wrenwood - I'd be very surprised if you ran out of things to do in a week.

Is there slightly less chance of rain the first week of September vs. the last week of September?

I know, silly question, we are talking about England :)

Dai, thanks for your suggestions, I have added to my "file"

After some more research I agree that a week won't be nearly enough!

If someone looked at weather reports over the last hundred years it might show that less rain has fallen in the first week of September compared to the last. Or it might not.

This summer (except August) was remarkably dry and warm. September and October were good too. This Halloween was the warmest on record: over 23C in the south east.

What does this mean for next year - absolutely nothing. 2012 was a washout;2015 might be great or it might be crap - probably something in between. In any given day you might have rain in the morning, or afternoon, all day or non at all.

If it rains, wear a waterproof or go to the pub. If it's cold, wear an extra layer, if it's hot take it off.

You can't predict the weather but you can predict longer hours of daylight in early September, so that's when you should go.

More daylight, that works!

I have booked for the first week in September, but not near Keswick as I thought I would. I found this property and the covered porch (so what if it rains!) and the view sold me :)

https://www.ruralretreats.co.uk/cott...sions#property

One of the finest hotels in England is on the other side of Ullswater if you fell like treating yourself to afternoon tea or an evening meal.

http://www.sharrowbay.co.uk/

Plus, to whet your appetite here are some walkis around Ullswater

http://www.leaney.org/walks/walk_by_area.php?id=19

that's a delightful looking place, wrenwood - I love the porch.

and do try Sharrowbay at least once - after all, they did invent the sticky toffee pudding!

We will definitely go to Sharrowbay as my husband believes it is his civic duty to taste every sticky toffee pudding he encounters. Quality control :)

Sofarsogood, thanks for the link for walks, I also found great ideas on The Guardian's website

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-lake-district

we had a very nice STP in a pub in St Austell [Cornwall] the other night Wrenwood - at the Polgooth Inn - which isn't too far from where you stayed, if I remember rightly. Not for the first time, the starters and puds were better than the mains. I bet it doesn't compare to the one at the Sharrow Bay though, nor, for that matter to the one we had in Queensland. I didn't begrudge any of the 1000 calories or so.

annhig, we did indeed eat at Polgooth when in Cornwall in March, twice, as it was so convenient to our cottage, only about 15 minutes away!

It was nice, atmospheric, and good (if not memorable) food. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Bookmarking! Thx for the great advice, all.

My BIL now lives in South Carolina and made us some shrimp and grits. Yum. ��