Walking in the Lake District
November 3rd, 2008 by webpred
One of the biggest reasons for visiting the English Lake District is to go walking. With the spectacular scenery and endless walking routes and trails, the Lake District caters for walkers of all ages and abilities.
The landscape in the Lake District differs quite dramatically from one area to another. The northern area of the Lake District National Park is for serious walkers. This area holds some of the most demanding fells for walking and one of them happens to be the tallest mountain in England. Scafell Pike is 3,210 feet tall but also in the same area are the next three highest, Scafell at 3,162 feet, Helvellyn at 3,118 feet and Skiddaw at 3,054 feet. As a base for walking in this area there is a great choice of Lake District hotels or if preferred, there are some wonderful Lake District cottages for hire. A cottage can often give more freedom for walkers also space for drying clothing due to the Lake District’s notorious rain!
The western Lake District is not as busy with tourists as the Keswick area but it holds some of the most dramatic scenery and high fells. From Wastwater, Scafell Pike can be seen alongside Great Gable at a height of 2,949 feet. The view of Great Gable and Scafell Pike won the title of “Britain’s Favourite View” in 2007 really putting the area on the map. Much photographed and painted, Wastwater is England’s deepest lake. Wasdale is a haven for walkers tackling Great Gable and Scafell Pike with its hostels and various camp sites.
For the less adventurous, the Lake District offers a huge range of lower level walks. A popular area is the Central Lakes, namely around Windermere, Ambleside and Coniston. There are still some larger fells in that area for example, Fairfield and the Coniston Old Man but these are set amongst smaller fells such as Loughrigg and Todd Crag. The busy town of Ambleside is always full of walkers stopping off to re fuel before their next outing but is also a popular place for non walkers who just want to take in the views or a cruise on Lake Windermere. For larger party of walkers, it is worth looking into bunk barns and bunk houses. In and around the Lake District there are bunk houses, often tucked away in hidden locations but that offer cheap accommodation for a larger party.
So, to conclude, the Lake District is an all round destination for all ages and which offers endless adventures and entertainment.
