there are to great hotels perfect for couples called 21 the lakes and aphrodities themed lodges each room has a theme and most rooms have a jaccuzzi bath big enough for two some also have hot tubs and saunas

If only our weather was more predictable I'd go there again and again!

But it IS predictable in Cumbria....you'll probably get rain!!!

Over 10 million visitors a year and an average 8% walk less than 15 minutes from their car! This is a statistic that only the locals know cos it doesn't help the tourist board!

The key thing with Cumbria is to decide whether you're going for the classic sites, the tourist attractions, the old world Cumbria (it's history), or the walking. Of course, a lot of people go for all 4, and that's the beauty of the county: there is so much to see and do in such a small area.

In my humble opinion however (and this happens to a lot of 'touristy' places) some of the towns/areas of natural beauty have lost their natural glory through over commercialism. I nearly bought an old and disused walkers's hostel in Boot a few years ago, choosing that particular locale because it is almost totally unspoiled by tourism.

Having said the above, even the most heavily commercialised places such as Windermere and Kendal, still carry an extraordinary magic that is possibly not found anywhere else in the world....certainly not in the UK.

My husband and I are going to the Lakes for a long weekend Fri-Mon, with no children . I have been for the day before which we spent around the lake but I would like to know of other things to see and do, like nice walks, nice pubs etc.

Thanks

If you are staying in Bowness it will be heaving on Bank Holiday, give me a bit more info on what you would like to see and whether a little poddle for an hour or two or a days walk, we live in the south of the Lakes but previously have lived just outside Ambleside
regards G

We went to a terrific pub near Windermere on Sunday - The Watermill at Ings. Turn off the A591 from Kendal to Windermere and it's about 200 yards into the village. Loads of real ales and fantastic reasonably priced homecooked food.

http://www.watermillinn.co.uk/

Staying at the Southview Hotel, Bowness. Been advised to go to Aira Force, is this close by?? Would like to go for nice walks with nice scenery for a couple of hours 1 or 2 of the days (am on a diet for summer hols so this will be my exercise whilst away!!) Like cosy pubs with "real" grub, not looking for up-market restaurants (can't afford ).

Thanks for replies.

Try the Black Bull in Coniston for Bluebird Bitter they have a micro brewery behind the pub you can drive around via Ambleside of take the car ferry, for food try Wilfs cafe at Staveley between Windermere and Kendal, The Outgate Pub beteen Hawkshead and Ambleside, or the Drunken Duck(Bit more pricey than the others) on the way to Tarn Hows which is a lovely walk around the Tarn with good views another nice walk is Loughrigg which is in between Ambleside and Rydal , you could go on a boat or steamer to Ambleside from Bowness go for a walk up Loughrigg and return on the boat save driving and more important parking ! another good place to eat is the Brown Horse at Winster which is in between Bowness and Kendal or Lakeland cafe at their store behind the railway station at Windermere if you are into kitchen gadgets too!
Aira Force is near Ullswater quite a drive from Bowness ! you might enjoy Grizedale forest there is a High Wire Ropes course lots of footpaths and a sculpture trail, also the national Park Centre at Brockhole between Windermere and Ambleside free to get in but a parking charge but you can get the steamer from Bowness if the roads are busy and they will be on a Bank holiday as they have a landing stage.
I hope I have given you some ideas more info just ask
regards Gill

Thanks for all the info, Gill

Forgot to say if you want waterfalls there is Skelwith Force between Ambleside and Coniston and Stockghyll Force in Ambleside it depends on the amount of rain we have had how spectacular they are though, I hope you enjoy your stay
regards G

Hi gillc7, had a nice but verrrrrrry wet weekend at the Lake District. We were in Winderemere, and trekked down to Bowness and the Lake each day (good exercise). Never got the chance to do a great deal because of the weather but we did go to Aira Force and got soaked then dried out in a little pub on top of Kirkstone Pass with soup and mulled wine - verrrry nice.

Back to work Friday

Saturday was showery here, Sunday was good got loads of gardening done heavy showeres monday, lovely yesterday and today ! hope it lasts for the garden festival at the weekend ! which Pub was it the one at Brothers Water or the Kirkstone Pass Inn ? or maybe in Troutbeck, Mortal Man or Queens Head ? know them all well or did when we lived at Ambleside LOL

It was Kirkstone Pass Inn, quaint, had log fire going, very busy too. Saw the other pubs you mentioned too. Weather supposed to be glorious this weekend - typical!!

We used to go there to take the children sledging often snow up there when not in the valley, sledge for an hour coffee break, more sledging lunch, more sledging afternoon tea, and I used to ride my horse over to the Mortal Man haven't been for a while might have to go on a nostalgia trip ! being on the coast now we often get better weather than in the hills maybe you should try around here next time (Grange over Sands) only 20-30 mins to Coniston and Bowness

Why is it that when you want to visit the Lake District over a Bank Holiday all the hotels insist on a 3 night stay thereby you at least have to take Friday off.

I cannot take a Friday off and always wished to go Saturday to Monday which is a nice break but none of the hotels will let you book for 2 nights.

Do they end up with empty beds because of this and is worth waiting until a week before and trying to book a last minute. I did try this last year with a hotel on the Thursday evening and they still insisted it was a 3 night stay hence I did not book it.

I really don't want to spend 4 days in the Lake District, nothing against it mind you.

Gail

I think you've answered your own question really - if the policy was losing them money and they ended up with empty beds they wouldn't be doing this. The popular hotels in the popular villages will get very busy over the Bank holidays and in my experience the reason why the won't take your booking for just Saturday and Sunday nights is that they don't want to end up with an empty room on the Friday night which would probably be unsaleable - most people going away for a Bank Holiday weekend are going to want to make the most of their break and include the Friday night.

You say you can't take the Friday off - do you live too far to go after work on the Friday? In which case you'll only really get 1 full day in the area anyway which isn't really that much time to spend in such a beautiful area which has a great deal to see.

Your best bet is probably to leave it until the last minute and also be prepared to stay outside of the main honeypots. It's not a risk I would be prepared to take but if you phone around after dinner on the Friday evening you might find a hotel that hasn't let all it's rooms for the whole weekend and which is prepared to take a 2 night booking knowing that by then they are now unlikely to shift the room for a complete Friday, Saturday, Sunday booking.

SM

I live in the south of the Lakes and believe me it is heaving every bank holiday summer or winter take the risk but prepare to be disappointed we run and outdoor education centre you can book in here for 2 nights but you will have to cook for yourself and it is very basic !

Thanks for your replies, will probably take the risk and wait until last minute. I cant take Friday off and hubby sometimes doesn't finish work until nine.

Thanks again

we are traveling from glasgow to the lake district for 1 or 2 nts. what are your must see towns and where would you stop overnight? we don't want to stop in the middle of nowhere we would like to walk out for a pint in the evening. not sure of the distance between places. thanks for your help.
kiershay

Kiershay, we go to the lake district at least twice a year (from Edinburgh) and we stay at Keswick its a nice little town and its easy to get round the lakes from there. My favorite place to visit is Castlerigg stone circle just outside Keswick it is a magical place especialy at sun set. A run out to the Kirkstone pass is also good with a wee pub at the top of the pass. Hope that you have a good time
Londongirl