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Dramatic mountains & pleasant dales...
The Lake District is one of England’s most beautiful regions, inspiring the great works of Wordsworth and holding generations of tourists in its thrall. The lakes are set among the dramatic Cumbrian Mountains and the region is dotted with attractive towns and pleasant dales. Who knows? The romance and beauty of one of England’s most famous regions could inspire you to pen some poetry!
The two main bases for exploring the region are Keswick in the north and Windermere and Bowness in the south. The Lake District is a walker’s paradise and indeed the best way of getting around is either on foot or by bicycle. Lake Windermere is the largest lake in the region and one of the most beautiful. The town of the same name has merged with Bowness and is the region’s biggest tourist centre. Check out the town’s Steamboat Museum and take a cruise on Lake Windermere aboard the beautiful old steamboats operated by the Windermere Iron Steamboat Company. Children will love The World of Beatrix Potter museum in Bowness.
Walk to Orrest Head, which provides one of the
most stunning Lakeland views, visit Beatrix Potter’s cottage at Hill
Top where she wrote many of her famous children’s stories, and stop
for afternoon tea in one of the many teashops in the area. Head for
the town of Ambleside which is an important base for the southern
lakes and a major centre for climbers and walkers. Journey on to the
picturesque village of Grasmere and visit Dove Cottage on the
outskirts of the village. This is where Wordsworth produced some of
his greatest work. The Wordsworth Museum in Grasmere showcases some
of the poet’s scripts and paintings as well as some personal
possessions. You can also visit Rydal Mount, the farmhouse where he
lived following his marriage. The town of Elterwater, to the south
of Grasmere, enjoys a stunning lakeside setting and is a good base
for walkers contemplating
the Cumbria Way. One of the not to be missed experiences of the Lake District is a trip on Coniston Water aboard the luxurious steam yacht Gondola. It has been sailing on the lake since 1859. The quiet town of Ulverston makes a welcome change from the busier Lake District towns and is the starting point for the Cumbria Way. Comedian Stan Laurel was born here and there’s a fascinating Laurel & Hardy Museum on Upper Brook Street. The town of Keswick is an important centre for walkers on the Cumbria Way and one and a half miles east of the town you’ll come across the Castlerigg Stone Circle. This is a breathtaking egg shaped stone circle and was a sacred Neolithic and Bronze Age meeting place.
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