Winter in the Lake District

The Lake District in wintertime becomes a kind of magical winter wonderland. Snowcapped mountains rear up into the clear azure sky surrounded by the skeletal, twisted trees. Lakes shimmer as clear as glass and reflect the beautiful surrounding vista.

Lake Windermere and the towns around are the most popular places to visit in the lakes. Quirky shops and cafes are all about with tons to explore. If you are lucky enough to get a hotel view of the lake, the morning views are stunning. Sometimes a low lying mist will have descended overnight like a blanket, watching the sun break through in the morning is magical.

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The crispness of the winter air will quickly bring you to life and after a hearty lakes breakfast, you will be ready to go. A great way to see Lake Windermere is by a boat cruise. You can get an all-day ticket, perfect to relax and unwind while taking in the surrounding beauty.

An option is to hop off at one end of the lake and get the steam train to Haverthwaite. It’s a superb way to sightsee and gives you a taste of what travel was like in the by gone era. This beautifully restored Heritage railway is a piece of history.

The Fell Foot Park, owned by the National Trust is a stunning place for a winter walk. With frost sparkling over meticulously kept grounds, it’s a sanctuary away from the bustle of city life.

The Lake District stretches around 885 miles and is filled with historical sites. It has 50 stone circles and the popular Hadrian’s Wall which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A lovely place to visit is Beatrix Potter’s cottage. The place looks exactly how it was when she lived there and dreamed up her wonderful tales of mischievous animals in the vegetable patch.

Stunning scenery, forests, fells and waterfalls. Once you see this place it will be imprinted in your mind forever. After I spent time here, I found myself thoroughly relaxed and re-charged and ready to take on the world again. No other place has taken me under its spell, quite like the allure of the Lake District.

Coming up to Christmas, through the winter months there are many festivals and events going on, bringing hives of activity to these sometimes sleepy towns.

Penrith in November sees a tradition called the winter droving. It’s a rural celebration that centered around when the farmers drove the animals to market. It has now become a huge street procession with all day street entertainment, food, crafts and games.

Workington holds a Christmas festival at the end of November. Here you will see a lantern parade followed by live jazz music and all manner of entertainment. You can ride the fairground rides or go ice skating, a fabulous way to get into the Christmas spirit.

December in Keswick has a Victorian themed fayre come to town. Offering an array of crafts, gifts and raffles, all the stalls here give the proceeds to local charities. Street entertainers perform for the crowds and a good old carol sing song is held later in the day.

As wintertime starts to roll in, consider the Lake District and all the natural charm it has to offer. Take a break to one of the most enchanting, diverse places in the UK.