If you don't plan on visiting the South or London, you might as well fly into Manchester.

Bus service, mostly operated by Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, is good throughout the Lake District. Sadly, Stagecoach's websites are beyond useless. This site will get you bus schedules, http://www.traveline.info/index.html

In terms of accessing bus services, Coniston would be the least desirable place to base yourselves. I'd choose Keswick over Ambleside, it has a less touristy feel.

May, June, September, October would be my months to visit.

Keswick is a nice town, but it's 17 miles from the nearest train.

http://www.keswick.org/visitor-information/getting-to-keswick/by-train-coach-or-bus/

Here's a decent link on getting from MAN to the Lakes District.

http://www.golakes.co.uk/information/cumbria-by-rail.aspx

Use this link for other information on the area.

BTW: I'm in my 60's and have lung problems that limit my stamina. The way I have learned to travel is 1) sit if you can, 2) stand if you must, 3) walk if you have to.

Don't neglect staying in Winderemere, the railhead for the Lake District - the Bowness section on Lake Windemere is fantastic and you can do an easy walk from there, after crossing the lake on a chain ferry, to Beatrix Potter's cottage and easily take the hop on off bus everywhere - do not neglect Windermere itself IMO - always nice to get off the train and walk or take a short cab ride to your hotel or B&B. Manchester Airport would be much closer than London.

Second PalenQ - stay in Bowness, its pretty compact so choose a hotel in the centre and I cant remember it being too hilly.

You also might take a cruise of the Lake. Nice and relaxing, and not really taxing at all.

http://www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk/

What wonderful suggestions! Thank you very much. Will "pay it back" with a trip report.

I'm thinking that given our situation and given this feedback, perhaps Windermere is the place to stay: convenient for taking train from Manchester, can hop on a lake cruise from there, should be less crowded in early October. Will we be OK weatherwise the first week of October? Will buses and boats etc. still be running?

peg, years ago we stayed in Keswick and loved it. It's really charming little town. However, if I think I would prefer Windermere - so I think you are making a good choice.

hi peggie, here's the link to the summer timetable - lasts though to november, and even then there are some boats still running.

http://www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk/timetable.php

as well as the scheduled bus service [runs all year] you might also like these:

http://www.mountain-goat.com/

as for the weather, who knows? October last year brought a heat wave to most of the UK, could the same happen again?

hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Thank you! Love that: hope for the best, plan for the worst.

So, plans are in place. Leave October 3rd; fly into Manchester. Catch train to Windemere. Staying @ Lindeth-Howe for 4 nights. Sounds like room has a nice lake view so hoping that even if we have rain, we can relax in our room and enjoy the scenery. Plan to do a half day Beatrix Potter tour and found a half day birding tour as well. Hope that weather will permit a boat trip on the lake. Looks like they do get quite a bit of rain in October, but fingers crossed. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. On October 8, we'll catch the train back to the Manchester airport to spend one night at the Radisson there before our morning flight back on the 9th.

sounds like a great plan, peggie.

I hope that the weather co-operates!

I hope you can get to Grasmere to see Wordsworth's home and his grave. It's a charming spot, and a slice of Grasmere Gingerbread is a little slice of heaven.

Definitely plan to visit Wordsworth's home; just got a book: Wordsworth & the Lake District, A Guide to the Poems and their Places by David McCracken. Thank you for the Gingerbread suggestion!

Second the gingerbread suggestion. Brought home a tin. Mountain Goat tour was flexible and excellent, but over a decade ago.