The Lake District

The Lake District, also simply known as The Lakes is located in the northwest of England.  The area is known for its many lakes, forests, and mountains.  This popular tourist destination was designated a National Park in 1951, making it the 2^nd national park in the United Kingdom. More than 15 million people travel to the area annually to take in the beauty of the surroundings.

The Lakes area is shared by the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire in what is now called Cumbria.  This area is the highest in all of England and is 3,000 feet above sea level.  Located in the National Park is the highest mountain in all of England, Scafell Pike.  The deepest and longest lakes in England are also located in the National Park, Wastwater and Windermere.

The area of The Lakes has over 3,500 kilometers that are perfect for walking, cycling or riding a bike.  You can walk for free at over 55% of the National Park due to funding from Open Access and CROW. You can do this at your own pace and you can either choose to stroll along the coasts of one of the many lakes or rivers or go on a more challenging hike to get your blood pumping. If biking is something you would love to do there are places to rent one and you can head out and explore the forests at your leisure. With the abundance of lakes and rivers there are also boat and kayak rentals.

There’s also quite a bit if history at your fingertips when you travel to The Lakes. In the Central Lake District there is the Eskdale Mill.  It is thought to have been built in the mid 1500’s.  The mill uses water power to grind down corn. There was a second waterwheel added in the 18^th century. Today the Eskdale Mill is the oldest working corn mill in England. There are Roman Empire ruins that were built in the 2^nd century to explore. These ruins were built during Hadrian’s reign and are well preserved due to their remote setting.  You will be able to see the barracks, commandant’s house, parade ground and the bath house if you venture out to the ruins. The Lakes is a great place to explore nature in all her glory as well as take a step back in time and see some of the historical aspects of the area.