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 Town / Village Listing:
 
Ambleside  
 
 
Askham Askham is a lovely village, and a real treat for anyone wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of tourist Lakeland. Found about five miles from Penrith, the village has a long main street lined with broad grassy banks and attractive houses, many of which are centuries old. Springtime is particularly striking in Askham, when the village is dressed in all the finery that the season has to offer.

You'll not find row after row of houses fronted by brightly coloured boards advertising bed and breakfast in Askham, nor will you be faced with the prospect of outdoor shops trying to gain a quick sale by intrusively spilling their wares out onto the street. Here you'll be greeted by a village seemingly suspended in time, where the dates above the houses offer testament to the unfaltering continuity of the place. This is a village to wander around at a somewhat leisurely pace, a place to soak up the peace and quiet, and to remind oneself that life hadn't always been pursued at our modern tempo.

At the lower end of the village is Askham Hall; a 14th century pele tower built to withstand attack from the Scottish armies who at the time were opposed to English rule in Scotland. The manor was acquired by Sir Thomas de Hellbeck and passed by marriage to the Swynburn family about the year 1314. In 1375 Edmund de Sandford came into possession. Two hundred years later in 1574, his descendant, Thomas Sandford transformed the tower into an Elizabethan mansion where the family remained until 1828 when it became the rectory for the parish of Lowther.
 
 
Boot  
 
 
Braithwaite  
 
 
Burnbanks In 1919 the Manchester Corporation Act was passed; authorising the building of a waterworks at Haweswater. The underlying aim of the project was to provide yet another source of water to the ever expanding city of Manchester, so again they looked to the Lake District to satisfy their needs.
 
 
Buttermere  
 
 
Caldbeck  
 
 
Calder Bridge Calder Bridge is found on the A595 between Gosforth and Egremont and unfortunately it has the feel of one of those places that you always seem to just drive through. Somewhere you'd never really need to go for its own sake.

At one time the village had a selection of shops and other businesses to support the local community. Sadly, and as with so many other country places this on the decline, with Calder Bridge currently retaining one shop, two public houses, a garage and a sawmill.
The church, St Bridget's was locked when I tried to get some photos, but what I do know is that it was built in 1842 by Thomas Irwin of Calder Abbey. In 1978 the then vicar retired and the parish was joined with Beckermet the vicarage was subsequently sold and now provides flats for the elderly.
 
 
Cartmell Cartmel’s religious history dates back to 677 when King Egfrith of Northumbria gave the village to St Cuthbert. Founded for ‘the regular canons of St. Augustine’, Cartmel Priory Church of St Mary and St Michael has been a focus for Christian worship for more than 800 years. It continues to serve as a centre for the local community and for the 60,000 pilgrims and tourists who visit each year.

At the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries the inhabitants of the village were given leave to keep their church “unplucked down”. Steeped in history and tradition, it has been preserved as one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England.

The impressive medieval Gatehouse (built in 1330) still dominates the square. Villagers once traded at the Market Cross and Fish Slabs situated by the water pump. They are still at the heart of the village that sits on the gently meandering river Eea.

Today the village offers a nice selection of shops, cafes and more then its fair share of picturesque, centuries old buildings. Definitely the perfect half day excursion for anyone holidaying in the southern half of the Lake District.

Horse racing at Cartmel dates back to 1856, but it is likely to have been a sport dating back to at least the middle of the fifteenth century when monks from the Priory would have entertained themselves by organising races on mules!
 
 
Chapel Stile  
 
 
Coniston  
 
 
Elterwater The village of Elterwater takes its name from Elpt Vatin, the Norse term for swan lake and developed as an industrial community through the influence of quarrying and gunpowder manufacturer. The gunpowder works was established alongside the fast flowing Langdale Beck in 1824 to supply local quarries and mines. Charcoal was used in large quantities and was obtained mainly from alder trees managed in local coppiced woodlands. These woodlands survive to this day but the gunpowder works ceased production after 1928 and the site is now occupied by a timeshare development.
 
