The English Lake District Guidebook

Julia
The English Lake District Guidebook

Great places for dogs and children

This selection includes easily accessible places I’ve routinely and easily taken myself and my dog for good times swimming and walking.
This spot has great views and great swimming in Lake Windermere. Take a flask and some sandwiches and enjoy a couple of hours down there. Walk along the lake and choose a spot that suits! There are a few free car parking places and paid for parking at Rayrigg Meadow.
15 recommandé par les habitants
Miller Ground
15 recommandé par les habitants
This spot has great views and great swimming in Lake Windermere. Take a flask and some sandwiches and enjoy a couple of hours down there. Walk along the lake and choose a spot that suits! There are a few free car parking places and paid for parking at Rayrigg Meadow.
It’s easy to get to and the views are unbeatable. It’s where Alfred Wainwright became inspired prior to writing his guides.
29 recommandé par les habitants
Orrest Head Viewpoint
Glebe Road
29 recommandé par les habitants
It’s easy to get to and the views are unbeatable. It’s where Alfred Wainwright became inspired prior to writing his guides.
A good place for dog walking. You could park near Castle Stores... with the Stores on the left, carry on driving and you will come to free parking on the left in less than a minute
59 recommandé par les habitants
Kendal Castle
Sunnyside
59 recommandé par les habitants
A good place for dog walking. You could park near Castle Stores... with the Stores on the left, carry on driving and you will come to free parking on the left in less than a minute
A great place with free parking... this is what you see from the living room window
41 recommandé par les habitants
Scout Scar Mushroom
Underbarrow Road
41 recommandé par les habitants
A great place with free parking... this is what you see from the living room window
Park up near Chesters-by-the-River and eat and shop. There is a takeaway option for coffee and cake! Then walk to Elterwater along the Cumbrian Way. The view opens out and it is simply beautiful. It's easy underfoot and flat (!) so you can just enjoy the views.
21 recommandé par les habitants
Elterwater
21 recommandé par les habitants
Park up near Chesters-by-the-River and eat and shop. There is a takeaway option for coffee and cake! Then walk to Elterwater along the Cumbrian Way. The view opens out and it is simply beautiful. It's easy underfoot and flat (!) so you can just enjoy the views.
Good for Tree Top adventures for children. Cafe onsite and other activities.
67 recommandé par les habitants
Brockhole on Windermere
67 recommandé par les habitants
Good for Tree Top adventures for children. Cafe onsite and other activities.

Places to eat and drink

These recommendations are organised by 'place'
Zefferelli's pizza and pasta, also a cinema Fellini's Restaurant, also a cinema Both places might have a deal for a meal and cinema deal Ghandi's Cafe - good homemade food The White Lion Inn pub is a nice location to sit outside and watch the world go by Waterhead Inn - have a beer outside at the top of Lake Windermere Royal Oak pub - quite traditional... in the heart of Ambleside
145 recommandé par les habitants
Ambleside
145 recommandé par les habitants
Zefferelli's pizza and pasta, also a cinema Fellini's Restaurant, also a cinema Both places might have a deal for a meal and cinema deal Ghandi's Cafe - good homemade food The White Lion Inn pub is a nice location to sit outside and watch the world go by Waterhead Inn - have a beer outside at the top of Lake Windermere Royal Oak pub - quite traditional... in the heart of Ambleside
Homeground Coffee and Kitchen, Windermere
56 recommandé par les habitants
Windermere
56 recommandé par les habitants
Homeground Coffee and Kitchen, Windermere
The Brewery Arts Centre for culture… and there is food too!! Meal deal maybe?? About Time Espresso Bar The Factory Tap Bar - Ronnie and his team will see you right Fell Bar The New Union Pub - say Hi to Phil the Landlord from Julia - he's a bit eccentric in a very youthful way and has won awards for his brewing Brew Brothers coffee bar Farmhouse Kitchen - day time cafe The Moon - a nice place for an evening meal Garden Cafe - homemade plant-based food; Nicky and Brian cook great food... Curry is very British and the best of the bunch is Jheels Best for Fish and Chips is Fish Express on the High Street Booths - a very British supermarket… there is a car park there…
126 recommandé par les habitants
Kendal
126 recommandé par les habitants
The Brewery Arts Centre for culture… and there is food too!! Meal deal maybe?? About Time Espresso Bar The Factory Tap Bar - Ronnie and his team will see you right Fell Bar The New Union Pub - say Hi to Phil the Landlord from Julia - he's a bit eccentric in a very youthful way and has won awards for his brewing Brew Brothers coffee bar Farmhouse Kitchen - day time cafe The Moon - a nice place for an evening meal Garden Cafe - homemade plant-based food; Nicky and Brian cook great food... Curry is very British and the best of the bunch is Jheels Best for Fish and Chips is Fish Express on the High Street Booths - a very British supermarket… there is a car park there…
Chesters by the River There is a nice flat walk along the river to the Britannia pub in Elterwater from there too! Along the Cumbria Way walk. Skelwith is pronounced SKELITH!
7 recommandé par les habitants
Skelwith Bridge
7 recommandé par les habitants
Chesters by the River There is a nice flat walk along the river to the Britannia pub in Elterwater from there too! Along the Cumbria Way walk. Skelwith is pronounced SKELITH!
Forest Side has a Michelin star… modern bright and lovely Tweedies Bar pub is an enduring favourite
97 recommandé par les habitants
Grasmere
97 recommandé par les habitants
Forest Side has a Michelin star… modern bright and lovely Tweedies Bar pub is an enduring favourite
The Badger Bar is a nice place for a beer if you're walking around this area
8 recommandé par les habitants
Rydal
8 recommandé par les habitants
The Badger Bar is a nice place for a beer if you're walking around this area

