My Top 5 Lake District Attractions

If you’re stuck for inspiration when you visit the Lake District, here are some ideas on what to do when you get here…

Windermere Lake Cruises

Take in the blue skies, sunshine and the Lake's landscape on a Windermere Lake Cruise. Cumbria’s most popular attraction, Windermere Lake Cruises offers a range of lovely trips including cruises around the lake’s islands or between the many stops allowing you to hop off at Lakeside at the bottom of the Lake, Waterhead at the top or Brockhole near the middle. Passengers can enjoy a full day on and around the lake with a fantastic value ‘Freedom of the Lake’ pass.

Brockhole, The Lake District Visitor Centre, Windermere

Situated on the shores of Windermere, Brockhole is set amid 30 acres of beautiful terraced gardens stretching down to the water with impressive views of the lake and distant fells. It boasts a brilliant adventure playground packed with rope walks, slides, swings, scramble nets and zip wires, a toddler’s play area and a picnic area. There's a vast information centre which shows great exhibitions, browse the gift shop or enjoy a meal and drink in the contemporary café. Best of all, entry to the house, grounds and lakeshore is free!

Blackwell Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere

A beautifully elegant Arts and Crafts house and gardens with elevated views of Windermere, Blackwell is one of Britain’s finest houses. Blackwell’s gardens were laid out by the famous designer Thomas Mawson, in a series of terraces to achieve the best views from the house. Blackwell, which runs exhibitions and displays, is bordered by beautiful flower beds set against a terrace of stone paving, providing one of the loveliest outdoor places in England to enjoy morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea.

World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-on-Windermere

This place is just perfect if you have little ones. All 23 of Beatrix Potter's gorgeous tales are brought to life at this fabulous interactive attraction. Enjoy Peter Rabbit's pretty garden which is packed with goodies from the storybook garden pictures including gooseberries, parsnips, cucumbers, parsley, pear trees and lettuces. Explore Jemima Puddle-duck's woodland glade and McGregor's greenhouse then take a virtual walk through Lakeland and the many places that inspired Beatrix to write her magical tales.

The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway

This quaint historic line offers a lovely way to explore the famous Lake District scenery, providing a lovely day out. Head to Haverthwaite, park visit the shop, restaurant and engine shed then board the train to relax and enjoy the beautiful ever-changing scenery alongside the River Leven.

All of these attraction are within easy reach from Windermere Marina Village a fabulous Lake District self catering base to any stay. You can even ditch the car and walk to many which makes that lunch time Lakeland ale a must!

Five more great Lake District Attractions will follow next week!

Things To Do in the Lake District Rain

Getting wet is kind of expected when you live or visit the Lakes. With the sea on one side and the mountains on the other it's inevitable...my school girl geography escapes me for the actual reason why but experience has taught me it's fact.

So what are your options? Stay inside and watch the world go by from your window - there's a time and place for everything but this

feels like a bit of a waste with the Lakes on your doorstep. I opt for finding things to do that are improved by the downpour. Here are my top three and believe me I've tested many over the years.

The majestic mountains are put into perspective when it's just you and your paddle! Try a little kayaking, you may as well be in the water if you're going to get wet in the rain. You can hire a canoe from £20 for four hours from Windermere Canoe Kayak and see

the lakes from a different view point. You can even hire a wetsuit if your balance is not a strength and you th

ink you might end up in the water!

If you are feeling more adventurous try Ghyll Scrambling; descending a Lakeland stream via slides, dives and even jumping down waterfalls. Guidance is essential: Mobile

Adventure are a great company in the Lakes offering all sorts of activities for all sizes of groups including families.

For an experience you won't forget try an off road driving adventure on the wild trial routes in the Lake District National Park with Kankku. The trails are rough and rocky which means the driving isn't damaging to the environment come rain or shine, and a member of the Kankku team goes with you to share their knowledge of the trails and how to drive a 4x4 in these demanding conditions.

As you would expect from an activity that takes place in the mountains and valleys of the Lakes, the scenery is spectacular and provides a great sense of adventure; perfect for occupying the minds of the younger members of the family or perhaps a slightly reluctant partner! If you stay in a Lake District self catering cottage or apartment at Windermere Marina Village the Kankku Team will even pick you up.

So get out there even in the rain and enjoy!

3 Mostly Free Things To Do in the Lake District

I'm the right side of 40 but even my summer holidays seems to have taken on a sepia tinge over the last few years. Spending those glorious six weeks in the pursuit of simple pleasures came naturally with the Lake District as your back garden. Reminiscing over a glass of wine the other evening with friends we compiled our top 5 and I thought it would be rude not to share...in no particular order.

Picnicking at Fell Foot

Some unsuspecting parent, (thanks Dad!) would accompany a car loads of kids ladened with frisbees, rounders bats, blankets and the obligatory picnic - mine was always heavy on the pickled onion monster

munch: a balanced diet was not a priority in the early 80's. We would descend on Fell Foot, the Victorian country park beside Lake Windermere and wile away a hour or two on a game of rounders before demolishing the picnic, or the unhealthy bit of it anyway. There always seemed to be a bag of uneaten fruit to take back to the car!

The braver ones amongst us, I was not one of them would venture into the Lake for a swim...apparently it wasn't cold once you got in. Exhausted, the car journey home would be quieter that the one there much to the relief of my Dad I'm sure.

I still enjoy the park today but you will more likely find me avoiding the games under a tree with a good book.

The admission charge includes parking, locals and the more canny tourist park on the verge outside the grounds. There

are toilet facilities, a tearoom and a children's play area and you can even hire a rowing boat and get further out on the lake. It's a must do on a sunny day and yes we d get them up here.

Feeding the Swans at Bowness Bay

Bowness is the hub of tourism in the Lakes, attracting more visitor than any other part and with good reason! If you are in walking distance of the bay then you will find the experience all the more relaxing, driving around in peak season can be painful. You can find great Lake District self catering cottages within easy walking distance of the bay and with the best transport links around its a fantastic base for exploring further a field too!

Used to the tranquility of the Lakes walking into Bowness Bay felt positively metropolitan. In my early years I remember fondly feeding the swans and duck on the shore and happily watching the people going by ice cream in hand. I still don't know whether a swan can actually break your arm or not, but that sense of danger has always appealed to me, perhaps that's where it began!

You will also find the Lake districts number one attraction departing from here: hopping on the Windermere Lake Cruise is a must!

Discovering the Wooden Carvings ar Grizedale Forest

I joined the protest when the Government proposed selling off the forests as did many of the people I know. This was in part due to the time I have spent at Grizedale Forest - a fantastic example of how to run a forest for the benefit of the economy and environment.

Situated between the lakes of Coniston and Windermere Grizedales is an ideal place to go walking. With views of the lakes and mountains, the shelter of the trees and sculptures in the forest, Grizedale offers everyone a walk they will enjoy.

Family Sundays were often spent in Grizedale, I was always intrigued by the wooden sculpture as a child and terrified by the prospect of the dizzy heights of Go Ape as an adult...and no I've still not plucked up the courage! The walks are really great, free and accessible even with a push chair which is great. Feeling like you really are soaking in a bit of the great outdoor even with an easily tired toddler really is a treat. The canopy of the trees even make the experience pleasurable in the rain - it does that sometimes here.

There are so many more virtually free things to do in the Lakes for tourists and locals alike, share a few here is you feel inclined. Stay at Windermere Marina Village to enjoy some car free fun, Reception will point you in the direction of a bus timetable - they are more frequent than you might think!