The Lake District - What is the attraction ?

Sorry to correct you. You are right to say there is only one lake but it is actually Bassenthwaite not Windermere. (Classic pub quiz question)

As for its attractions - you just have to visit. Get away from the busy centre though.

Theres a good explanation here. https://point5.tv/how-many-lakes-are-in-the-lake-district/
 
EuroTrotters said:
Despite being called "The Lake District" there is only one lake, windermere.

So, Why do people venture up that way in droves?

What are the attractions ?
Click to expand...
Windermere isn’t a lake it’s a mere. Hence the name. You are correct there is only one lake it’s not Windermere though.
It would appear you’re a city type so you’ll never understand the lure of the mountains, the wild inaccessible places.
Probably best you stay in the cities and leave the countryside to those that appreciate it. I promise I’ll stay away from Manchester 😂😂😂.
 
Derwentwater, Coniston, Ennerdale,….
That’s Derwentwater in the background in my avatar, with Keswick at the top.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
glenn2926 said:
Windermere isn’t a lake it’s a mere. Hence the name. You are correct there is only one lake it’s not Windermere though.
It would appear you’re a city type so you’ll never understand the lure of the mountains, the wild inaccessible places.
Probably best you stay in the cities and leave the countryside to those that appreciate it. I promise I’ll stay away from Manchester 😂😂😂.
Click to expand...
clearly made a wild guess and assumed my upbringing and personality. Very much a poor assessment.

Whilst I live in South Manchester and work all over the region, I am far from a "city type".

My Dad was a Yorkshireman and my Mother from Suffolk, who moved to Norfolk before they got together and married in Manchester.

When I as born, we lived on a smallholding. Sadly my Parents had to Give it up and move into a town.
One thing my Dad always tried to do. Was to take us out walking in the countryside whenever he could, we were one of the few to have a car where we lived. He died when I was eight years old. He went out walking alone, fell onto a rock and drowned in just a few inches of water.

The great outdoors is what we like to try and do. We love lakes, Annecy in particular. We like to take a kayak on the lake or cycle around it. In Spain, we are often outdoors walking or hiking, despite my debilitated calcaneus.

photos to upload soon......
BA427281-DF03-4E03-90C7-3E7A34E8AD77.jpeg
00F58052-8ACD-4C6F-832B-E6EE4BEAF1BC.jpeg
6CC5E388-83FA-4836-9E3A-FEC65ED69B5C.jpeg
517B9BF9-21CF-4F6F-8197-CB3FD0E11DBD.png
13BB4F55-13B6-4584-98D0-3CDD7B840640.jpeg
63E0BA68-EC43-414F-8EDA-86ED6B04DD0A.jpeg
2F2EBD40-B53B-4E17-A090-9AA97D6566DF.jpeg
CFA6FDD0-A9C4-4393-B43A-8AD22BFF3FF7.jpeg
F6ACA3BD-6386-4D5D-AB44-51D698CD8500.jpeg
 
Last edited:
EuroTrotters said:
clearly made a wild guess and assumed my upbringing and personality. Very much a poor assessment.

Whilst I live in South Manchester and work all over the region, I am far from a "city type".

My Dad was a Yorkshireman and my Mother from Suffolk, who moved to Norfolk before they got together and married in Manchester.

When I as born, we lived on a smallholding. Sadly my Parents had to Give it up and move into a town.
One thing my Dad always tried to do. Was to take us out walking in the countryside whenever he could, we were one of the few to have a car where we lived. He died when I was eight years old. He went out walking alone, fell onto a rock and drowned in just a few inches of water.

The great outdoors is what we like to try and do. We love lakes, Annecy in particular. We like to take a kayak on the lake or cycle around it. In Spain, we are often outdoors walking or hiking, despite my debilitated calcaneus.

photos to upload soon......View attachment 588801View attachment 588802View attachment 588803View attachment 588804View attachment 588805View attachment 588806View attachment 588807View attachment 588808View attachment 588809
Click to expand...
How very strange that someone who purports to engage in all these outdoor activities doesn’t understand the attraction of the lake district.
 
glenn2926 said:
How very strange that someone who purports to engage in all these outdoor activities doesn’t understand the attraction of the lake district.
Click to expand...
It is just one of those things I guess.

Like when you go searching for houses in different areas. You just know when it feels right or like home.

As much as I have visited the area, even swimming in Windermere back in the day. I just don't get the feeling for it.

I was hoping someone will come along and point me in the right direction, tell me where I am going wrong or send me a link to a dream location.

I Also do not find it very motorhome friendly. Unlike many parts of Europe.
 
Hi Euro trotters, sad to hear about your heel.

