Lake District Trip

Hi Guys
We are considering a couple of trips to the Lake District this year (it was unfortunate we could not make last years Brazi bash).
Currently we are looking at a week in June and a week in September.
One week would be the two of us in Scooby and one week would be in a cottage for three adults and a dog.
Looking for any ideas and suggestions of where to stay and what to do (and where not to go too if busy).
We have never been to the area before, but we have generally been looking around Coniston and Ullswater.
Your thoughts and advice would be most welcome.
Roo b Roo

Hi Scooby,
we've been going there for many years and know the Lake District pretty well, only being an hour or so away.

There is loads to do and see (depending on what your interests are) and so its a bit difficult to specifically advise on that. Happy to offer advice though if you've any specific queries. We primarily go there for the scenery and the walking, which can be low level or taking in the mountains with varying degrees of difficulty.

Pubs tend to be very laid back, cater for the walkers, cyclists etc and are dog friendly.

Coniston is a pleasant village, with a few good pubs (Including the Black Bull with its own brewery - Coniston Bluebird being a favourite tipple). It's in an excellent location to get straight on to the fells or on Coniston Water itself. Camp sites are nearby but I haven't stayed on any so can't vouch for them. It can get a bit busy there but not too bad.

The main honey pots are Ambleside, Windermere, Bowness, Grasmere, Coniston and Keswick but that shouldn't put you off visiting them as they all have different things to offer. A lot of these attract day trippers so the evenings are usually a lot quieter.

If you are thinking of going up to Ullswater you should check out the Waterside Campsite (see last years Northern Meet) which I thought was a good location and a well maintained site. The village of Pooley Bridge (pubs, shops etc) is a 20 minute walk along the lake. http://www.watersidefarm-campsite.co.uk/

We also spent a few days last year at The Quiet Site which is on the NW side of Ullswater. A really nice site but not in easy walking distance of a village, but this is more than made up for by having their own (dog friendly) bar in a converted barn, their own brewery and big roaring fire. They also have live local musicians most weekends. https://thequietsite.co.uk/
We aim to go again early this year.

Hope this is of some help for now but happy to assist or advise further.

Tony

Hi Tony
Appreciate your reply and insight to the area.
We are currently favouring Ullswater and as you have suggested the Waterside Campsite.
Thanks again
John

Hi Scooby
If you do stay at Waterside then do buy an all day ticket to get on and off the ferries.
You should spent a bit of time between boats at Howtown - behind the hotel is a tiny little snug bar, well worth a quick drink.

We like to camp in Bowness. The town itself can be quite busy but it is the centre for boat trips on Windermere. Amongst the ferry trips possible is one called the 'spring walkers ticket'. This involves a boat from Bowness to Ambleside. Another small boat from Ambleside across to Wray Castle. A 4 miles walk south along the lakeside. Then another ferry back to Bowness. An excellent day out.
We have camped at Fallbarrow which no longer takes tourers but the is a Camping & caravan club site near the lake.
Winermere boats
osg

Hi OSG
Appreciate the insight and information provided.
Think it will be Waterside Campsite for a week.
Thanks again
Scooby

Waterside is a lovely place to stay. But when hot be prepared for mosquito
osg

If your heading up the M6 you might want to consider coming off at J36 and going on the A590 - A591 which will take you through the Lake District and give you a taster of the area. You'll pass Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and get to Keswick where you'll turn east on the A66 towards Penrith coming off before you get to the motorway to head down into Pooley Bridge.

Just a thought.......

Oh, and the Rheged Centre is worth a visit. It's a 15 mins drive back to the A66 from the campsite.
https://www.rheged.com/

Enjoy!

Thanks for the extra info