Lake District. The Best Area To Stay ?

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I am looking for some advice regarding the lake district, I am planning on going next month, but don't really have much idea of the best area to stay i.e. Kendal, Ambleside, Windermere, or any others I should be looking at, obviously, I am looking for the best photo opportunities, however I am looking at a part that will be not to isolated, some decent restaurants etc but at the same time not overcrowded, with tourists looking for nightlife, as I have no idea about the place, what would your recommendations be please
 
If you haven't pre-booked are you sure you can find accommodation ? It is a very popular place during normal times but with all the 'staycationers' booking holidays ?
Personally we prefer the Northern lakes, Keswick area, scenic, great walking and normally quieter than the areas you mention. I would certainly avoid Windermere, far too packed with folk who will not go further than 50 metres from a shop ? :rolleyes:
 
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I agree Keswick is a lovely little town and close to some lovely scenery Buttermere - Catt Bells Derwenr water and abundance of Red Squirrels over at Dodd Woods RSPB have a feeding station there

Les :)
 
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badlywornroy said:
If you haven't pre-booked are you sure you can find accommodation ? It is a very popular place during normal times but with all the 'staycationers' booking holidays ?
Personally we prefer the Northern lakes, Keswick area, scenic, great walking and normally quieter than the areas you mention. I would certainly avoid Windermere, far too packed with folk who will not go further than 50 metres from a shop ? :rolleyes:
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Thanks, yes there's still some availability in various places, funnily enough I was looking at Windermere, as I thought that was the main place, but I will take another look at it now, I was also looking at Kendal which looks nice, or Cockermouth, which isn't to far from Keswick, I suppose most places seem within 15 miles of the national park, and photo opportunities, so driving that far isn't a problem, I don't particularly mind driving in the day, I'm thinking more of the evening when we go out and eat, it would be nice just to have a stroll and have a few places to choose from, excluding Mcdonalds, Burger King, and KFC of course :LOL:
 
The Lake District is generally 'up market' and you will find many pubs that serve high quality food. You may need to book ahead ?
 
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For photo opportunities Cockermouth is better than Kendal. You are soon at Ennerdale, Crummock, Buttermere, Derwentwater and Keswick.
(and Loweswater and Bass Lake).

I’ve lived near both.

Penrith is another alternative. Not too far from Ullswater and also Keswick.

in normal times Cockermouth has some reasonable eating places. It is primarily a farming town.
If you stay there and are hungry get a take away breakfast from Lindsay’s on Station Street.

if you want to be in the central Lakes try Ambleside or Grasmere, both busy and probably expensive.
 
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Keswick is your best bet far more central for the 'best bits' and lots of choice for accommodation/eating - usually.
As above Penrith while not right in the Lakes is a good base and not quite so pricey.
 
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Keswick is a really nice place, a few decent pubs - the Dog And Gun especially, nice coffee shops and a good chippy and Chinese. It’s a great base for Derwent Water, Cat Bells, Skiddaw and much more. The drive to Buttermere isn’t too far and is very scenic.

Last time we went, last September, we stayed in Wasdale and really enjoyed it. A great base for walking up Scafell and Great Gable plus Wastwater is full of photo opportunities. It seems to be a fair bit quieter than Keswick area. You’ll need to drive a short distance for shops etc from Wasdale.

Tbh, and hopefully not sounding too much of a grump, the Lake District will be rammed this summer, if it’s not already. You need to decide on the places you want to visit/photograph and be there before the mobs descend. Car parks will be full not long after dawn. Pre-planning will save a lot of frustration especially around places like Buttermere.
 
With the lakes you need to decide what area you want to visit. I like Eskdale as it’s much quieter than other areas. Ambleside is a good base for its amenities and walks on the doorstep. I’ve not really stayed in other areas yet. I’d like to stay Keswick way to the derwent water and ulswater areas. I’d personally stay away from Windermere as it’s far too commercialised with the tourist honeypots. Places like Kendal and cockermouth is a bit far away on the edges. You’d need to drive every where and get parking.

Whilst distances as the crow flies aren’t far it can take a while to drive from day the langdales to borrowdale because there aren’t many roads that pass through the central mountain areas. The lakes is pretty compact but it takes a while to drive around and car parks fill up quite fast.

if you plan to go out to eat you will need to book tables in advance. We’ve been regularly visiting Eskdale for many years. On our visit last September our B&B owner phoned us a couple week before to say we needed to pre book tables at the local pubs now otherwise we wouldn’t get a table. She was right too!

That trip we walked up Scafell Pike with what must have been around several hundred other people! At the top I lost count at 80 on the summit. There are other areas on the west side that aren’t busy because it takes a while to get there. Ennerdale is the named the forgotten valley as it’s the least visited lake.

We went again in November and stayed in Ambleside. It was very busy. We didn’t get a table at any pubs as they were already booked up, though coffee shops were ok if you didn’t go at peak hours. we mainly used takeaways and booths/co op/tesco to cook at the place instead.

