The perfect three-night stay
If you've never visited the Lake District before, the huge choice of places to go and things to see and do can be a bit daunting. So on this page I've put together some suggestions which will show you the best of the area over three nights and two full days.
This itinerary assumes you don't want to do any big walking treks or serious mountaineering! It's an easy introduction to the southern Lakes where the aim is just to take in the best of the scenery and enjoy some good food along the way.
So here we go...
The day you arrive
Evening
You've probably driven a long way to get here, so let's stay fairly local tonight.
Once you've settled in, drive to the pretty village of Cartmel. Cartmel is 5 miles away and is a great introduction to the area with its whitewashed cottages and narrow streets. Here you'll find several pubs and restaurants serving good food in a great atmosphere.
I'd go for the Cavendish Arms which blends traditional charm with modern comforts. Main courses here are around £20 and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Tel. 015395 36240.
Day one
Today is all about relaxing and letting someone else take care of the transport while you take in some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain. You're leaving the car behind today (you did enough driving yesterday!).
Morning
On foot, head south out of Backbarrow and walk for half a mile to Haverthwaite station and its beautifully restored steam trains. If you get to the station early, head to the cafe and set yourself up for the day with one of their traditional breakfast rolls. They start serving at 9am and the first train leaves at 9.50 - perfect timing!
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Hop aboard the train which will take you the three miles up the track to Lakeside at the southern tip of Windermere.​ Once at Lakeside, board one of the Victorian steamers or modern passenger launches to sail the full, glorious, 10.5 miles of Windermere. There's a half way stop-off point at Bowness, but I recommend you skip this and go all the way to the much nicer town of Ambleside.
The time from boarding the train at Haverthwaite to disembarking the boat at Waterhead near Ambleside is about 1 hour and 50 minutes; the full return fare for a combined train & boat trip is £39.
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Leave the boat at Waterhead and walk one mile north into the centre of Ambleside. Here you'll find a huge variety of shops selling outdoor gear, clothing, gifts and art.
Lunchtime
​For lunch, you'll be spoilt for choice. There are several pubs in the town centre, but I'd go for one of the many good quality cafe/restaurants. My favourites are The Apple Pie on Rydal Road which has lots of home cooked savouries, sandwiches and cakes, or Zeffirellis on Compston Road, a great whole foods cafe. A good lunch in either will be about £15-20.
After lunch, visit the Bridge House, the most photographed building in the Lake District (it's right next to the Apple Pie). Then if there's time, take a walk up to Stock Ghyll waterfalls. This one hour round-trip walk will work off a few calories (you'll need decent footwear) before heading back to Waterhead and the return boat and train to Backbarrow.
Note: make sure you've checked the timetables for the boats and the train - you don't want to miss the last train to Backbarrow! At the time of writing, the 14.15 boat from Waterhead will meet the last train to leave Lakeside at 15.55, getting you to Backbarrow at 16.13.
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Back at the apartment, relax for a couple of hours with a reviving cuppa before heading into Ulverston for a bite to eat. There's lots to choose from here, but The Farmers never disappoints. It's right in the centre of town in the main square. Alternatively, The Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge is just a couple of miles away, so it's closer.​​
Afternoon
Evening
Day two
Morning
Lunchtime
Today we're going for a drive along some of the most beautiful roads in the country.
If you're having a late start, walk half a mile north of the apartment to Cafe Ambio at the Lakeland Motor Museum for a cuppa and a croissant. You don't need to buy a museum ticket to visit the cafe which has a lovely setting by the river and opens at 9.30.
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Take the car up to Newby Bridge. With the Newby Bridge Hotel right in front of you, take the road on your left towards Lakeside. Keep going on this road past Esthwaite (one of the prettiest lakes in the area) and on to the village of Hawkshead. Park here to explore this classic Lakeland village with its cobbled streets and central square. This is Beatrix Potter country too, so if you're a fan, her house at Sawrey (owned by the National Trust) is just a couple of miles away.
After Hawkshead, head towards Ambleside and on to Grasmere for lunch. The drive from Backbarrow to Hawkshead is about 10 miles, with Grasmere a further 7.
​Once in Grasmere, park the car and explore the narrow streets on foot. There are all sorts of places to eat, from tea rooms to full-service restaurants. A good place for a light lunch is the Grasmere Gather, a cafe with a high quality gift shop attached. Lunch here will be about £15-20 and you'll find it just across the road from the church
After lunch, take a walk round the west side of the lake. This country lane winds its way all the way to the Langdale valley. Walk along here for as far as you like to see some lovely views of the lake, then retrace your steps back to the village.
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Grasmere is famous as the place where William Wordsworth lived and there's a very good visitor centre devoted to him and the other Lake Poets on the outskirts of the village.
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One thing which you must sample while you're here is Grasmere Gingerbread. This local delicacy is sold from Sarah Nelson's tiny (and I mean tiny!) shop next to the church. Buy some of their lemon curd while you're there - it's the best I've ever tasted!
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After Grasmere, head south on the A591 to Ambleside where you can stop off to buy all those things you meant to buy yesterday (!). ​Then, you have a choice - spend the rest of the day in Ambleside, or head home to Backbarrow.
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If you're heading to Backbarrow, take the A591 as far as Windermere town and then the A592 down the east side of the lake. Or, cross Windermere on the car ferry at Bowness, head to Hawkshead and then south to Newby Bridge and Backbarrow from there.
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Take things easy at the apartment for a couple of hours and then head out to one of the pubs on my "Places to Eat & Drink" page. The Manor House pub at Oxen Park is very good and isn't far away. Main courses here are about £20. Tel. 01229 861345.​
Afternoon
Evening
Day three
It's departure day, but if you have time and if the weather is on your side, skip breakfast and walk the three miles along Finsthwaite Lane to the Newby Bridge Hotel. Here you can have a late breakfast/early lunch before heading home (and contemplating your next visit!).
I hope this suggested itinerary has been useful. I'm always looking for ways to improve things and to add places I might have missed, so if you've used this plan please let me know if there's something which you think I should include.