construction and the running of the lines, yet their impact was concentrated on the industrial development of the mining areas and the ports, to the detriment of much of the rest of the area; in a few years the whole social and economic pattern of life in the Lake District, and more especially around the Lakeland margins, was radically altered.
Little now remains of many lines; some are neglected and overgrown, rapidly disappearing into the landscape, with their station buildings converted into houses, whilst others have suffered the indignity of having roads built over them (notably the Keswick to Cockermouth line). The wheel has now come full circle, and the brief intervention by the railways in the provision of transport in the Lake District is essentially over.

A Lake District Trip with my Brother

Extended version of a trip to the Lakes with my brother
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Pictures and video from camping trip with friends at Waterside House Camp Site, Pooley Bridge on Lake Ullswater in the Lake District.

Grand Houses In The Lake District

In looking at Large Houses, Small Houses and Cottages we are looking at the evidence in the built landscape of the interaction of social and economic forces as well as those of topography and climate. Different social classes went through similar stages of development in their houses but at different times. Similarly in looking at the agricultural buildings of the farmstead we are seeing another Great Rebuilding reflecting status, albeit of a different sort from that of the domestic buildings. The rebuilding of farm structures tends to be later than domestic structures in the first place, but the benefits of properly planned buildings erected in a permanent fashion went first to the farm buildings of higher status, such as barns and stables, and passed down to those of lower status, such as pigsties and poultry sheds, rather later. Furthermore the buildings show how the tremendous improvement in farming techniques led to a demand for more farm buildings and of even better design and construction than those already provided.

Large Houses, which were occupied by families of some local importance, survive in some form from the late medieval period, are rather more numerous from the sixteenth and seventeenth century, but merge into the category of polite architecture when built in the late eighteenth century and afterwards. The earlier buildings include some real or fanciful provision for defence, but later examples make no such acknowledgement. Large Houses were also farmhouses and substantial ranges of farm buildings, many of nineteenth century date but some of earlier dates, provide a setting for the domestic buildings. Isolated towers are not characteristic of the Lake District. More commonly the early Large House was based on a conventional Tshaped or Hshaped plan with one wing taken up as a tower, battlemented and with walls of defensible thickness, and sometimes, as at Beetham Hall near Milnthorpe and Middleton Hall near Kirby Lonsdale, with stone curtain walls and some simple gatehouse. Even these houses are relatively less numerous than in other parts of Cumbria where closer proximity to raiders and more productive land worth more ambitious raiding made provision for defence more understandable.

The Tshaped Large House plan included a multi-storey wing at right angles to a hall which was open to its roof. The more common Hshaped plan made use of two such wings, one at each end of the open hall. The original central hearth heating the hall has in all cases been replaced by a fireplace: a deep chimney breast boldly projecting from the rear wall of the hall, or, more commonly, a wide stone fireplace backing onto the cross-passage which ran between hall and crosswing. Conventionally there was another passage, running through the lower crosswing and leading to an outside kitchen, but here the passage was vaulted and flanked by vaulted buttery and pantry, an arrangement which may be seen at Preston Patrick Hall. As elsewhere in the country the hall was usually modified by the insertion of an intermediate floor in the late sixteenth or the seventeenth century and the great chamber so formed was made more modern and more comfortable by the provision of a plaster ceiling which, as at Yanwath Hall near Penrith, conceals the magnificent carpentry of a medieval roof.

Celebrating the Royal Wedding in the Lake District

There are lots of celebrations being held throughout the Lake District to celebrate the Royal Wedding, so if you are staying at one of the many self catering cottages in the Lake District you don't need to worry that you'll risk missing the action on the big day.

For visitors staying in Keswick cottages, there will be a big screen in Keswick Market Square, showing the entire wedding.  The whole town, including lots of visitors to the area will be there to watch and enjoy themselves.  You will be able to sample some local produce and the town square will be decorated for the occasion. It should be a lovely day – we're all praying for sunshine!

Muncaster Castle in Eskdale is putting on a Royal Wedding flower festival across the whole of the Royal Wedding Weekend – The bluebell woods at the castle are likely to be at their best, so it really is the perfect time for a visit. 