We stayed the week the November lockdown came in. Because we were already there we were able to stay the few days after lockdown came to finish our trip. It was weird to see Ambleside empty and workmen ripping apart restaurants to refurbish.
 
Well we’ve booked a couple of different places first week in June (not a photography holiday).
noticeable that all accommodation prices are quite a bit higher this year.
 
Peter123 said:
Well we’ve booked a couple of different places first week in June (not a photography holiday).
noticeable that all accommodation prices are quite a bit higher this year.
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You could say it could be owners cashing in on the ‘staycation’ (hate that word with a passion!) or it could be they’re worried about potential late notice cancellations and are covering some potential losses by charging more to the people that do actually turn up.

It seems some people are doing the same with holidays this year as they did with restaurants/pubs during ‘eat out to help out’ last year by booking more than one holiday at exactly the time. They seem to be hoping to make a decision at the last minute and cancel one of them at no cost to them, but potentially lost business to the accommodation provider that are likely small businesses.

www.bbc.co.uk

Holidaymakers booking twice to hedge against Covid rules

UK holidaymakers are reportedly double-booking breaks this summer to make sure they don't miss out.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
Yes that’s not cricket is it.
I notice now if you want to cancel at the last minute many places charge a fair percentage of the fees missed.
 
Peter123 said:
Well we’ve booked a couple of different places first week in June (not a photography holiday).
noticeable that all accommodation prices are quite a bit higher this year.
Click to expand...

Let me get this straight, you have booked two holidays for the same dates, so presumably you will attend one and cancel the other ? Pardon me If I have this wrong but I find this pretty f***ing selfish.
I assume at least one of these holidays is in the UK ? I know people who want a UK holiday and can find nothing that they find affordable. Multiply your actions by 100's or 1,000's of others and possibly the equivalent amount of peoples choices
are removed. Think about it, are you feeling good about yourself ?
 
Wow. How to aggressively misunderstand what I wrote.
we are staying a few days at one location (southern lakes) and then moving to the north lakes for the second part of the week to visit relatives.
Please let me know whether you think this acceptable behaviour.
If you want the hotel names and copies of my booking confirmations at each hotel I am happy to provide.
I’m actually feeling great about myself. Looks like you have a huge chip on your shoulder.
You are not macho just a pathetic keyboard warrior.

P.S. The title of the thread is the Lake District. FYI it is in the UK.
 
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Yes, I think this is acceptable behaviour.
I did say " Pardon me if I have this wrong " you decided to not pardon me, so be it. I read your post after reading about this double booking holiday practice and then cancelling one on the BBC. Do you agree this is selfish behaviour of the highest order ?
 
Sorry if I’ve caused confusion. The reason I quoted the BBC article was in reply to the higher prices part of the quote as a possible reason if accommodation providers are expecting a high number of late cancellations if they are offering no deposit bookings and foreign travel opens ipPerhaps I should of cut down the quote to stop any confusion.

At no point did I think @Peter123 had double booked two places on the same dates like the people in the article.

We often book a few days at the start of the week in one part of the Lake District and extend it to a week by booking a different place in another part for the end of the week. I took as Peter was doing the same as we do.

sorry again for causing confusion.
 
badlywornroy said:
Yes, I think this is acceptable behaviour.
I did say " Pardon me if I have this wrong " you decided to not pardon me, so be it. I read your post after reading about this double booking holiday practice and then cancelling one on the BBC. Do you agree this is selfish behaviour of the highest order ?
Click to expand...

You are hereby pardoned.
 
TG. said:
not to isolated, some decent restaurants etc but at the same time not overcrowded
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You either get near the amenities and the crowds or you go isolated and no pubs/restaurants. Kendal is my nearest town and my brother lives near Cockermouth so I am pretty familiar with both and TBH Cockermouth is looking a bit run down. Kendal is quite a nice town and cheaper than central lakes but doesn't really feel like you are in the lakes. If you want to be in amongst it then Ambleside or Keswick are the hot spots. If you want somewhere a bit quieter then Coniston is pretty good, a few pubs, cafes, etc. close to Langdale and not too far from other popular places.
 
Peter123 said:
You are hereby pardoned.
Click to expand...

Thank you,

In my defence there was another post from rob-nikon highlighting the current trend of "double-booking breaks" immediately under your post that said " Well we’ve booked a couple of different places first week in June " plus I did preface my thoughts with " " Pardon me if I have this wrong "
Shame you had to resort to name calling !
Depressing to discover at 74 that I'm not macho but just a pathetic keyboard warrior. :D
 
If you are in a car and want to see as much of the lakes as possible Ambleside is a well placed hub to travel out from each day.
 
I'd say Ambleside or Keswick.

If you want to save a few quid, Penrith may be worth a look.
 
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