I come from Bolton, just north of Manchester. I recently stayed in Low Wray campsite on Windermere. Took an 8.2 mt motorhome. great walks, kayak from the site and ferry to Ambleside. if needed. The Lake district is more than the lakes. Can get very congested in popular sites , and can seem very motorhome unfriendly. it all depends on what your expectations are. The scenery is spectacular it is worth a climb up Helvellin via the easier routes from Grisedale Tarn (accessible from Grasmere or Patterdale), or from Swirls. Lots of tarns to visit with easy walks around e.g. Stickle Tarn, not always accessible with a larger motor home. Easy places maybe the staying at the White Hart at Bouth, visit the Haverthwaite to Lakeside steam railway and have a trip on the boats. https://www.thebimblers.com/newby-bridge-and-lakeside-on-lake-windermere/

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
On the Motorhome friendly bit, you are right. It’s a pain in the backside.

Try the old slate workings above Consiton. The caverns and old workings are fascinating and the scenery amazing. You can’t stay overnight though. :-)
 
We are 20 short of climbing all the 214 Wainwright fells. The lesser fells that we have been tackling for the past few visits are absolutely stunning and you hardly meet anyone. You do need to start early to find a parking space though.

I agree that the area is not 'motorhome friendly' but that is really a result of the geography. If you park in one of the main campsites then the bus service is really good.

Having said that, we go up about 4 times a year but not in a motorhome. We visit a cottage in Keswick and use that as a base. Getting around by bus/car is very straightforward.
 
EuroTrotters said:
Despite being called "The Lake District" there is only one lake, bassenthwaite ?.
Click to expand...
Purely a question of semantics. Doesn't matter what you call it as long as everyone recognizes it as an expanse of water. At one point does a pond become a lake? Or a mere for that matter.
 
steve69 said:
Purely a question of semantics. Doesn't matter what you call it as long as everyone recognizes it as an expanse of water. At one point does a pond become a lake? Or a mere for that matter.
Click to expand...
A mere or a water are basically wide points of a river. Pond to lake I don’t know but would guess size.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Rudski01 said:
No idea, nothing to see or do, it rains all the time and mega rich people have moved in and built huge mansions, I want our old Lake District back 😭😭😭😭
Click to expand...
We had a static caravan in the lakes with a stream running just behind us, one year it virtually rained every time we went up, most weekends, the stream was always running fast and deep down to lake Windermere, the following year we never saw rain at all when we went up and the stream was just a little trickle. We sold the van after 4 years then had a lodge for 6 years in bowness then a lodge at whitecross bay for five years, and eventually, when I retired decided the lakes were too expensive and now have a static just to the south of Lancaster where the site fees are half the cost of the lakes.
The lakes are becoming too expensive.
 
20-odd years ago we were driving up to Gretna Green for a family wedding, just as the countryside was announced open on the radio after the mad cow disease. We took a left into the Lakes for a quick looksee. The weather was amazing, the Lakes were bright blue and beautiful, scenery wonderful. And deserted. We were so lucky. We called in again on the way back. It was stuffed. Still nice, but...we haven't ventured back. Just too busy. Although it was lovely, just don't fancy the crowds.
 
Unfortunately the national park and then C-19 have a play in its popularity, we live on the western side of the tourist central, hardknott and wrynose used to keep only the hardiest at bay, obviously with lockdown and stay at home has meant a huge influx not just into the tourist areas but this has overspilled to the western lakes, our roads around Boot/Eskdale have been gridlocked during summer and half terms etc.

Our infrastructure can’t cope and still the national park is pushing more and more campsites and tourism, even the pubs are overwhelmed, and unfortunately it’s also attracting a different type of tourist, not walkers or nature lovers, the arrogance of poor drivers, people arguing with staff in the pubs, litter and dog muck parcels picked up and shoved in the dry stone walls for the 💩 fairies to take away 🤬 has completely changed the dynamics of this lovely valley, I’m hoping with things opening up this year things settle down a bit.

I’m not holding my breath though. Sorry bit off piste there (Rant over) have a lovely day everyone👍
 
My favourite place in the Lakes is Stickle Barn and the Langdales. October is a fabulous time to go with frost on the hills in the morning, with photogenic mists and long walks with spectacular views any which way you go. Plus, Halloween week sees free family oriented films upstairs in the pub. The pub is perfect with great food and a place for the family to relax and play board games.
IMG_6833.jpeg
IMG_6838.jpeg
IMG_6820.jpeg
 
EuroTrotters said:
Despite being called "The Lake District" there is only one lake, bassenthwaite ?
Click to expand...
A lake is defined as a large area of water surrounded by land. It does not need the word Lake in it’s name to make it a lake anymore than a Town has to have the word Town in it’s name to make it a town.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top