Lakes District: Driving Tours
 

My wife and I will be visiting the Lakes District in late April 2018. We're planning to hire a car and do day trips from just to the north of Windermere. We would be really grateful if fellow Forumites have any suggestions of self-driving routes we could use to do half-day driving tours. We just want to relax and take our time. Alternatively, we'd also be really grateful if you could let us know of any trip reports that might have already covered driving routes in the Lakes District.

Look up mini-bus tours of the lakes and then see where they go and duplicate them or tailor them to your likings.

But plenty sources from Mr Google that would be as good as anything:

The best Lake District drives and tours with attractions

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...a_England.html

Etc.

How many days do you have to play with?

Do you feel comfortable driving on quite small roads?

how do you feel about walking/hiking?

A good half day trip is up to Keswick and see Castlerigg stone circle which is magical place and then maybe take a trip on the launch on Derwentwater.

There’s a beautiful route through Ambleside, into Elterwater, the Great Langdale and the over to Little Langdale but the roads are tiny and take some care.

Try not to miss Blackwell to the south of Bowness which is a good example of Arts and Crafts Architecture and Rydal mount north of Ambleside, which was the family home of Wordsworth.

The Punch Bowl Inn to the south in Crosthwaite is about as posh English country pub as it gets and does excellent food.

>>There’s a beautiful route through Ambleside, into Elterwater, the Great Langdale and the over to Little Langdale but the roads are tiny and take some care.<<

That's the truth ! Stayed once at the Langdale Hotel for a week in one of the lodges and the roads in the area are beautiful but really REALLY tiny.

Big ditto re Castlerigg. Castlerigg Stone Circle - Cumbria

https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/swallows-and-amazons-or-a-midweek-break-in-the-lake-district-1045705/

for some reason your link didn't work - wonder if this will??

Trip Report Swallows and Amazons! (or a midweek break in the Lake District) - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

That did it . . .

Thank you Janis. It seems to be a problem whenever I post from a mobile - I'm not sure why.

I omitted the https at the front and that worked for some reason. But I'm on a laptop so not sure if that works on a phone . . .

I stepped in sheep do at Castlerigg, so watch your step there.
This is one of the best vacations/trips we ever took. I'm so glad that you're going and want to go again.

Apologies, my links seem to have gone cuckoo too! Here's the Holehird Gardens one again -

Holehird Gardens - Holehird

Tuscan

it’s quite difficult to visit The Lakes and not step in sheep do. The fellas have be tenanted to local farmers since time immemorial which is a nightmare if you own a gun dog.

Other POI

Apple Pie Bakery is really good in Ambleside

if you really want an experience which would make Janis’ hair drop out drive down Little Langdale and then over Wrynose then Hard Knott Passes. Probably the worst roads in Britain.

Reghed visitor centre at the Penrith junction of the M6 is more of a posh retail centre but has really good shops and cafes together with exhibitions. Some of which includes the argument that King Arthur’s kingdom was based around Penrith, my father in law was a proud Cumbria and historian, he published much research to back up the theory.

There’s a great drive over Dunmail Rise and into Borrowdale, over Honister Pass, park at the top of the pass and you can effectively skip the need to climb the fells. From the car park, it’s a level walk over to the top of Haystacks where the views are some of the best in England (not Britain)(nothing surpasses the views we have in Scotland!)

One of the most rewarding walks in The Lakes is from Ambleside, through the park, up onto Loughrigg and then down into Rydal, seeing Rydal caves. Some stunning views at the top.

Yes, you can see King Arthur's Round Table just south of Penrith (at Eamont Bridge).
King Arthur's Round Table Henge - Eamont Bridge, Cumbria

>>if you really want an experience which would make Janis’ hair drop out <<

Nah! ;) I love those type roads (well at least if there aren't hordes of motorcycles racing around). My 'REALLY tiny' warning was because most Yanks have never seen such roads let alone ever driven one, and on the 'wrong' side of the road no less.

Wrong side of the roads?

There’s only one side of the road!

We have just seen flights to the West coast from Scotland for $500. Never been! Been to every inch (nearly) of the East coast. May need some advice soon, please.

>>There’s only one side of the road!<<

Absolutely -- single tracks is another thing most Yanks have never seen.


Whereabouts West Coast?? Sure, we can help . . .

Not sure wher but the flights are into SFO, will post in US when ready.

Thanks

Book marking.

I went to the lakes district 40 years ago and it is on my bucket list to go back. Maybe this summer.