#brockhole

  Last week saw us pack the car up and head off to the Lake District for a well earned week away from the hustle and bustle that is our lives.

Normally when we go away we tend to head down south to the coast in Devon or Cornwall but I wanted to explore somewhere new, somewhere we’d never been, somewhere we could have a real adventure out in the wilds of the UK.

We chose well.

I really think the…

“I wandered lonely as a Cloud / That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills, / When all at once I saw a crowd / A host of dancing Daffodils; / Along the Lake, beneath the trees, / Ten thousand dancing in the breeze…….”

The most beautiful (for me at least) and one of the most famous poems in the English language written by William Wordsworth, one of the Lake Poets of the 19th century, inspired by a walk by Ullswater at the Lake District and the sight of laughing, golden daffodils.

This magnificent region of mountains, valleys, lakes and forests on the North-West of England is a popular holiday destination with all the high lands and mountains of England situated here, including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. The combination of lakes and mountains create stunning scenery with privately-owned farmlands and settlements adding further aesthetic value to the land including a rich wildlife habitat as well.

  Windermere

At Windermere, the largest natural lake in England, you can find Brockhole, the Lake District’s Visitor Centre, with its 30 acres of magnificent, terraced designer gardens stretching all the way down to the shores, surrounded by breath-taking countryside. There are plenty of places here for picnicking, relaxing and enjoying the magnificent views of the surrounding mountains against the lake.

There are also lake cruises operating from the Piers of Lakeside, Bowness and Waterhead, where you can choose from several cruises of different durations on one of the modern or traditional launches and steamers with some of them also stopping at Brockhole. In the Visitor Centre, there is an exhibition as well, where you can learn more about the history of the Lake District and enjoy stunning aerial photos of the area. There is also a nature adventure park here, The Treetop Treck, offering adrenaline packed fun for young and old alike. Other fun activities at Brockhole include – archery, kayaking, canoeing, cycling, mini golfing, pony riding, walking trails, birdwatching and much more.

At Lakeside, on the southern end of Windermere, you can find the Aquarium of the Lakes, where you can discover the fascinating wildlife of the magnificent waters of the National Park. The Aquarium is situated on the Pier, where you can arrive by boat from Waterhead or Bowness or you could travel on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, running from April till October through ever-changing scenes of lakes and rivers in the Leven Valley.

Ambleside, at the northern tip of Windermere, is a major tourist resort with numerous shops, hotels and restaurants, and is one of the best town bases for exploring the Lake District. A short walk from the town centre will lead you to Stock Ghyll Force, a spectacular waterfall tumbling down and passing under the famous Bridge House, probably the most photographed building of the Lake District, originally an apple storage. For art and poetry lovers, the Armitt Museum is worth visiting as well which has a collection of rare books, manuscripts, watercolours and archaeological items etc.

  Ullswater

This lovely lake, the second largest one in England, is surrounded by breath-taking mountains on the south and gentle, rolling hills on the north. The small village of Glenridding by the lake is a popular starting point for hikers and climbers going up Helvellyn, the third highest mountain in England; and the walk from Howtown to Glenridding is considered to be “the most beautiful of lake walks in the National Park”. You can also go on a steamer’s cruise from here or hire rowing boats, kayaks, canoes and bicycles in the summer months. There are also various shopping opportunities in the village, along with a selection of children- and dog-friendly accommodation.

The St Patrick’s Church in Patterdale is also worth a visit as well as the picturesque village of Pooley Bridge at the northeast end of the Lake and another small scenic village, called Dacre.

  Kirkstone Pass

This mountain pass, situated between Windermere and Ullswater, connecting Ambleside to Patterdale, is the Lake District’s highest pass. The trip from Ambleside to the top is called “The Struggle” for a reason, but it’s well worth the effort, as you will get your reward at the Kirkstone Pass Inn, England’s third highest pub, situated at the top and especially, on your descending journey where Brothers Water provides spectacular views of the surrounding land.

