The lake district is one of the loveliest vacation spots in England and holidaying in one of the many cottages in the lake district is more popular then ever before this year in Cumbria. However, if you go during the high season, and stay on and around Lake Windermere, it can be an extremely crowded place where its beauty may be compromised by flocking tourists… If you like crowds that’s fine, but if not, you can either go during non-peak times or else branch out a bit. Non peak times are ok if your schedule is flexible but many people don’t have that option, so what I prefer is to go to Coniston Water instead of staying on Windermere.
Coniston is every bit as pretty as Windermere but for some reason seems to have fewer visitors. Coniston has many items of interest, such as the home of the artist John Ruskin and the lake was the site of several speed records that were set by Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald. Donald was tragically killed during one of the attempts to set a new record. In addition, the popular children’s series, Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome was based on many features on and around Coniston. The island called Wildcat Island in the books is based on Peel Island in Consiton, and it’s possible to swim to Peel Island from the shore, or if a person is feeling less adventuresome, perhaps convince a local youth to ferry them over in a small boat.
The water is very cold most of the year, so swimming might not be the best choice! In addition to the lake, there are several peaks around the district that afford wonderful hiking trails, and the views from the tops are lovely (unless the fog has obscured everything of course). Fog on the fells can come in quickly and cause the hiker to become disoriented so it’s important to be aware of the weather and to be prepared in case of fog.
There are of course many colourful and interesting shops and restaurants in the area, but not all are open year round, so if you are there during the off season it’s best to check ahead if you have a particular spot in mind. There are also many lovely Bed and Breakfast establishments, many directly on the water and very reasonably priced, but the best digs have to be lake district cottages as these offer peace and a place to escape the other travellers. As an added treat, for the fans of Swallows and Amazons, the house that Arthur Ransome used as a basis for the farm where the Swallows stayed in the book is an actual farm which operates as a Bed and Breakfast on the bank of Coniston Water.
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