The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in the North West of England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous for its lakes, forests and mountains, and its associations with William Wordsworth and the other Lake Poets and also with Beatrix Potter and John Ruskin. The Lake District National Park was established in 1951 and covers an area of 2,362 square kilometres.

All the land in England which is higher than 3,000 feet above sea level lies within the Lake District National Park, including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. It also contains the deepest and largest natural lakes in England, which are Wast Water and Windermere.

The first humans settled in the Lake District over 5,000 years ago. In neolithic times, the Lake District was a major source of stone axes. Examples have been found all over Britain. There are also many castles in the area, including the mock gothic Wray Castle, Sizergh Castle, Piel Castle and many others.

 

Many famous people lived in the Lake District including Alfred Wainwright, The Atmitt Sisters, William Wordsworth and others, and their love of the area and it’s beauty is the reason for their renown. Altogether there are 16 lakes in the Lake District, the largest of them being Windermere. Bassenthwaite Lake is officially a lake by name, and the others are all ‘meres’ and ‘waters‘. On a recent visit, we went kayaking on Ullswater, which is also the second-largest lake in the Lake District. It is 9 miles long and 0.75 miles wide. There are 2 major tourist attractions near Ullswater. These are the village of Glenridding, and Aira Force Waterfall. Ullswater is located close to Penrith, a market town and the gateway to Eden Valley. Ullswater is also one of the Lake District’s most accessible lakes. At the northern end of the lake, there is a village called Pooley Bridge, a hamlet called Howtown near the middle, and at the southern end, there is Glenridding. We would highly recommend visiting there. Ullswater is also known as the ‘ribbon lake’ and was formed after the last ice age by a glacier scooping out the valley floor, which filled the meltwater when the glacier retreated. The origin is the same with some other lakes, like Windermere formed by glaciers, believed to be even bigger. Ullswater is also a sailing location with several marinas around the lake. It home to the Ullswater Yacht Club. The Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy is held annually on the first weekend in July. This regularly attracts over 200 sailing boats for two races covering the length of the lake. There are also facilities for diving, rowing and motorboating. Another attraction is the stunning waterfall of Aira Force, midway along the lake on the western side. The famous Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel stands on the lake’s eastern shore. Some say Ullswater’s name comes from a Nordic chief ‘Ulf’ who ruled over the area; there was also a Saxon Lord of Greystoke called ‘Ulphus’ whose land bordered the lake. The lake may have been named Ulf’s Water in honour of either of these, or it may be named after the Norse god Ullr. It is believed that Hodgson Hill, an earthwork on the northeast shoreline of Ullswater, may be the remains of a fortified Viking settlement. A 20-mile walking route called the Ullswater Way was officially opened in 2016 by writer and broadcaster Eric Robson. The route can be walked in either direction and from any starting point. The route uses existing Public Rights of Way and quiet roads which circumnavigate Ullswater, with the benefit of being mainly free of vehicles, and the opportunity to enjoy magnificent views of the lake and the beautiful area. I hope this video has encouraged you to visit the Lake District as soon as you can. I know you will not be disappointed. If I had to rate it, I would give it 10/10!