If you are coming from Eskdale, then you can take the Ravenglass and Eskdale miniature steam railway (aka The la'al Ratty) out to the coast and enjoy their take on the Royal Wedding Cake into the bargain.

For visitors staying in Ullswater Cottages, The Ullswater steamers are marking the Royal Wedding with an evening cruise.  Put on your glad rags and enjoy the sunset (hopefully!) with a glass of champagne and then a couple of hours of dancing.

Lord and Lady Cavendish won't be there to meet you, as they will be at the Wedding itself (Lady Cav is an old school chum of Camilla of course) but at Holker Hall in the Southern Lake District there is a day of celebrations.  Holker Hall is a great day out and with entertainment for all of the family and the wedding itself shown on a big screen, it should be brilliant.

Lots of hotels in the Lake District are putting on Champagne Teas and The Skiddaw Hotel in Keswick and the Borrowdale Hotel and the Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale will have wedding cake too. 

The Royal Oak in Braithwaite will be showing the wedding on large screens from 11am.  There will be a Royal Wedding themed Champagne tea in the afternoon and then a buffet, live Jazz and Fireworks in the evening.

The Wheatsheaf in Lorton is within easy reach of cottages in the Loweswater area and also just 15 minutes drive from Keswick and Cockermouth.  There are drinks in the morning and then the wedding will be shown during the afternoon.  (For those that aren't so keen on the wedding itself, there will be football on the pub field between 3 and 4pm!)  There will be kids sports and activities during the rest of the afternoon and a Tatie Pot will be served at 6pm.

With all of these celebrations happening all over the area staying in Lake District cottages is surely the only way forward. Rumour has it Kate and Will's will be honeymooning in one!

Fingers crossed for sunshine and a great day of celebration.  If the wedding isn't your thing, then you've no cause for complaint as the fells will probably be deserted (although I do know of several people who are going to be having a celebratory picnic on the top of Scafell and you can probably watch the whole wedding from the summit on your iphone!).

Auto Draw 2: Coniston Water, Lake District, Cumbria, England

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Lake District Static Caravan Parks

There's no doubt that the Lake District offers some of the best scenery in the UK which is why many people head there for holidays and short breaks each year and the best way to see this stunning scenery is to stay amongst it. Lake District caravan parks are the perfect way to see some of this amazing scenery up close.

South Lakeland Parks operate two Lake District caravan parks that are not only set within the incredible scenery but also offer some incredible accommodation.

White Cross Bay is one of the most popular Lake District caravan parks as it is set on the shores of Lake Windermere and offers a wide range of on-site facilities.

The view of the lake, surrounding fells and countryside is simply breathtaking. Within the park you'll find a fabulous indoor heated swimming pool with adjoining sauna and gym, a restaurant and bar, a children's play and picnic area and one of the finest marinas in the area.

Fallbarrow is also located on the shores of Lake Windermere, but has the added bonus of being set amidst the wooded parkland that borders the eastern shore of the lake. This Lake District caravan park allows you to discover the complete relaxation of an informal holiday. On-site facilities include an ultra stylish licensed Café and Deli serving locally produced products, a multi-activity play area for the children, an on-site bar and eatery and lots more.

These Lake District caravan parks wouldn't be caravan parks if there weren't caravans to choose from when staying there.

At White Cross Bay, you have the choice of staying in a Standard Caravan or a Superior Caravan and at Fallbarrow there are plenty of Superior Caravans.

Standard Caravans are simple but comfortable and include every essential you could need for a great holiday. There are two options when selecting a Standard Caravan, the two bedroom unit that sleeps four and the three bedroom unit that sleeps six. You'll find everything you need in your holiday caravan for your comfort and enjoyment. All you'll need to bring are your toiletries, washing up items, consumables and of course, your holiday luggage.

Superior Caravans offer a higher standard of furnishings and comfort than the standard grade of caravan accommodation and not only contain all the essentials you could need, but a few luxuries as well. Like the Standard Caravans, the Superior Caravans also come in two types, a two bedroom unit that sleeps four and a three bedroom unit that sleeps six.

If you're thinking of taking a holiday or a short break in the Lake District, why not take a break in one of South Lakeland Parks' Lake District caravan parks?