  Coniston Water

Coniston Water, one of the Lake District’s most beautiful lakes, is home to the Coniston Boating Centre, the best place for a water adventure with friends and family. Here you can choose from electric motor boats, rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards or if the winds are in your favour and with a bit of sailing experience, why not hire one of the sailing dinghies and explore the beauties Coniston Water has to offer. On your water adventure, you can amaze at the impressive “The Old Man of Coniston” mountain, cruise past John Ruskin’s house at Brantwood or head south towards Peel Island, one of the three islands on Coniston Water, for a wild swim and a great exploring place for the kids as well.

  Derwentwater

Another of the principal lakes, Derwentwater, is a place of considerable scenic value surrounded by hills with most of the slopes being extensively wooded and its southern shore being the entrance to the beautiful Borrowdale Valley. Keswick town is only a ten-minute walk from the lake with fascinating sights such as – Castlerigg, perhaps the most atmospheric and dramatic stone circles in Britain, thought to be some 1,000 years older than Stonehenge, with panoramic views of Helvellyn – the densely wooded Fitz Park, one of the most attractive urban parks in the UK – the Keswick Leisure Pool, a great fun for children with a wave machine and – the Puzzling Palace, a world of optical illusions, puzzles and brain teasers.

Keswick, the adventure capital of the Lakes, has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor activities as well from rock climbing to horse riding and much more. Visit the Keswick Outdoor Activity Centre and experience the thrills of rock and wall climbing, ghyll scrambling (scrambling through pools, down water-slides and even jumping-off waterfalls), archery, kayaking, canoeing, mountain walking and mountain biking or a woodland adventure park.

Tip – for a truly unique experience, visit the Honister Slate Mine, situated just 10 miles south of Keswick and enjoy a mine tour, a climb in the mine or sample the “Via Ferrata”, the “Iron Way”, climbing with the use of short tunnels, secure paths and ladders, bridges and wires fixed to the mountain and reach places where only eagles fly.

The Lake District National Park also has a number of breath-taking smaller lakes and picturesque villages, which are worth exploring as well, such as Wastwater, England’s deepest lake. The view from the south-west end of the lake was voted Britain’s Favourite View in 2007, taking in the lake and the surrounding mountains of Yewbarrow, Great Gable and Lingmell. Scafell Pike, the highest point of England, lies at the top of Lingmell, from where, on a clear day, you can have magnificent views ranging from the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland to Snowdonia in Wales.

If you are longing for a quieter holiday, visit the Northern Lakes tucked away on the north-west part of the National Park, which are probably the most peaceful.

Lovers of literature should visit Dove Cottage in Grasmere, where you can learn more about England’s most-loved poet, William Wordsworth, who lived there; and visit his grave in the churchyard.

Last week saw us pack the car up and head off to the Lake District for a well earned week away from the hustle and bustle that is our lives.

Normally when we go away we tend to head down south to the coast in Devon or Cornwall but I wanted to explore somewhere new, somewhere we’d never been, somewhere we could have a real adventure out in the wilds of the UK.

We chose well.

I really think the…

Last week we revealed our 15-year vision for the major redevelopment of Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre on the shores of Windermere for the Lake District National Park Authority.

The plan will transform Brockhole into an exciting taster hub for all the national park has to offer. The 30 acre park on the banks of Lake Windermere already attracts more than 230,000 visitors a year and new plans aims to enable Brockhole to attract 400,000 visitors a year and become financially self-sustaining by the end 2014.

We fell in love with this place when we started designing the award-winning Jetty - to be involved in such a scheme of great national and international significance in one of the most beautiful places in the world is a great honour for us. Plans include restoring the historic Thomas Mawson designed Arts and Crafts garden to its former glory, developing a purpose-built watersports centre offering starter sessions, and building a brand new, all-weather visitor centre to inspire people to explore and celebrate the Lakes.

All of this will add to the already popular attractions such as the Treetop Trek, pony rides, boat hire and hundreds of activities hosted by Brockhole all year round.

Adam Thomas, Brockhole Programme Director, has said: “Brockhole is the jewel in the crown for the Lake District National Park. I’m excited by the potential of the masterplan because it will help raise the profile and boost the economy of the area. “Our role with partners is to help attract more people to the Lake District and inspire them to explore this awe-inspiring landscape.

The Queen picked a perfect summers day to visit Brockhole last week, and we're proud to see she arrived via our beautiful new jetty!