England’s National Park: Lake District

The Lake District National Park is the northwest corner of England. Lake District may be England’s largest national park. The Lake District sits entirely within the northwest country of Cumbria and is one of England’s most celebrated and mythic landscapes.

If you want to experience the grandeur of the Lakes on a short side trip from London, then it’s absolutely possible to do so without a car. Obviously, if you are planning a longer stay and want the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, then a car will be useful.

 

But, even then you don’t necessarily need to take your own vehicle or go down the car hire route, there are other options available. But for a short taster, you can discover the Lakes by boat, bike, and bus or on foot.
There are many things to do and see in the Lake:

•    Walking
Walking is easily the most popular pursuit in the Lakes and wherever you are based, you will be spoilt for choice. There will be more stunning walking options on your doorstep than you will have time to experience in one visit. Options for exploring the Lake District on foot are myriad, with everything from short, level walks without stiles for the less mobile, to dedicated family walks, day- long routes, challenging long distance tracks and guided fell running and scrambling.

•    Cycling
Apart from the main towns in the height of summer, the Lake District is mostly quiet and rural, making it ideal for exploring by bike. There are plenty of easy tracks for beginners, families and less experienced cyclists, including several railway paths and the well- maintained trails in Grizedale Forest Park. Easily accessible from Windermere is the newly smoothed Windermere West Shore Route alongside the lake, a 4km stretch of trail which has recently been resurfaced, making it suitable for all kinds of bike.

•    Canoeing and Kayaking
There are also water based activities in the Lake. Canoeing and Kayaking are two of the most popular activities, and Windermere is one of the best flat paddling destinations in the UK. 

There are also other attractions offered by the Lake such as the World of Beatrix Potter, the Lakes Aquarium, and Brockhoe (visitor centre to traditional stately homes and mansions like Holker Hall, Wray Castle and Levens Hall).