Imagine waking up to the scent of fresh floral blooms of spring, hearing birds chirping and seeing the rolling green hills of the British countryside dotted with sheep as you throw back the curtains of your secluded Bed & Breakfast. Welcome to rural Ambleside in the Lake District. Plan your day in nature as you enjoy a proper English breakfast, complete with freshly baked croissant and french press coffee delivered straight to your room. If this sounds like a dream you’d like to make a reality, read on to discover your first timers guide to the Lake District!
The Lake District is made up of a number of quaint towns, each with their own personality and charm. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, this was our fourth site of our two week UK backpacking trip so far! Other noteworthy, preserved sites chosen by UNESCO that we had visited so far include:
–the great spa town of Bath, England
–The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Llangollen, Wales
–Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
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The Lake District is a National Park, complete with lovely historic villages and towns, and of course lakes and preserved nature. In fact, many English poets have called this place home, or pulled inspiration from its beauty. Poet William Wordsworth lived in Grasmere, and referred to the Lake District as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”.
If you want a more current example, Taylor Swift released the track called “The Lakes” on her 2020 album Folklore. Lyrics from the song include “Take me to the lakes, where all the poets went to die….those Windermere peaks look like a perfect place to cry.”
Anywhere We Roam has a great guide that helped us get a feel for each town in the area. But when I found Randy Pike Bed & Breakfast I was sold on staying in Ambleside. Other areas in Cumbria county comprising the Lake District that we explored include Windermere and Grasmere. More on that later! First, let’s dive into our amazing stay.
Lake District Travel Guide Bonus
To save time, download my whole trip map with all the places I recommend already marked for your convenience!
Where to Stay in the Lake District: Randy Pike B & B
Is there anything better then a European Bed & Breakfast? Especially one that overlooks the British countryside in a National Park. I love finding a B & B option when I am staying somewhere more remote so I know I have a convenient breakfast option and coffee without having to venture too far too early.
Our stay at Randy Pike was so much more than just a convenient breakfast. From the friendliest hosts to the decadent fragrance spilling out of the room upon arrival, the stay was truly luxurious.
Randy Pike B & B is the old Gentleman’s hunting lodge on the Wray Estate, renovated to the luxury accommodations they are today. The room, bed, bathroom and breakfast were all five star in my book. After days of hard and fast travel through London, Oxford, Bath, Liverpool, and Wales it was so nice to breathe fresh air and enjoy a bit of secluded extravagance.
Where to Hike in the Lake District
Like I mentioned, we (ok, maybe just me) were exhausted from a week exploring cities, sometimes taking over 24,000 steps in a single day. I wanted to keep all the hikes heavy on the scenery, and light of the physical exertion. All of the hikes we took are definitely easy and good for beginners!
At this point in our trip, we had recently picked up our rental car in Kendal, so we had the means to travel a bit further to some other surrounding towns in the district. We hiked White Moss trail (which is still technically still in Ambleside). This is a nice loop, with lake views and along a small waterway.
Easily navigated from the “city center” of Ambleside, Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall is worth visiting! Hidden in plain site, this 30 min round trip hike will take you to the 70 ft falls for some fantastic views, with little work.
If you need an easy option that is close and doesn’t require a car, you’ll want to hike to and around Wray Castle. Straight from the doorstep of Randy Pike B & B lies Wray Castle, built by a retired Liverpool surgeon in 1840. Despite being called a “castle” Wray Castle is not royal, but is an old and beautiful mansion. The castle sits on the banks of Windermere lake, and was used as a vacation home by Beatrix Potter and her family, author of the Tale of Peter Rabbit, at the age of 16.
We didn’t go inside, but walked around the outside and down to the water. I thought it was neat to explore the estate that once owned our bed and breakfast as hunting quarters.
Where to Eat
First and foremost, if you are staying at Randy Pike you must indulge in breakfast in your room every day that you can. They provide a menu the day before so you can indicate everything you would like to order and at what time, and they make it happen. We had so much fun trying the different options, and don’t have one bad thing to say about anything we tried. Now is your chance to get a good, proper English Breakfast complete with black pudding, sausage, grilled tomato, ham, eggs, and mushrooms.
Our only regret of the trip is not making reservations in advance for Randy Pike’s sister restaurant, the Jumble Room in Grasmere. We tried to make a reservation the same day, and the only availability was at 4:30 for dinner. Keep in mind if this is a place you’d like to try, make reservations in advance!
We drove to the heart of Ambleside for dinner instead, and chose Doi Intanon Thai. We were able to make same day reservations here, but they were busy as well and were fulfilling a lot of take out orders- so that’s an option too.
The second day we ventured to Grasmere, and tried the famous Grasmere Gingerbread and Kendal Mint Cake. Invented in 1854 by Victorian Sarah Nelson, Grasemere Gingerbread has been an iconic sweet Lake District treat for over 150 years. Known to the British as neither a “biscuit or a cake”, she began selling slices of her gingerbread wrapped in parchment to villagers and tourists outside her home. Today, you can visit her old home, now known as “The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop” and enjoy some gingerbread (or something else fun from the sweet shop).
The gingerbread shop also sells Kendal Mint Cake. Famously eaten at the summit of Mount Everest when first climbed in 1953, this this hard fudge like snack flavored with peppermint resembles toothpaste, but in a good way! It’s something you must just try for yourself. The British have been eating it as a high energy, low in sugar snack on hikes and climbs for years.
For lunch, we tried to dine at Tweedies Pub. Unfortunately, we were too late for food, but did enjoy a pint at one of their outdoor tables.
What to See in the Lake District
In Ambleside, I have already mentioned Wray Castle and Windermere lake are worth the trip. Outside of Ambleside, we explored some sites made famous by poet William Wordsworth. First, we parked and toured Rydal Mount.
Open to the public since 1970, Rydal Mount remains in the ownership of the Wordsworth family today. The property was inhabited by poet William Wordsworth from 1813 to 1850. From the grounds, you can see both Grasemere and Windermere lakes. The estate is now owned and run as an historic house museum, and worth a visit.
Following the steps of Wordsworth, you can venture to St. Oswald’s Church in Grasmere to see his grave. Among his, are eleven of his family members who share a site with the active Anglican church. In the spring, there are daffodils planted all along the grounds as well.
How to Get Around
A car is probably the best way to get around the Lake District. Although we would have been perfectly fine wandering around the grounds of our B&B, it was nice to have an independent means to get out and go to some of the sites listed above. Need more information about renting a car overseas? I’ve outlined the whole process here, as well as a list of pros and cons.
If you choose to forego the car, I know there are taxis in the area, and possibly ride sharing options like Uber (I’m not certain, since we never tried here).
I hope I have covered everything you will need for an enjoyable escape to the Lake District. If you want more information on how to plan a trip, especially an international voyage for a week or two, I share all my planning tips and tricks here.