 
Eskdale Green  
 
 
Finsthwaite Finsthwaite is found at the southern end of Windermere close to the site of the Stott Park Bobbin Mill; the last working bobbin mill in the Lake District, this one having been in operation from 1835 to 1971.

This is lovely quiet little village, just far enough from the tourist traps for it to have remained relatively unspoiled and un-crowded, yet Finsthwaite is still within reasonable reach for those who are pleased by the simpler charms of the countryside.
 
 
Glenridding  
 
 
Grange  
 
 
Grasmere  
 
 
Greendale Greendale is a small hamlet found along the road between Gosforth and the ever popular Wasdale Valley. The hamlet itself is made up of no more than a handful of houses / cottages, and although it's so close to one of the most desirable walking & climbing areas in the Lake District, it has remained unspoiled by modern development or expansion.

A couple of the houses in Greendale offer accommodation, which is ideally located for those wanting to visit England's highest mountain, deepest lake or perhaps, simply wanting to look at Britain's favourite view. The attractions found along Cumbria's west coast are also close at hand, including Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass, St Bees and Whitehaven. Even closer however, are the numerous walks that can be undertaken quite literally from the doorstep. The fells above Greendale (Buckbarrow, Seatallan and Middle Fell), if done on a single walk, will present an enjoyable half days' outing. Always worth a visit is the lovely Greendale Tarn; the source of Greendale Gill which runs under the bridge at Greendale, and found below Middle Fell in a somewhat boggy area of fellside.
 
 
Hartsop Hartsop is a lovely 'unspoilt' Lakeland village, and although found close to the busy main road between Patterdale and Kirkstone Pass, the village still retains an almost hidden quality to it. A walk through the tightly clustered community of 17th century farms and houses is about as close as you can get experiencing a typical dales village as it was a couple of centuries ago.

Originally known as Low Hartsop and possibly dating from the medieval period, the village has been involved in quite a few different industries over the years; ranging from the milling of corn, quarrying, lead mining and of course the wool trade. The ruined corn mill and lead mine can still be visited today. The only significant industries left today are farming and tourism. And having said that, the usual intrusive indications of tourism are kept well under control here.

As far as fell walking goes, Hartsop offers an incredible choice of places to explore. The ancient Roman route of High Street is within easy grasp, and once up onto the higher fells above the village you could easily spend a full day walking from one fell to the next. For those with the energy to walk a little further, you could happily use Hartsop as a starting point for walks on the opposite side of the valley taking in fells such as Middle Dodd, Dove Crag and Hartsop Above How; to name but a few. Of course we mustn't forget the valley itself. If it's a lower level walk you want then the route between Hartsop and Patterdale is a gorgeous route. This is one I regularly try to add onto the beginning or end of a walk I'm doing in the area.
 
 
Hawkshead  
 
 
Helton Helton is a lovely little village found in the north eastern corner of the Lake District between Askham and Bampton. The village is still within the Lake District, but thankfully lacks the trappings which are all to often evident in places found inside "the park".

At one time called Helton-Flecket, there a lots of lovely old buildings to see, many of which date as far back as the 1600s.

The ancient and fascinating landscape of Moor Divock is within easy walking distance of Helton. Easier still, is to drive from the village up onto the moor itself. Once there you can explore the many old cairns, stone circles and even walk over the moor to the ever popular village of Pooley Bridge. Be warned though, this is an extremely confusing landscape and definitely not a place to get lost, so keep your wits about you, and avoid it altogether when the cloud is down.
 
 
Howtown  
 
 
Kentmere  
 
 
Keswick Keswick is undoubtedly the main hub of activity for the Northern Lake District, offering visitors and locals everything from world class theatre to an unparalleled selection of outdoor activities. The town itself has a charm all of its own which will leave the visitor more than satisfied that they have had their expectations met.