Derwentwater the Lake District

In contrast, the deeper hollows of Derwentwater are floored with dark brown mud which completely masks the stony bottomSpa hotel lake district . In the shallow water towards the southern end of the lake there is often a mass of muddy peat consisting of roots and stems of water plants felted together. Occasionally this rises from the bottom to the surface and forms what has long been known as the 'Floating Island of Derwentwater'. It appears particularly after dry summers between June and September in a position about 300 yards north of the mouth of Watendlath Beck The origin of the island has intrigued many and from time to time fanci¬ful and varied explanations have been put forward. The most likely explanation, however, is that the decaying vegetation liberates a gas which gives buoyancy to the vegetation lying on the lake bed and brings it to the surface for a time.

Bassenthwaite Lake has the simple form of a deep elongated hollow with a mean depth of 70 ft, about the same as for Derwentwater.

Its shape suggests that it was scooped out by a glacier as a distinct hollow quite separate from that con¬taining Derwentwater. Along its eastern shore at Bowness and Broadness  the ice left behind hillocks of boulder clay which run out into the shallow waters of the lake. At one time Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater formed one large lake but subsequent deposition of alluvium brought down by the River Greta on to the rock bar separating the two basins led to their separation. The difference in level between the two lakes is only 21 ft so that the river joining them is rather sluggish except after heavy rains in Borrowdale. When these occur the level of the lakes can rise by as much as 9t ft. One result of the changing level is that the lake is fringed by a fairly wide storm beach which can be washed by sizeable waves when a strong wind is blowing.

The paired lakes of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite are repeated on a smaller scale at Buttermere and Crummock Water. Here again the original single lake has been split into two by deposition of sediment on the intervening rock sill. Both lakes are deep, Buttermere descending to 94 ft near its head and Crummock Water having a maximum depth of 144 ft at a point approximately halfway along its length. Their main distinctive feature is not their great depth, for this is exceeded in Wastwater and Windermere, but their abrupt trough ends rising out of a flat floor. Some of the side slopes exceed 45 degrees, but once the bottom is reached gradients fade off imperceptibly to only 1 : 300. In Crummock Water, off Hause Point the slope becomes almost precipitous.

The trough like form of the rock basins which hold the waters of Buttermere and Crummock Water is adequate testimony of the erosive power of valley glaciers. When the Ice Age was at its height, so that even perhaps the highest peaks were submerged beneath a great enveloping ice dome, powerful radiating streams of ice were generated. Some believe that the radial symmetry of the pattern of lakes, which Wordsworth in 1820 likened to the spokes of a wheel, has resulted from these outward flowing glaciers. If this view is correct, such was the power of ice that it completely altered the original river valley system which was made up of mainly northsouth elements.

Not everyone subscribes to this view that the radial pattern of valleys and their lakes has been forged within the last million years of the Ice Age. Opinion, however, is unanimous that ice is a very potent force in over-deepening existing valleys. Wastwater, for example, has a maximum depth of 258 ft between Long Crag  and Ill gill Head , which means that its bed is well below sea level in places . The gouging out of the valley floor was often greatest where the valley was restricted in width. The formation of any rock basin which ultimately becomes the site of a lake implies that the main energy of the glacier is expended in over deepening its bed and not widen¬ing the valley. For this reason the lakes are all long and narrow and usually straight.

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Animal Magic In The Lake District

The Lake District has an amazing variety of animals and birds. Creatures that you never, or rarely, see anywhere else in the country are readily spotted here, as well as farm animals in abundance. Wild animals, such as deer, fell ponies, stoats and red squirrels arent everywhere, but if you go to the right places, quietly enough and often enough, you will spot them. There are few sweeter sights than a family of white-flashed stoats running in their wiggling, spiralling way across the road, or red squirrels hopping from tree to tree with a tiny red squirrel kitten behind them.

The red squirrel is extinct in most parts of the UK, but they are still at home across much of Cumbria. You may spot red squirrels in any number of lightly wooded areas, but you are more likely to see them at the registered red squirrel parks Whinfell Forest, near Penrith; Greystoke Forest, between Penrith and Keswick; Whinlatter Forest, west of Keswick; Thirlmere and Mallerstang, near Kirkby Stephen. All of these parks offer lovely woodland walks and great opportunities for a picnic. There are several holiday cottages in the Lake District which make an ideal base to visit some of these great family day attractions.

