Lake District National Park Travel Forum

Hi all
My wife and I are in the process of planning a driving holiday around the UK this coming summer. Our itinerary, at the moment is to leave Sussex where we live and drive to Wales and the Snowdonia National Park, spending a few days touring around the park before driving on to the Lake District, where we will spend another few days, and then driving onto the Yorkshire Dales, where we will spend another few days, before heading south and home, a total of about 12 to 14 days.
My question is, ?if you have been to any of the above locations, which routes would you recommend that give the most spectacular views and are there any little villages that you thought were out of this world and well worth a visit?.
Thank you for any help.

Hi

My parents live in the Lake District so whenever I go up there I always make them drive over Hardknott Pass and Honister Pass. The views from up there are fantastic and you don't even have to even leave your car and climb one of the fells! However I wouldn't recommend it for campervans or caravans, and the passes get very busy over the summer so it can be a stop/start journey since the passes are quite narrow and very bendy!! If you did fancy stopping off for a quick walk with spectacular views then a good place is Border End from the top of Hardknott. It's a short but pretty steep climb but on a clear day you get great views over the Scafells and the back of the Langdales. Another lovely drive is through Borrowdale and also Buttermere Valley (accessed by Honister Pass).

A word of warning: if you're looking for a peaceful driving holiday with scenic views avoid the real touristy areas of Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere - a TOTAL nightmare in the summer!

Have fun

K-Bob

I live in a village called Gosforth (Lake District), and it is sometimes missed by tourists wanting to see the more popular locations. I would recommend you do a loop around the Lakes, calling in to see Wastwater (which is not on a main track, you will have to pass through my village to get to it!), then head on to Ennerdale... then Cockermouth (Wordsworth country), and to Keswick, passing alongside Bassenthwaith. Keswick is a nice town to stop into - very touristy, but well worth a visit. Check out Ye Old Friars sweet shop for some old fashioned favourites! Then continue your drive south via Ambleside and Windermere.

I'm sure there are plenty of other places to visit, but these are my favourites and it makes for a nice drive. You could get all that done in a long day, but it wouldn't give you much time to stop and explore. There are also loads of nice roads off the main roads to get those spectacular photographs, but as a guide, the loop is where i would start. My favourite view is that of Wastwater... there's a photo on my homepage which i took if you want to get an idea...

Hope that helps!?

Rachel.

In the Lakes I would visit Wasdale and Buttermere/ Crummack Water areas as well as the Duddon Valley. They are all a lot quieter than the eastern side of the area.

In the Yorkshire Dales you must visit Swaledale especially Muker, Gunnerside and Reeth. Get out and do some walks around there as the meadows are stunning in Summer. Other vilages worth visiting are Clapham (walk to the caves there), Dent, Hawes and Kettlewell.