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The Lake District. Things to do off the beaten track?

mod

mod

A modernist
I’ve been a few times before but not for several years and it would be nice to do things a little different and away from the hordes if possible but any tips would be welcome to be honest as you are bound to mention places I’ve never been before.

Are there things to do off the beaten track in The Lakes in the summer? Hidden beauty spots, pubs, historic sites etc.

Me and the missus are off for a week in June (no kids). We are staying in a Yurt in Great Langdale (near Grasmere) for 4 nights and then 3 nights in a B&B near Lake Coniston but willing to travel anywhere to see things.

Thanks in advance.
 
The horseshoe just north of ambleside.

If its a nice day walk up the valley between the two sides of the shoe. There are some really nice big pools for swimming and zero tourists. The walk starts at rhydal church.

That's local knowledge ;)
 
Supine said:
The horseshoe just north of ambleside.

If its a nice day walk up the valley between the two sides of the shoe. There are some really nice big pools for swimming and zero tourists. The walk starts at rhydal church.

That's local knowledge ;)
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Perfect. Thanks.
 
Found these tips somewhere else....

Chapel Stile is a great location, but if you're going there in July and want to get away from the crowds, then it might not be ideal.

Elterwater is a pleasant little lake and easily reachable from Chapel Stile. It's a lot less crowded than some places, but you're still not going to have it to yourself at this time of year.

You might want to go for a stroll up Little Langdale. It's not too far from Chapel Stile, and is far less visited than Great Langdale.

Don't even think about walking up the Langdale Pikes if you want to escape the crowds!

One of my favourite "secret" spots (OK, not very secret, but at least not on the main tourist routes) is Angle Tarn. To get to my Angle Tarn, you need to drive to Hartsop, just below the south end of Ullswater. There's then a pleasant walk up there (some uphill, but nothing too strenuous), and IMHO it's a truly beautiful spot.

It's not, however, the most convenient place to get to from Chapel Stile, especially if there's much traffic on the roads.
 
A walk from hodge close quarry up to cathedral cave is also great. You need a torch to get into the cave because it's a 400m tunnel to enter it. It's rather exciting.
 
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Most things in the Lake District are quite well known as such an influx of visitors- Ravenstonedale on the edge of the lakes is a wonderful place- we camped there last year- the best pub ever with literally acres of beer garden with red squirrels, a bbq on weekends, hammocks between trees, a river running through it etc. Hardknott Pass is incredible but can be tricky driving- a stunning Roman fort there. Swinside is a stunning stone circle, all the better for it's remoteness and wonderful surroundings- a great place for a decent walk- near Dalton in Furness. The Ravenglass and Eskdale mini railway is so much fun and there is a good pub at the end of it in Boot ( well, there was a few years ago) and Muncaster castle is not off the beaten track really but the views are stunning and there are owls and stuff.
The Golden Rule pub in Ambleside is a proper cosy old pub not Gastropubbed up to the eyeballs as so many other pubs are and the Eagle and Child in Stavely is a similar lovely place which also does food.
The Brewery in Kendal has a lovely big outdoor area and bands and bbqs in summer but not remotely off the beaten track. If it not too far, I live near and utterly love the Trough of Bowland. You can walk all day and not see a soul. Stunning. Slaidburn lies within it, an ancient village with a great pub called the Hark to Bounty.
Enjoy :)
 
Around Eskdale is brill, and comparatively quiet. A nice cycle route too, if that's your bag.

Around Ennerdale, and up Red Pike, is great. Low Gillerthwaite is a Dark Sky Discovery site, too.
 
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belboid said:
Around Eskdale is brill, and comparatively quiet. A nice cycle route too, if that's your bag.

Around Ennerdale, and up Red Pike, is great. Low Gillerthwaite is a Dark Sky Discovery site, too.
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Yeah we are taking our bikes. Fantastic. thanks.
 
I like the Ravenglass to Eskdale steam train, then a bit of a stroll to The Woolpack Inn. I can't say it's not touristy, because it absolutely is, but it's a lovely thing to do.
 
The Green Housekeeper in Coniston does a Supper Club ( byob) and it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. You might need to book though.
 
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belboid said:
Oh, and do go up the Langdale Pikes, they may be busy, but they're one of the most beautiful places on earth.
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...yep. And once you get past the tarn it quietens down a fair bit with a multitude of routes available.

The Stickle Barn at the bottom is ok, but the ODG is my choice for a post walk pint.

The Fairfield Horseshoe behind Amblesude is a classic walk. Worth putting up with the other walkers for.

The Hawkshead Bewery in Stavely is excellent.
 
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Skype Farm campsite
between Buttermere and Crummock Water is great and far from the crowds being on the West side of the lakes. Almost no mobile reception it's brilliant and the pubs nice too.

Haystacks is the nearest well known walk but there are plenty of other peaks e.g. Red Pike
 
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was just going to post about the castlerigg stone circle but it has already been mentioned. avoid windermere totally, too busy, feels a bit like a country side theme park. keswick is more pleasent and there is lovely little walks and cycle rides round the bottom of skiddaw. I had one of my favourite days ever on that mountin. Woke up early in the morning camping half way up it with the mist below us and the sun coming up was truly beautiful.

Ambleside is nice for a little mooch about too. There is some lovely pubs in ambleside and you will get good food, from where you are staying it should be a nice cycle ride there but you will want to be heading back while it is still light because of the roads. The golden rule is one of our favourite pubs in the world.

Hope you enjoy your trip and there is some lovely weather for you :)
 
Thanks again for all the tips. We are off on Sunday and will be doing some of the things suggested.
 
Go up past Windermere and do a right at the roundabout around 500 yards and tun on to kirkstone pass and up to ullswater and pooley bridge. Up this road is Aira falls, pay in the carpark and walk up to the waterfall it's all ace. I think wordsworth lost his wife at these falls, i'm not 100% though.

If you want real out of the way and a shit scary road, follow windermere as if to go to the west bank, go right at the hardnott pass/wrynose pass and follow the road all the way to Wastwater, this is proper lake district, 6 miles to the nearest shop. you can camp around there and the scree's are awesome, Englands deepest water which has claimed many lives due to it being used for diving a lot. 6 miles away the nearest shop is in a village called gosforth, this is where Derick bird went on the rampage. Wastwater is my fave part of the lakes. Hardknott pass and wrynose pass are the best driving experience i have ever had. Check it out on you tube.
 
Thinking about going up to Ravenglass this summer... anyone know somewhere nice to stay?
 
Bingo said:
Thinking about going up to Ravenglass this summer... anyone know somewhere nice to stay?
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Ravenglass is kinda cute, but I'd stay somewhere else to be honest. Maybe Eskdale Green or Wasdale. Or up at the other end of the railway, try the Brook House Inn - 185 malts on offer, and at very reasonable prices too.
 
Far Eastern lakes are almost always empty.

Northern fells are fucking deserted. But with better reason than the far eastern.

Loweswater has tremendous empty / alone walking.

Setting off before dawn can lead to some breathtaking walks without seeing another human being for hours.

I’ve walked Helvellyn multiple times whilst seeing <5 people :thumbs:
 
bimble said:
I’m in Windermere today. It’s a bit shit isn’t it. Gentle rain on twee things. :(
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Try some smaller fells? Hallin fell is lovely. And tiny. Great / little mell fell can both be bagged in drizzle.

Go for a drive? Whinlatter, buttermere, honister; or over Wrynose and Hardknott, then up / over the coast and over the northern fells? (Alt. Cutting down to Buttermere by lamplight / loweswater then over Honister - wouldn’t bother with Whinlatter unless it’s a route somewhere).
 
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