Ospreys were once native to much of the UK, but they became extinct in England in 1840 and Scotland in 1916. In 1954 they reappeared in Scotland, and by the 1990s, the occasional pair visited the Lakes in the summer. In 2001, a breeding pair set up home in Dodd Wood, above Bassenthwaite Lake; you may well spot them swooping in the skies as you pass, or you can view the ospreys when they are in their nest from April to August at one of two viewing points in Dodd Wood. There is also an exhibition on the ospreys at the Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, and you can sneak a peek online at the webcam on the Osprey Watch website.

You can see other birds of prey at the Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre, at Lowther, near Penrith. They have a large collection of hawks, eagles, falcons and owls and host regular flying demonstrations. Theres also a tea room on site.

In the central Lakes is the Predator Experience, near Windermere. Here, you can learn to handle falcons, golden eagles and owls, and take a guided woodland walk to see all types of hawk in their natural habitat. They have other predators, too - take your chance with snakes and tarantulas!

The World Owl Centre is home to the World Owl Trust. Based in the grounds of Muncaster Castle, on the west coast, this is the place to see forty different types of owl from sparrow-sized pigmy owls to enormous eagle owls. There is a Meet the Birds talk, with feathered friends, every day at 2.30pm between 21st March and 31st October.

You can enjoy the company of a much stranger bird at Eden Ostrich World, at Langwathby, near Penrith. Here you can learn all about ostriches, visit them, and see eggs hatch (at the right time of year, of course). There is also a working farm on site, with rare breed pigs, cows and deer. Theres an enjoyable riverside walk and wait for it - sheep milking. Theres also a tea room and a shop. Very popular with small children.

The Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre, near Cockermouth, is a mecca for all things sheep. Here you can see nineteen different breeds of sheep. They host sheep shearing and sheepdog competitions every year, and you can buy all sorts of sheep-related books and gifts.

Ewe Close Farm, near Wigton is a lowland hill farm and dairy specialising in rare breed pigs, cows and goats. Here you can see new animals being bottle-fed, and goat milking. You can take a pony ride, stroke a donkey, go out on a tractor, look for eggs and explore the woods.

Holme Open Farm, near Sedbergh, is thoroughly geared up for small children. They have sheep, pigs, goats, ducks, kittens and a pony, a picnic area and childrens play area with swings and slides.

These days, its not unusual to see a couple of alpaca in a field full of sheep. I have it on good authority that they are quite fond of sheep, and tend to try to stop them escaping their field presumably sheep look like smaller, cuter and fluffier versions of alpaca in their eyes. You can check this out for yourself at the Alpaca Centre, at Stainton, near Ullswater.

The South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dalton-in-Furness, is closer in style to a conventional zoo, working towards the conservation of some of the rarest animals in the world. The 17-acre site is home to rare tigers, lemurs, wallabies, kangaroos, giraffes, lions, rhinos, penguins, birds of prey and waterfowl.

Trotters World of Animals, near Bassenthwaite, is a popular wildlife park with llamas, lemurs, wild cats, vultures, eagles, snakes, zebras, bison, red deer, wallabies, highland cattle, rabbits and guinea pigs. Trotters is a 25-acre site, with falconry displays, animal feeding, pony rides and tractor trips. Theres also a childrens adventure playground, picnic area, restaurant and shop.

The Lake District Coast Aquarium, at Maryport, is a great place to view all manner of sea creatures. There are native marine and freshwater fish, conger eels, small sharks, octopuses, crabs, cuttlefish, rays and starfish, as well as educational displays and an audio-visual centre.

Another great fishy place is the Lakes Aquarium, near Newby Bridge, at the foot of Windermere. Here, you can see the creatures that inhabit the lakes of the world, from Asia, the Americas and Africa and back home again to Windermere. There is a restaurant and gift shop.

Beyond all the parks and attractions, theres no escaping Cumbrias animal magic. Right now, the fields are chock-full with new lambs. Definitely the place to be for any animal lover.

Please note that some animal attractions, especially working farms, do not accept dogs and opening hours vary considerably throughout the year, so please check before you go. There are plenty of Lake District cottages which are within touching distance of these fantastic days out.