Product Description

INTRODUCTION
The Lake District is England's most celebrated, most visited and most hyped scenic area. Tucked into a bulge between the industrial cities of northwest England and the Scottish borders, the small region - just thirty miles across - is literally irresistible to the twelve million visitors a year who pour in to experience its famous lakes, picturesque villages and alpine landscape. To many, the lure is of a misty-eyed English past - quiet country lanes, ivy-clad inns, agricultural shows and sheep-dog trials - while others seek to tick off English superlatives, including the country's highest mountain (Scafell Pike), and its largest and deepest lakes (Windermere and Wast Water respectively). The sundry pastoral images could hardly be better known, whether bolstered by the siren words of the Lake Poets or embedded in the minds of the nation's children who grow up with the lakeland tales of Beatrix Potter, Arthur Ransome and John Cunliffe's Postman Pat.
It's hard to think of a region in Britain with a similar breadth of scenery - wild fells to walled grazing land, glacial lakes to forested valleys, steeply pitched mountains to tumbling waterfalls - in such a small area. Tourist numbers are concentrated in fairly specific areas and, even on the busiest of summer days, it's relatively easy to escape the crowds by climbing to the higher fells or exploring more remote valleys. There are parts of the region, particularly in the north and west, where tourism is still decidedly low-key. Choose to come in the early spring, late autumn or winter - when magical crisp, clear days often enhance the natural backdrop - and even the most beaten paths and over-visited sights can be refreshingly uncluttered.

The scenery is, of course, the major attraction and if hiking and the great outdoors isn't your bag, it's tempting to say that you're on the wrong holiday. The central lakeland crags-the birthplace of British rock-climbing-still lure climbers from far and wide, while the lakes, paths and valleys support an entire industry of adventure activities, from kayaking and windsurfing to pony-trekking and off-road biking.

However, the Lake District has more than enough to satisfy less boisterous interests. The region's literary connections are justly famous, though you may be surprised to find that it's not all Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey and De Quincey: writers and poets as diverse as Sir Hugh Walpole, Norman Nicholson and John Ruskin have left their mark, and their houses, haunts and places of inspiration form the backbone of many a lakeland literary trail. There's a long industrial history, too, which manifests itself in scattered mining works, scarred quarry sites, surviving mills (one still working at Stott Park) and a couple of old railway lines - Ravenglass to Eskdale, and Lakeside to Haverthwaite - now converted to tourist use.

The Lake District has one of the country's highest concentrations of classic rural pubs and inns, many of them former coaching inns dating back several hundred years. Locally brewed beer is widely available, and a circular walk and a pint in front of a roaring fire at the end of it takes some beating for an afternoon out. Stay overnight and you can experience another Lake District speciality, the country-house hotel: some of the grandest specimens in England occupy exclusive lakeview positions. Finally, in summer the region hosts many of its annual sports, festivals, shows and events, providing a fascinating snapshot of traditional rural life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146666 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-28
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 298 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Lake District is an usual subject for a Rough Guide: it isn't the usual exotic location that springs to mind. This new addition to the series is, however, a useful resource for the rucksack brigade, the 16 million people who visit Cumbria's national park every year.

Popularised by writers such as William Wordsworth, John Ruskin and children's favourite Beatrix Potter, The Lake District continues to attract walkers, climbers (the area is home to England's highest mountain Scafel l Pike) and lovers of the great outdoors. As you would expect from a Rough Guide, there's a detailed list of B&B, youth hostel and camping site accommodation. The book provides hints and advice on outdoor sports, including advice on cycle hire, suggested walks for hikers and bus route information for cheaters.

What if wandering lonely as a cloud isn't your cup of tea? Brown admits "if hiking and the great outdoors aren't your bag, it's tempting to say that you're on the wrong holiday". Yet he gives information on the pubs, restaurants and historic houses to visit when you're not in the great outdoors. Brown gently debunks in a kindly manner the romantic, teashop image of the Lake District, (in the summer months expect a swarm of tourists), whilst writing an honest and useful guide to one of Britain's most beautiful areas. --Anna Hornsey

Sunday Telegraph, 11 June 2000, London, UK
No other guide to the region has the Rough Guide's all-embracing approach.

Synopsis
The Rough Guide to the Lake District is the best single guidebook available. The guide covers not just walks and hikes, but also museums and attractions, outdoor sports and activities, local history and literary tales. Supporting this unrivalled practical advice and contextual information is a complete series of hotel, B+B, hostel, restaurant, cafe and pub reviews for the entire region. There are also 16 pages of full-colour photos and over 35 detailed maps and plans.

Customer Reviews

A must!
I thought I knew plenty about the Lakes, but buying this book made me realise just how much more there is to discover. Definitely one to buy in advance - read through the areas you want to visit and familiarise yourself with the places to go and things to do as well as the facts and history of the area. The maps will also prove useful when you are there.

It's bursting with useful information.

I just wish there were more Rough Guides covering other beautiful UK areas.

Be Prepared !
I am a loyal Rough Guide reader even though I am much too old to be regarded as one! This was a first U K Rough Guide for me but I can happily say it was a real asset on our recent trip to The Lakes.
It is strong, as ever, on arrival and departure at many Lakeside towns, as well as historical context and should furnish you with enough information for a first trip to this glorious but very popular area of Britain.
It would be prudent to read it well before you go as the layout does not lend itself readily to reading as you go along.
The area covered is large and I cannot think of a better publication to help you shortlist your itinerary. The series obligingly publishes updates on it's web site.
There are many books about this area but make sure you include this one if you want help with the with getting the best from your trip.
I am sure you won't be disappointed with your purchase.

Excellent guide to the Lake District
This is an invaluable book for anyone who enjoys exploring the lake district. Even if you think you know it all - there'll be something new to see and do in this book!