Suitable locations to stay in the Lake District?

MattD

Want to take my girlfriend up there in October as a surprise. She loves cottages and the area looks really nice.
We're early twenties and on a somewhat smallish budget.

Found some nice places but they seem to be outside of the area, most being on this red line...



Now this seems to be a 50 min drive to the middle of the lake district. Is this to far out? Seems like quite a way but I dont know if this is the norm? Perhaps places in the heart of it are expensive?
Also, bit of a problem if we want a drink isnt it..

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Got my eye on a place just out of Maryport at the moment

Baldybonce

If you like remote but with a couple of pubs within walking distance, Boot in Eskdale is nice. From there you can drive over Hardknott pass to Ambleside, Windermere and Keswick. Ravenglass on the coast is nice to.

MattD

Baldybonce said:

If you like remote but with a couple of pubs within walking distance, Boot in Eskdale is nice. From there you can drive over Hardknott pass to Ambleside, Windermere and Keswick. Ravenglass on the coast is nice to.

Found a couple in boot actually! It seems a lot closer yet the drive time to Keswick is suggested at an hour? any reason why its so long

Baldybonce

It's a long windy route through the mountains, some places single lane.

MattD

Baldybonce said:

It's a long windy route through the mountains, some places single lane.

Good views though?

Baldybonce

Best in the lakes.

MattD

Baldybonce said:

Best in the lakes.

thanks mate!

All_Thaid_Up

Go to Ambleside. You can go to the football museum as well - actually scrap that just googled and it closed in 2011.

Shows you the last time I was there

McBobbin

Stayed in a guest house in Keswick which is nice. Mums from Kendall which is nice too. If you'll Iike cottages plenty of random villages around. Spent many an Easter holiday there whilst rain hammered the car windows

A-R-T-H-U-R

Camp and snuggle.
Caravan club Derwent highly recommended

Fiiish

I stayed in Hawkshead. Great pubs, great location, very close to the lakes.

Mendonca In Asdas

If you go to grange over sands.... keep driving!

Uboat

It takes ages to get anywhere in the lake district, so just pick one place and concentrate on that. The good news is that it's all beautiful, apart from the south west area in your circle by coast, where the town's aren't so nice. Just get anywhere you can afford in the national park and you'll have a great time. Keswick, Windemere and Ambleside are the main towns, but I find the latter two a bit touristy (Scousers in tracksuits). If you want spectacular scenery I would say the north is a bit better, but it's all pretty charming.

AddickRam

Got a caravan in a village called Bassenthwaite which is near Keswick and Cockermouth has a pub Sun Inn lovely food.

For budget and more options better looking at camping, glamping or renting a lodge/caravan then a cottage.

Absolutely beautiful. The seaside towns like Workington Whitehaven are a bit run down. Depends on what you plan to do.

Imissthepeanutman

Personally I would avoid the half term week(s) in October as its probably the busiest period in the lakes of the whole year and can be quite difficult to park lakeside even in remote areas. I love Keswick and the area around derwent water. The high demand can often mean high prices and places that were once ordinary country pubs have gone a bit ponsy bistro and like all tourist areas the service can sometimes be a bit take it or leave it. But having said all that with the right autumn weather it's stunning. Enjoy.

Uboat

Imissthepeanutman said:

Personally I would avoid the half term week(s) in October as its probably the busiest period in the lakes of the whole year and can be quite difficult to park lakeside even in remote areas. I love Keswick and the area around derwent water. The high demand can often mean high prices and places that were once ordinary country pubs have gone a bit ponsy bistro and like all tourist areas the service can sometimes be a bit take it or leave it. But having said all that with the right autumn weather it's stunning. Enjoy.

Yes, the hotspots will be packed, so avoid Derwentwater/Ambleside. Bassenthwaite is a good shout for a slightly calmer experience.

bolloxbolder

Been to all the lakes and imo the most beautiful one is Buttermere. Also agree the north part of the lakes is best and less busy/commercialised.

stockholmaddick

Try Penrith lovely little town and have Premier inn and Travelodge which are reasonable prices for area .

BrentfordAddick

Don't camp. Camping is shit. That's all I have.

Imissthepeanutman

We have stayed at self catering apartments at low briery holiday village just outside Keswick. It's adjacent to the river Greta and if you avoid school holiday would set you back around £500 for a week. The apartments are part of a converted mill. I would doubt you would get your own cottage for a week for less than that. You can walk into Keswick along the old disused railway track. Quite a good location to also get south to grasmere/rydal or Ambleside or east to ullswater.

Baldybonce

Another vote for Low Briary. Our cottage was spotless.
As others have said avoid the school holidays.

danny777

I presume you both like walking.
Keswick is my favourite Lake District base, and the best introductory walk in the area is probably Cats Bell - you can extend it to make as long or short a walk as you like, and even combine it with a boat ride on Derwent Water. We've stayed at Gable Cottage, http://lakeandfell.co.uk which is a terraced house, quite central.
Ravenglass is also good, once you've got all the way there, and it's quiet. Don't forget to take cash, as it doesn't even have an ATM. Last year we went to Coniston, and had forgotten how beautiful that is. Basically, everywhere is good, but avoid Ambleside, Windermere, and half term unless you like traffic jams and crowds.
I'd look at sykescottages.co.uk/ and https://sallyscottages.co.uk/ .
Whatever you choose, enjoy.

Oggy Red

I'll back up what Danny777 has said above.

Been to the Lakes several times over the years and a while back, enjoyed a great week with friends based in a village not too far from Keswick - which is a nice enough town, with most amenities and plenty of pubs, shops, museum, etc if the weather turns against you.

All around is terrific walking country, with attractive and sometimes stunning scenery.
If you want to walk, most of it is fine for reasonably fit people, although some of the paths can be challenging on steep slopes as you go higher.

Always worth the effort, though.
As the Americans say, " ..... the view from the top is awesome".

One word of caution if you're on the hillsides - respect the weather at all times.
It's often wild and lonely country up there and the weather can quickly change, so be prepared with the right clothing and footwear, water and a bite to eat.

Leroy Ambrose

Queen's Head in Troutbeck. Stayed there on Saturday night for the Fred Whitton challenge (bike ride)

It's been refurbished and only reponed a couple of months ago. Absolutely outstanding

northstandsteve

The Snooty Fox Inn Uldale is lovely north to f the lakes, make sure you do Rhino's Pass, a great experience

Uboat

Wrynose, but I agree. Driving over Wrynose and Hardknott passes is quite an experience.