Discover the Enchanting Wonders of Lake District National Park
Lake District National Park is home to 16 pristine lakes, several towering mountains, and ancient woodlands that are so beautiful you’ll swear that you have stepped into the pages of an enchanted fairy tale. Visitors can paddleboard, take a boat tour, and cruise around a crystal-clear lake, or hike along an extensive network of trails that wind through some of England’s most impressive mountains—or fells, as they are commonly known in Britain.
A boat tour of Lake Windermere is the perfect place to start your exploration of Lake District National Park. Windermere Lake Cruises offers a variety of cruise packages that allow visitors to explore England’s largest lake. Travelers can opt for a 45-minute Windermere Lake cruise or a 5-hour package that includes a stop at a classic car museum and an aquarium. Windermere Lake enthusiasts can even purchase an annual cruising pass that allows for unlimited cruising every day of the year except for Christmas.
Adventurous travelers can visit Coniston Boating Centre to rent a paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or rowboat. The Coniston Water is a clean, placid lake that is an ideal place to row a boat or paddleboard without worrying about choppy water. Visitors can kayak, paddleboard, or canoe around the Coniston Water and stop off at several historic landmarks, including Brantwood House, which was once owned by Renaissance man John Ruskin. Ruskin was an accomplished botanist, and portions of the extensive garden that he used for his research are still in full bloom on the Brantwood grounds.
Lake District National Park features some of England‘s most celebrated hiking trails. The Ambleside Loop is a low-impact hike that winds around romantic forests, streams, and hills that are often shrouded in mist. Seasoned hikers can attempt to summit 3,209-foot Scafell Pike. There are a handful of trails that lead to Scafell Pike, but the most popular is an 11.3-mile hike that generally takes 8 hours to complete and starts in Langdale. The Langdale trail offers impressive panoramic views of pristine lakes, ancient forests, and cloud-covered fells.
Most travelers visit England to explore the country’s rich history, but Britain is also steeped in spellbinding natural beauty that has endured through the centuries. No trip to England is complete without exploring the countryside and enjoying England’s fabled woods, lakes, and fells. Lake District National Park showcases some of England‘s most breathtaking scenery, which—as England‘s most celebrated painters and poets will happily tell you—is beautiful beyond compare.