The most wonderful part of England (Lake District)

Member Name: dmandrew

Product:	Lake District
Date:	29/05/08 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unrivalled beauty

Disadvantages: It's quite popular

Just a few places in the world have astonishing power. This is the power to have a hold in your mind when you are away from them, a hold that makes you feel that you are incomplete when you are not there. Some people may feel that they have to travel halfway around the world to find such magic, but for me it is the Lake District that does this most of all.

For a start, for most people it is quite tricky to get to. That is a good thing. On the same principle that all good things come to those who wait, then all good places have to have a tinge of inaccessibility about them. All right, so you generally head for the M6, and then head west, towards Grange-over-Sands, or Kendal or Keswick, but these places are only on the edge, and you've already travelled quite far. Once you decide to head for the middle, where the best bits are, then the roads get narrower and steeper, and in some cases, they simply stop. From then on, you walk.

But even if you can't get into the Lake District, if perhaps you are whizzing up or down the M6, you still get tantalizingly wonderful distant views of the mountains. I shall always remember one such sight as I motored down from Scotland to southern England, the sun setting in gold above those hauntingly beautiful peaks.

If you love climbing mountains, then there are hundreds of them. Each one has been climbed and brilliantly catalogued by A. Wainwright in his fabulous series of books "A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells". I have not climbed every one, but I have gone up a few, and each ascent has been deeply rewarding and enjoyable. Some have been quite frightening, especially in sudden mist - Scafell Pike the first time I went up, and Helvellyn too - and some have given me memories that will last for ever.

If you are there on a fine day, the views are fantastic. But you need to pick your days wisely, as the mountains do not give away their secrets easily and are quite often shrouded in cloud, often frustratingly so when there is fine weather just fifteen miles away. If you go up on a day like this, you must take emergency equipment, including compass, mobile phone, and have a plan for what to do if lost.

But if climbing mountains is too energetic for you, then the bus or your car will take you through valleys of incomparable beauty. The Langdale Valley is one such, and the various passes, such as Honister, Wrynose and Hardknott, are awe-inspiring.

The lakes are very beautiful, each one having its own distinct character. Windermere is the biggest and most popular, often busy with boats. Those in search of peace and majesty should travel to Ullswater or (difficult journey, this) to Wast Water.

Like many lovely places, the Lake District does get busy, especially in summer weekends. I was lucky enough to work about 90 minutes' drive from the heart of Lakeland, and so could visit during the week if I could contrive an afternoon off. And although there might be many people up on the fells, they are big enough to accommodate thousands without anyone bothering anyone else!

One very special thing happens every year on Remembrance Sunday. Upwards of 300 people choose to brave the raw November weather to climb one of the finest peaks - Great Gable. At the top, at 11:00, there is a brief ceremony of remembrance and gratitude, held since 1924, to the members of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club in recognition of the work they did in securing the rights of everyone to walk freely on these wonderful mountains.

Lakeland is a deeply emotional, special part of our wonderful country. If you have never been, go there quietly and listen to the hills. And then whisper the news to a close friend. I've been away for three years and get shivers just thinking about the next time I could be amongst those lakes and mountains.

And now (May 2009) I have been away from the Lakes for four years, and still miss them greatly. Driving past last Easter, albeit on the way to a lovely holiday in Scotland, was tantalising in the extreme. Having lived so near, I think I would find it hard to have to pay for a holiday there, though - but I suppose if I put my mind to it then 3 hours' drive to get there is possible on a long summer's day...............

Summary: Take some time to go there