Things To See & Do
Plan a magnificent drive over mountain passes such as Kirkstone and Wrynose. Affording the most tremendous views but not for the faint hearted, these are some of the steepest roads in England.
The Honister Slate Mine offers a variety of underground mine tours and fascinating insight into the area’s industrial and social heritage, an excellent diversion on a rainy day. If you are in the mood for more active adventure, try your hand at the Via Ferrata (Iron Way) – a guided ascent of the mountain using the original miners’ track up the precipitous outer incline, with the addition of a continuous cable making the climb achievable and safe for everyone. Myers Head Lead mine in Patterdale offers a more sedate experience: only being active for a few years before it was abandoned in the 1870s, this historical site is quite intact.
Find out how your favourite tipple is made with a visit to a craft brewery, such as Jennings near Cockermouth or Keswick Brewery, or if you prefer whisky, drop into the brand new Lakes Distillery, the largest whisky distillery in England.
Beyond the Lake District’s quaint stone villages and tea rooms, explore the Georgian port of Whitehaven or the pretty beach resort of St Bees with its important clifftop nature reserve.
Travelling To & Around
The major route from the south and the north to the Lake District is the M6 motorway. From the motorway there are several A roads that lead into different areas of the Lakes.
The Lake District can also be reached by train: the West Coast mainline connects Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle with London and Glasgow, while local trains call at Kendal, Staveley and Windermere. A route follows the Cumbrian coastline from Carlisle to Maryport, Whitehaven and Barrow in Furness.
Manchester is the nearest airport, offering connections by train and road into the heart of the Lakes.
There are local bus services but to fully appreciate the dramatic landscapes, we recommend exploring by car.
