Post # 1
Member
483 posts
Helper bee
Hey Bees
My fiance and I are getting married in his hometown in Yorkshire and will be taking a short honeymoon up to the Lakes District, just to get away for a few days (bearing in mind we will have travelled all the way from New Zealand for the wedding, so somewhere local suited us fine). We are also intending on stopping in Hawaii on our way home, which I guess is like the second part to our honeymoon (although I REALLY want to go back to Dubai….but my Mum doesn’t feel safe with all that’s going on in the Middle East at the moment :().
We are going to be staying in a cute country inn/pub in High Newton which isn’t far from Lake Windemere. We’ll be there in December, just before Christmas, so outdoor activities are probably going to be minimal. I just wondered if any of you are familiar with the area, or have any suggestions for what we might do, even if it’s just a brisk walk or a scenic drive somewhere? We will probably spend the rest of the time drinking wine by the fire!! Haha. We had thought about doing a roadtrip around Scotland, but decided it would be best to do that during summer.
Thanks in advance. 🙂
Post # 2
Member
2797 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: May 2015 - St Peter\'s Church, East Maitland, and Bella Vista, Newcastle
We were there last June and even then it wasn’t all that warm so I would imagine December will be freezing! Beatrix Potter’s house and Wordsworth House (where he was born) are both nearby although I’m not sure if they’re open in December. The World of Beatrix Potter should be though. There’s also a stone circle not far from Keswick – this one https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlerigg_stone_circle – which is just in a paddock off the road so should be accessible in winter.
Post # 3
Member
150 posts
Blushing bee
There is LOADS to do in The Lake District! If you’re going to windemere then you can get on a boat to take you across to Ambleside which is very pretty, nice scenic walks around there etc. There is also a steam railway in Windemere. Just google ‘things to do in the lake district’ or ‘things to do in Windemere’. You’ll have a lovely time!
Post # 4
Member
11 posts
Newbee
I went there last year and took the steam train and boat trip then went to the Beatrix potter house which was a nice day out. I also did a walk around one of the lakes (can’t remember which one though) it was 11 miles in total we wrapped up warm and had a picnic there it was lovely. We also walked up scarfrel pike. As it’s going to be December id opt for the fire but loads to do there if you wanted to
Post # 5
Member
32 posts
Newbee
My two thoughts are both food-related, as eating is my main past-time in December 🙂
1. Grasmere gingerbread is SO DELICIOUS, I would definitely recommend a visit to pick some up.
2. We did not do much food research in advance and had some BAD meals in Ambleside. So maybe pre-booking some nicer, well rated places would be a good idea (for ideas:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destination/uk/69223/The-Lake-District-restaurants.html)
Drinking wine by the fire sounds like a great idea! Maybe even afternoon tea + something fizzy!
Have a great time.
Post # 6
Member
1546 posts
Bumble bee
I like Windemere just to stroll or drive around and I agree Grasmere gingerbread is great so definitely worth going to. Another place I quite like is Kendal, its not small but it has some great chocolate cafes that are cosy to just sit inside with a fancy hot chocolate and cake (specifically visit the ‘1657 Chocolate House’ https://chocolatehouse1657.co.uk/about-us/ ). As far as pretty views, go to Wastwater lake which is surrounded by mountains (in winter they should be snowcapped) and shows a good view of Scafell Pike which is the highest mountain in England.
Post # 7
Member
483 posts
Helper bee
Thanks for your suggestions Bees; a little bit of an update. Fiance and I changed our mind regarding the accommodation in High Newton and instead have booked our accommodation at The Queen’s Head Inn, Hawkshead Village. It looks so quaint and pretty and looks like an ideal spot for a romantic few days away!
Kate127: I will definitely be checking that out! I am a chocolate fiend from WAY back!
coraly: I love gingerbread! Will definitely be picking some of that up!
KiwiDerbyBride: Thank you for the tip on the stone circle! Ever since reading Cross-Stitch by Diana Gabaldon, I have wanted to see a real stone circle! The one on the Isle of Harris and Lewis at Stornoway is the one I want to see the most.
Post # 8
Member
292 posts
Helper bee
There’s a new distillery at Bassenthwaite that makes Lakeland gin, vodka and whisky. They do tours and have a nice restaurant which is meant to be very nice (I can on,y vouch for the gin!):
http://www.lakesdistillery.com/en/
Aira Force is a nice waterfall at the end of a nice easy walk.
You could visit Honister and look at the slate – it’s very famous (in slate circles!) as England’s last working slate mine.
Buttermere is a lovely lake, and quite an easy walk if it’s a nice day, and the village is very traditional Cumbrian.
Keswick and Cockermouth are both nice towns – half my family is based in and around Cockermouth so i’m biased, but they’re a bit less tourist trap-y than Kendal or Ambleside (not that they aren’t lovely, and actually should be a lot better in the winter than in the height of summer!)
Make sure you have Cumbrian sausage!
DO NOT go out on the fells unless you’re properly prepared and the weather is (and is expected to remain) good! My friend is in Mountain Rescue there and the number of times he has to rescue people who gone up the fells in trainers and got caught in bad weather is ridiculous!
Post # 9
Member
483 posts
Helper bee
PoppyRose: Thank you so much for this info! That distillery looks beautiful, we will definitely be making a trip up there.
As we are only staying for 3 nights, what would you say are the “must do’s”? Weather dependant of course, we would love to do some walks and see the pretty scenery. I’m quite excited about going to the Beatrix Potter gallery too! 🙂
Post # 10
Member
886 posts
Busy bee
whytneynicole: As other bees have said, there’s loads to do!
Scenic drives might be difficult if there’s ice or snow but if there isn’t, you could drive over to ullswater quite easily. En route stop in grasmere for the gingerbread (they have cute giftshops and galleries as well). Then you could go up ‘the struggle’ and the kirkstone pass (weather permitting, it’s too dangerous if there’s ice) over to ullswater where the waterfall airaforce is. The views from the kirkstone pass are amazing!! And then you get the gingerbread and a walk in there too!
Ive been to a spa in grasmere called the daffodil hotel: great food and the spa treatments were lovely! I went with SO who is not at all into that sort of thing but both enjoyed it 🙂
Ambleside and Bowness are both lovely but a little bit too touristy for my liking. If you do go to Bowness there is a great restaurant called Porto (I think) which I really recommend.
Post # 11
Member
886 posts
Busy bee
As others have said, buttermere and coniston are quieter lakes than Windermere and the villages tend to be more authentic. To be honest, you won’t be able to see everything you want while you are there. I go to the Lake District multiple times a year and still find new places I love whenever I visit.