The Lake District, Cumbria and the North West of England have much to offer the visitor in both beauty and tourist attractions. There are many good eating places in this part of the country and lots of pubs serving good food. The lakes have their own special beauty, as do the lovely fells and mountains surrounding them. Most of the towns and villages are fairly small and there are plenty of places where the walker can completely escape from the popular tourist destinations.
Ambleside is an ideal centre from which to explore the Lake District. Situated on the shore of the northern tip of Lake Windermere, the largest of the lakes, it is on the main route through the area to Keswick. There has been a settlement here since long before Roman times, although the real growth of the town dates from the time of Wordsworth and the Lakeland Poets.
The bay, in which Bowness is situated, commands one of the prettiest views of Lake Windermere. It has a lovely promenade along the shores of the lake and offers views of the islands and across the lake to the wooded hills. The town is still small, although it has expanded from the original fishing village due to the demands of tourism. The town of Bowness is where the World of Beatrix Potter celebrates the life and work of the writer.
At the foot of Coniston Old Man, the 2635 feet high fell classified as the seventh highest mountain in England, lies the charming village of Coniston. The side of the fell bear the scars of past copper mining and slate quarrying. Coppermines Valley is the name of the vale beneath the fell, its name confirming its industrial past. However, the Old Man of Coniston is a much more peaceful place today.
A little way from the main road from Ambleside to Keswick lies the village of Grasmere, a cluster of mainly grey buildings in a shallow valley beneath a ring of rounded hills. Although many of the present buildings date from the 19th Century, the village is much older and was in existence as early as the 7th Century, when St Oswald reputedly preached there. The annual Rush Bearing, held each August, is an old custom dating from medieval times when church floors were strewn with rushes. The present church dates from the 13th Century and it is here that William Wordsworth is buried. The poet’s grave is marked by a simple slate slab.
Buttermere is one of the small lakes, only a mile and a quarter long and about half a mile wide. It is set in the Buttermere valley close to two other lakes, Crummock and Loweswater. On two sides, the mountains plunge down to the lake. In fact the lake lies almost in a basin surrounded by mountains and its shores are well wooded with both Scotch fir and larch trees.
Kendal is one of the main gateways to the Lake District. It is situated in the valley of the River Kent and surrounded by hills. This was once the chief town of Westmorland, a county long swallowed up by Cumbria. Kendal was always the meeting point of the various routes between Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire and all routes south.
Penrith is the entrance to the Lakes from the north and an ideal place from which to explore the more northerly lakes and fells. It is an old town, believed to have been originally built in 500BC on a site already occupied by the Celts. A stone circle known as “Long Meg and her Daughters” dates from this period and is situated several miles to the north east of the town. Other ancient sites in the area are Mayborough and King Arthur’s Round Table, both of which are nearer to the town.
Derwentwater is certainly one of the most beautiful of the lakes and the town of Keswick. On the side of the lake, has lots of amenities for the visitor, including a small theatre. It has been a tourist centre for many years and has plenty of accommodation, restaurants, cafés and shops. Many of the houses in the town are Victorian and built with the familiar grey Lakeland stone. It is the largest town within the boundaries of the national park.
The village of Cartmel is best known for its great priory church. Cartmel Priory was originally an Augustinian established founded during the reign of Richard the Lionheart. The building remaining today was originally the church of the priory; the only part to survive the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. The 12th Century building is in the Transitional Norman style and has a uniquely constructed tower, its upper portion having been placed diagonally on the original Norman section. The East Window is quite magnificent and there are some fascinating carvings on the early 15th Century misericords.
From Carlisle, on the northern edge of the lakes, it is possible to take trips into Scotland and on the scenic railway which runs between Carlisle and Settle, crossing the Yorkshire Dales. There has been a settlement in this region since the Celtic warlords dominated this area, but it was the Romans who built a garrison at Luguvalium as one of the last outposts of their empire. The garrison town remained after the Romans left, as did the fort of Caerligaluid, which eventually evolved into Carlisle.
Cockermouth is an attractive town with much to offer the visitor. It has a wide range of restaurants and cafés, including a recommended vegetarian eating place. There are plenty of small shops and various entertainment venues. These include the Kirkgate Arts Centre. In addition to Worsworth House, other attractions are Jennings Brewery, Cumbria’s only independent brewery, and the 16th Century Printing Museum.