Lake District on the May bank holiday - fewer tourists and more walking?
 

Hello!

I am thinking of spending the 25-27th May weekend (bank holiday) in Lake District with 1-2 other friends. We are looking for some place with plenty of walking/hiking (2 of us are quite fit - gym daily, the 3rd even better - marathons etc).
I am looking for a location with the following priorities (in descending order):
1. As few tourists as possible
2. Lots of walking/ outdoor acitivities
3. Possible to reach without a car

Suggestions welcome :)

I should mention that I live in London

Look at the west side of the Lakes - Cockermouth probably.

Plenty of good walking there and it's rare for it to be busy

The Western Fells are less visited but not having your own transport means they're more difficult and time consuming to reach.

<<Some place with plenty of walking>> That's just about everywhere.

Get yourself a walking book, the Pathfinder series are good as they contain an OS style map http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pathfinder-L.../dp/1854585010

Best base is Keswick

This site tells you everything you need to know about the Lakes www.golakes.co.uk/

I too was thinking the Keswick area. Braithwaite is very nice and reasonably off the beaten track.

you'd better start looking for accommodation asap because as well as being the bank holiday weekend, it's also the beginning of the school half-term holiday.

you can't do better than Wainwright's guides to walking in the lakes.

Thanks a lot, Im going to start hunting now and finalise in next few days. The train tickets are about £100 per person return. Do you know if renting a car would make more sense - financially and in terms of convenience?

Logistically, a car would make a lot of sense in the Lakes, for those out of the way places. Financially, it depends on the cost of the rental plus petrol and how much you want to spend.

Have a look at the area around Wastwater too if you want to walk in an unspoilt part of the Lakes.

Just an update on this - We ended up going to Peak district to avoid crowded areas. We stayed at Buxton and hiked in the surrounding areas. It was perfect!

Glad it worked out for you. Iw ould just point out however that the Peak District (being in very close proximity to major population centres such as Manchester and Sheffield) <i>can</i> be very busy at times. You must have been lucky, or maybe the weather that particular day was a disincentive to larger numbers of visitors.

Hi Gordon - you are right ofcourse. We visited bakewell for a day, and it was a NIGHTMARE. However, Buxton was quieter. the weather was fantastic all three days (sunny and hot) and there was even a half marathon being held in Buxton, which increased the crowds only slightly on one day!

very sensible Rushil.

I fear however that because of the weather many people will have followed your example leaving the Lake District deserted.

it now official that this has been the coldest spring in the UK on record.

I was in the Lake District over the Bank Holiday and can confirm the weather up until the Monday was absolutely gorgeous! We were between Keswick and Cockermouth and it wasn't crowded despite the sun and blue sky. We walked for miles on the fells and only met a few other walkers.