OUR visitors from overseas already know this. But for those of you travelling from the north west or from London and struggling up the motorway on a Friday night, it’s not really a secret. Come to the Lake District on the train!
It’s the wise and restful way to travel. At the end of a long week at work, you can take a nap without running the risk of falling asleep at the wheel. You can read, or watch a movie on your iPad, or just stare out of the window and see how street lights are replaced by stars as your journey heads north.
Even from London, it’s just around 2 hours 40 minutes to Oxenholme on the west coast main line; the station is actually called Oxenholme The Lake District just to let you know you really have arrived.
From there, hop onto our little branch line, and in another 18 minutes you’ll arrive in Windermere. That’s still under three hours from London, and it would take at least twice that by road.
Heading here from the north west? From Manchester Piccadilly you head north via Lancaster, or Oxenholme, or even – occasionally – there’s a direct train all the way through from Manchester Airport to Windermere.
Then you’ve the choice of a ten minute bus ride down to our hotel, one block back from the lake shore, or three minutes in a taxi. And yes, we might be rural but we’re not a backwater, and you can get an Uber here at any time.
The Burn How is the sort of hotel where you can just sit back and chill out for the whole weekend if you wish. Stroll through the beautiful gardens, sit by the window in the lounge and watch the autumn leaves falling from the trees. More energetic? Take a short climb up our local little mountain, Brant Fell, for amazing views of the Lakes.
But if you’ve come all this way and want to see more of the Lake District without being stuck behind the wheel of a car, we are in the perfect location. Just a couple of minutes down the hill are the piers and jetties of Windermere Lake Cruises. This is the perfect way to see the glorious landscape, from the unusual perspective in the middle of England’s biggest lake.
You can take a cruise that will carry you all around the lake, or you can hop on and hop off at various points around the shore. Maybe at Lakeside to visit the Haverthwaite steam railway, or the Lakeland Motor Museum. Maybe at Wray Castle to explore the National Trust parkland and woodland, where some of the tallest trees in the north can be found. Or maybe at Waterhead, where you can disembark to explore Ambleside.
Want some exercise while sightseeing? Then hire a small rowing boat for a true Lakeland adventure. It’s also possible to walk down to Ferry Nab Marina where there’s a historic ferry taking cars, bikes and foot passengers across this narrow stretch of the lake to the quieter shore near Far Sawrey. That’s the location of Beatrix Potter’s home at Hill Top, by the way.
If you’ve spent a day on the water, then maybe head further north by taking the open top bus from Bowness to Keswick. On a Saturday you could even fit in a matinee performance at our fabulous Theatre by the Lake. But the bus journey is worth it just for the views. This has been voted England’s most scenic road and you will see why. Our tip? On the way back, grab the front seats upstairs for a thrill to match any roller coaster ride.
If you’re worried about being stranded without a car while on holiday, then you’ll find that Bowness is a bustling little town away from the marina, with plenty of interesting shops, bars and cafes, and a different restaurant every night even if you stayed for a month!
Are you persuaded? Give us a call on 015394 46226 to discuss when you’d like to come, and you’ll get the best deal by booking with us direct. Don’t forget to pick up the discount card at our reception desk, which will give you money off at at a number of attractions in the area. See you soon!
