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Cumbria & the Lakes
'No part of the country is more distinguished by its sublimity', mused the grand old bard of the lakes, William Wordsworth, and a couple of centuries on, his words still ring true. For natural splendour, nowhere in England can compare to the Lake District. For centuries, poets, painters and perambulators alike have been flocking here in search of inspiration and escape, and it's still the nation's favourite place to revel in the majesty of the English landscape.
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Must-see attractions
The Lake District
Two miles south of Hawkshead, in the tiny village of Near Sawrey, this idyllic farmhouse was purchased in 1905 by Beatrix Potter and was used as…
Cumbria & the Lakes
Three miles east of Cartmel on the B5278, Holker Hall has been the family seat of the Cavendish family for nigh on four centuries. Though parts of it date…
The Lake District
The poet William Wordsworth's most famous residence in the Lake District is undoubtedly Dove Cottage, but he actually spent a great deal more time at…
Dove Cottage & The Wordsworth Museum
The Lake District
On the edge of Grasmere, this tiny, creeper-clad cottage (formerly a pub called the Dove & Olive Bough) was famously inhabited by William Wordsworth…
Cumbria & the Lakes
Carlisle's brooding, rust-red castle lurks on the north side of the city. Founded around a Celtic and Roman stronghold, the castle's Norman keep was added…
The Lake District
The poet William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 at this handsome Georgian house at the end of Main St. Built around 1745, the house has been…
Cumbria & the Lakes
This sprawling country estate once belonged to one of the Lake District's most venerable families and is currently undergoing a huge, multimillion-pound…
The Lake District
Windermere gets its name from the old Norse, Vinandr mere (Vinandr's lake; so 'Lake Windermere' is actually tautologous). Encompassing 5.7 sq miles…
Attractions
Top picks from our travel experts
Wild walks, crumbling castles, Michelin-starred restaurants and more of Cumbria’s best experiences
Keswick
One of only four Lakeland fells above 915m (3000ft), the great hump of Skiddaw (931m) dominates Keswick's northern skyline. It's a long, steep and tiring…
The Lake District
Founded in 1796 by the inveterate Victorian collector William Todhunter, this mixed-bag museum features everything from stuffed beasts and transfixed…
Cumbria & the Lakes
In the coastal town of Whitehaven, this intriguing museum explores the town's maritime history. It's split into four levels: floor 1 hosts temporary…
Cumbria & the Lakes
The Simon Rogan effect has rippled out across Cartmel and you'll be treated to posh pub grub at this old village inn. Exposed beams, worn wood and a…
Cumbria & the Lakes
Five-and-a-half miles south of Whitehaven and 1½ miles north of the tiny town of St Bees, this wind-battered headland is one of Cumbria's most important…
Cumbria & the Lakes
'The Anvil' is run by the wildly imaginative chef Simon Rogan (often dubbed Cumbria's answer to Heston Blumenthal), and is without doubt Cumbria's best…
Cumbria & the Lakes
This budget museum explores Whitehaven's rum-running history through a mix of waxwork models and dioramas, including an 18th-century sugar workshop and a…
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Articles
Latest stories from Cumbria & the Lakes
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Hiking
Wild walks, crumbling castles, Michelin-starred restaurants and more of Cumbria’s best experiencesJul 25, 2022 • 8 min read
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