Lake District tips

Hi

We want to spend a few days in the Lake District this weekend and are wondering about good places to stay (at reasonable prices) - I prefer B&B but would consider good hotels. I'm also wondering about biking in the area - we will not have a car and plan to take a train into the area. I've read on this site that you can rent bikes there fairly easily. Experiences and tips?

thanks

Ron

Sorry you've not got any response yet, Ron.  Just wanted to say that Ambleside is a really good base for the Lake District & there are loads of tourist accommodations & amenities there.  I am sure you could find everything you need - and places to stay at a variety of prices.

http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/amble.htm

I'd second Ambleside as a base. If you are taking the train, I assume that you are getting off at Kendal (Oxenholme) or Penrith? I think Kendal is closer to Ambleside but not sure off the top of my head. From Kendal, you can get the train to Windermere but from there I think you'd need a bus or taxi to Ambleside.

We used to live there, though, so no need for B&Bs, but I do recall seeing a lot of bike rental facilities.

...to Windermere but from there I think you'd need a bus or taxi to Ambleside.

You can also take a boat from Windermere to Ambleside!

True!!

And yes, Kendal is closer to Ambleside so if the whole Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere area is what you are after, Kendal is your stop of choice.

Another lovely village is Keswick but you definitely need to rely on a car/bus/taxi to get there.

The Lake District is beautiful, especially in early Autumn.

Tips ... well, the main transport hub is Windermere, as there is a train station there and lots of buses and boats to whizz you around.  However, it's a pretty busy place, and quite touristy, with all the good and bad that brings.

If you want somewhere a bit quieter, I'd second the others' recommendation for Ambleside - a short bus/boat ride or cycle from Windermere.

Otherwise, Keswick is a really nice market town in the northern part of the Lakes.

If you are really into biking, you might want to get the train to Grange on Sands (quaint genteel seaside resort) and cycle up into the Lakes from there, via Coniston, and then pick up the train in Windermere at the end of your ride.  It'd be a long ride though!

Have a look at the National Park's website for the official 'non-commercial' view on what to see, how to travel and where to go.

I've stayed at the Ees Wyke Country House and I highly recommend it! It was Beatrix Potter's childhood holiday home and is an easy walk to Hilltop - if you're into that sort of thing! It's not too far from Ambleside or Windermere and has gorgeous views.

I live right near the Lake District.

This b&b in Windermere is wonderful: http://www.southviewwindermere.co.uk/tour1.html

I've been to Kendal quite a number of times, especially as that is where my church is located. Grasmere is nice and quaint.

I hope you have a lovely time!

Thanks to everyone for your tips. The places with good ratings on tripadvisor.com were all booked, so we called the Windermere tourist info centre. We stayed in Windermere at a B&B called Ravensworth, which was clean and well located (though also had traffic noise and not the most comfortable bed). We spent the first day hiking around Keswick, the second around Aira Force (waterfall) and Glenridding (Ullswater), and the third biking the west side of lake Windermere. We were amazed by the scenery in this area - at the top of our UK list now - and we had a great time overall. Now I just need to recover from all the hiking and biking (and spending)!

ron