Located between the northern end of Derwent Water and mighty fells of Skiddaw & Blencathra, the setting could not be more beautiful. The surrounding countryside has everything you could possibly ask for; high mountain passes, scenic rivers, lakes, picturesque dales with charming stone built villages and not forgetting the fells themselves. Notwithstanding all this, the chief jewel in Keswick’s crown is Derwent Water. Within easy walking distance of the town centre and by whatever standards you wish to compare, here you’ll find a beauty not easily equalled.

Although Keswick has a long history, it is often referred to as a Victorian market town. A market which continues to this day; held every Saturday in the very heart of the town. Along with the market, Keswick plays host to a wide selection of shops, cafes, tearooms, restaurants and pubs.

Whether you’re looking for the exhilaration of a more energetic visit, the chance to hit the shops or a relaxing time where you can forget about the stress of everyday life, then Keswick can certainly offer you exactly what you’re looking for.
 
 
Little Town  
 
 
Loweswater  
 
 
Mosedale  
 
 
Mungrisdale  
 
 
Nether Wasdale Nether Wasdale or Strands as it's often called, stands at the entrance to the ever popular valley of Wasdale. Although, to contradict myself a little, you don't actually need to pass through the village to gain entry to the dale. And in stark contrast to Wasdale itself, which is probably one of the most mountainous and rugged valleys on the Lake District, the area around Nether Wasdale offers an altogether gentler scene.

Sadly the village is one of those places people drive through and upon reaching the other end often feel obliged to say "there's nothing around here". I suppose this could be influenced by what people actually expect to find in a tiny Lakeland village like this, which is quite often nothing like reality. The first thing that comes to my mind is, if you compare the size of the place to the amount of accommodation on offer, it probably has more choice than many major cities. And if it's food you're after, again the choice is first-rate. Personally the "nothing around here" argument falls apart when you begin to explore the countryside in the immediate area of the village. The farmland is criss-crossed with a host of footpaths and lanes, most of which are easy enough to link together to create a wide selection of lower level walks.

For obvious reasons I've never stayed anywhere in the Lake District, but I should imagine this would be an ideal place for visitors to set up base as it offers an escape from the overcrowded parts of the park, yet remains within easy reach of two popular valleys - Wasdale and Eskdale.
 
 
Patterdale  
 
 
Pooley Bridge  
 
 
Portinscale  
 
 
Ravenglass Ravenglass can be found on the west coast of Cumbria, and it may come as quite a surprise to many people to learn that this seaside village is in fact within the Lake District National Park. Often quite aptly described as being "where the Lake District meets the sea". This is a picturesque place by any standards, and with Wasdale or Eskdale close at hand it offers an alternative source of accommodation for those wishing to stay in the western side of the Lake District.
 
 
Rosthwaite  
 
 
Rydal  
 
 
Sadgill  
 
 
Sandwick Sandwick (pronounced without the "wi") is a tiny hamlet found next to the eastern shore of Ullswater. This is a wonderfully quiet part of the Lake District which so far, has managed to escape the mass crowds found in many other areas. Unless you walk here the only access is via Pooley Bridge, Howtown and then up the steep road to Martindale New Church.
 
 
Seathwaite (Borrowdale)  
 
 
Seathwaite (Duddon)  
 
 
Seatoller  
 
 
Skelwith Bridge Skelwith Bridge (pronounced Skelyth) is generally passed through without a second glance as you're driving along the A593 between Ambleside and Coniston. From the seat of a speeding car, I can't really blame anyone for not immediately thinking this would be a good spot to stop. However, if you happen to pass this way while you're out for a walk, you soon realise that it is actually worth a visit; even if it is only for a short time.

A gorgeous lower level walk is a simple there and back from Skelwith Bridge to Elterwater. On route you pass Skelwith Force (waterfall), albeit very briefly, you walk along the shore next to Eltermere, and to top it off you visit little village of Elterwater.
 
 
Stair  
 
 
Stonethwaite  
 
 
Thackthwaite  
 
 
Threlkeld  
 
 
Troutbeck (Windermere)  
 
 
Wasdale Head  
 
 
Watendlath