Some great walks

There is so really good information online... just Google the places below, consult the maps on the dining room table and use Wainwrights Guides which are organised in areas...
Helvellyn - there are various ascents up this fell from differing directions. Striding Edge and Swirral Edge are only recommended for experienced people in good weather, you can also book a local mountain guide to help with a great day out.
39 recommandé par les habitants
Helvellyn
39 recommandé par les habitants
Helvellyn - there are various ascents up this fell from differing directions. Striding Edge and Swirral Edge are only recommended for experienced people in good weather, you can also book a local mountain guide to help with a great day out.
Park up opposite Tweedies Bar in Grasmere for an easy access point for this beautiful walk up to Easedale Tarn. You will see Sourmilk Ghyll falls. Great place for a dip and you could carry on up to the Seargent Man and cross over into the Langdale Valley.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Easedale Tarn
10 recommandé par les habitants
Park up opposite Tweedies Bar in Grasmere for an easy access point for this beautiful walk up to Easedale Tarn. You will see Sourmilk Ghyll falls. Great place for a dip and you could carry on up to the Seargent Man and cross over into the Langdale Valley.
You could park at the National Trust car park at Elterwater and ascend Lingmoor from there. It's a cracking walk with amazing views of the higher Langdale hills. Or drive to the National Trust car park near Blea Tarn and go up that way! Blea Tarn is a good swim spot.
Lingmoor Fell
You could park at the National Trust car park at Elterwater and ascend Lingmoor from there. It's a cracking walk with amazing views of the higher Langdale hills. Or drive to the National Trust car park near Blea Tarn and go up that way! Blea Tarn is a good swim spot.
A good access point for ascending the Langdale Pikes. There are various routes to access Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle and Pike O Stickle
Dungeon Ghyll
A good access point for ascending the Langdale Pikes. There are various routes to access Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle and Pike O Stickle
Crinkle Crags - a ridge walk, a big day, memorable...
Crinkle Crags
Crinkle Crags - a ridge walk, a big day, memorable...
An easy walk up from a car park at Pelter Bridge at Rydal... a cool and tranquil space
25 recommandé par les habitants
Rydal Cave
25 recommandé par les habitants
An easy walk up from a car park at Pelter Bridge at Rydal... a cool and tranquil space
There is a circular walking route called The Coffin Route, from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere and back, taking in some beautiful scenery, and the wonderful bodies of water Rydal Water and Grasmere (lots of swimming spots). If you search the net for 'The Coffin Route' you will find map info and the history of this 'corpse road'. There are various places to eat and drink along the way... I'd head from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere, then maybe stop in Grasmere village for refreshments, before heading up the road and dropping down to the edge of Grasmere (small lake) and then up and over a little way to Rydal Water. I'd be swimming in both bodies of water. I'd have a food and drink in my bag so I could stop wherever I fancied and simply enjoy being. I used to live in Rydal and it is a wonderful beautiful place. William Wordsworth lived there and was inspired by the scenery. You can visit his home, Rydal Mount.
22 recommandé par les habitants
Rydal Water
22 recommandé par les habitants
There is a circular walking route called The Coffin Route, from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere and back, taking in some beautiful scenery, and the wonderful bodies of water Rydal Water and Grasmere (lots of swimming spots). If you search the net for 'The Coffin Route' you will find map info and the history of this 'corpse road'. There are various places to eat and drink along the way... I'd head from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere, then maybe stop in Grasmere village for refreshments, before heading up the road and dropping down to the edge of Grasmere (small lake) and then up and over a little way to Rydal Water. I'd be swimming in both bodies of water. I'd have a food and drink in my bag so I could stop wherever I fancied and simply enjoy being. I used to live in Rydal and it is a wonderful beautiful place. William Wordsworth lived there and was inspired by the scenery. You can visit his home, Rydal Mount.

Swim spots

A dip in Rydal is a wonderful thing... At any time of day. Park at Pelter Bridge or at Rydal or dip as part of a longer walk...
22 recommandé par les habitants
Rydal Water
22 recommandé par les habitants
A dip in Rydal is a wonderful thing... At any time of day. Park at Pelter Bridge or at Rydal or dip as part of a longer walk...
You could park at White Moss and walk to Grasmere along a flat footpath and through some woods. Take a picnic so you can stay as long as you want.
97 recommandé par les habitants
Grasmere
97 recommandé par les habitants
You could park at White Moss and walk to Grasmere along a flat footpath and through some woods. Take a picnic so you can stay as long as you want.
Search the net, find the spot, drive up in 20 minutes from Kendal, walk up the hill to get nice and warm, then jump in and enjoy. A local firm favourite!
9 recommandé par les habitants
Gurnal Dubs
9 recommandé par les habitants
Search the net, find the spot, drive up in 20 minutes from Kendal, walk up the hill to get nice and warm, then jump in and enjoy. A local firm favourite!
A fab place for a wild dip.
Buckstone Jum
Buckstone jum
A fab place for a wild dip.