IMAGES: GETTY
WATE R S
Bassenthwaite Lake The only official lake in the Lake District (the rest are either meres or ‘waters’). It’s one of the largest bodies of water in the national park, but also one of the shallowest. There are only a couple of pubs here and it’s quite quiet, making it a great spot for a swim.
Haverigg Beach While this is technically just outside of the national park, it sits at the mouth of the Duddon Estuary, with the beach here having views out across the Lake District fells. It’s in the seaside town of Millom; the sea here is shallow, making it popular with families.
Red Tarn Derived from the old Norse word for ‘pool’, a tarn is a small mountain lake or pool. This one’s the highest of its kind in the Lake District, sitting at 2,356 feet above sea level. Take a hike up here heading towards Striding Edge and catch a glimpse of the tarn’s endangered Schelly fish.
DAY ONE
Morning Start by taking in some of what the Lake District is best known for: its mountains and water. The Old Man of Coniston hike takes in five peaks including the Lake District’s highest point (The Old Man of Coniston) as well as Brim Fell, Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike. It’s a circular route running for six-and-a-half miles, though it can be tweaked or shortened with some peaks cut out, or you can just focus on the Old Man of Coniston peak if a shorter hike’s preferred. It’s considered a fairly challenging route (there’s some rugged terrain and steep climbs at the beginning), but it does get easier as it goes on and comes with incredible views. All route options for this can start and finish at Low Water, which is a great swimming spot — a bonus if it’s a hot day.
conistonboatingcentre.co.uk
Aſternoon When you’re down from the peaks, refuel and regain your energy at The Coniston Inn. This slate building is a couple of miles away from the hiking trail and overlooks Coniston Water. It’s quite a traditional pub, with a bunch of ciders and ales on tap, and food that’s ideal for aſter a hike (think steak and ale pie, and arrabbiata pasta). There’s a terrace for sunny days and it’s dog-friendly, too. Spend the rest of the aſternoon by the water that the pub overlooks. Coniston Water has three small islands with calm waters, making it a great place for kayaking. There are tours to join, but for a more relaxing time and to go at your own place, you can hire a single- or two-seater kayak or canoe. Hires come with a brief instruction and the boats are stable enough for beginners.
inncollectiongroup.com
Evening Due to a lack of light pollution, the skies here can be spectacular at night. There are two designated sites in the Lake District that have been awarded with Dark Sky Discovery status, so on your first night, do the 30-minute drive from Coniston to Allan Bank in Grasmere. The Grade II listed building is a Dark Sky Discovery Site with free overnight parking. There are meteor showers throughout the year to look out for, but the Milky Way is always visible in the right conditions from here. The seven main stars in the Orion constellation are visible in the winter months, too. Bring layers, hot drinks, binoculars and settle in for the night. And for when hunger sets in, Grasmere has a number of pubs, restaurants and cafes to choose from, ranging between quick bites and two AA rosette fine dining.
Lake Windermere This is the largest water body in the area and works as a hub for water-based activities, while still having a backdrop of mountain peaks and villages. There are cruise and motorboats available to tour the lake, as well as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and smaller sail boats.
Stanley Ghyll Woodland shrubs decorate high rocky ledges around this waterfall that cascades down some 60 feet into a narrow gorge. It can be reached by following a path from Eskdale through the woodland — while it’s well marked and mostly flat, it does get fairly steep in parts.
FROM LEFT: An aerial view of Coniston Water seen from Beacon Fell in the English Lake District; pleasure boats moored at Waterhead, near Ambleside
National Geographic Traveller – Lakes & Mountains Collection 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
