Hotels Overview

If the front hall has a row of muddy boots, you've probably made the right choice for a hostelry. At the best of these hotels, people eat heartily and loll about in front of fires in the evenings, sharing an almost religious dedication to the mountains. Your choices include everything from small country inns to grand lakeside hotels; many hotels offer the option of paying a higher price that includes dinner as well as breakfast.

The regional mainstay is the bed-and-breakfast, from the house on Main Street to farmhouses. Most country hotels and B&Bs gladly cater to hikers and can provide on-the-spot information. The Lake District's more than 25 youth hostels, including mountain huts and lakeside mansions, are open to anyone who purchases a membership or has a membership card from their home country's hostel association. Wherever you stay, book well in advance for summer visits, especially those in late July and August. In winter many accommodations close for a month or two. On weekends and in summer, it may be hard to find places willing to take bookings for a single night.