FAVOURITE PLACES TO VISIT
It's hard to choose after seeing so many beautiful places, but here are a few of my favourite areas to explore time & time again or those places that really made an impact on my first visit!
CONISTON
Coniston has always been one of my favourite places in the Lakes, but also in general! I have fond childhood memories here from holidays at my grandparents house & we are still making more together to this day. Every time I see the lake stretching below the forest, with the fells shaping the valley it sits in, I am mesmorised - just like I am seeing it for the first time all over again! Truly magical!
FINSTHWAITE
I love this area as there is so much to explore hidden into such a small space, particularly the woodlands that surround the small village! There is also plenty of interesting places to visit in amongst the trees, such as High Dam Tarn or the structure of the Tower resting at the top of Finsthwaite Heights. All these walks were clearly signposted which allows you to take in all the fantastic scenery!
CRUMMOCK WATER
I always thought that Crummock Water looked lovely from photographs & paintings I'd seen, but when visiting for the first time I was blown away with how stunning this area is! I really enjoyed sitting by the edge of the water whilst listening to the water gently lapping against rocky outcrops! This is probably controversial but I prefer it here than the neighbouring Buttermere!
FURNESS ABBEY
I love visiting 'ruins' as I think they are an interesting slice of history remaining in the modern world. Furness Abbey is filled to the brim with history which is evident as you wander under archways & through old corridors that still stand after all these years! My favourite thing about here is the amount of detail which is still evident in the stonework, particularly the details in the arches! History lovers must visit!
CARRICK-A-REDE
I visited here on my first trip to Northern Ireland in 2018 & luckily we were blessed with warm & bright weather that day! The sunshine brought out the rich colours created a mediterranean vibe to the coastline! I really enjoyed crossing the rope bridge onto one of the small islands as it is something I wouldn't normally do! I really hope to visit this area of Northern Ireland again!
LOUGHRIGG TERRACE
Loughrigg is a popular walk, and given the stunning views from the top I'm not surprised. My favourite part of this area is away from the Rydal side and overlooking the West instead. Here there are smaller crags opening up to stunning views down and across the valley as well as small bodies of water which are perfect to take a moment by to enjoy the view! I've been up here in all seasons, from sunshine to snow and it is always a wonderful and enjoyable walk no matter what!
EGGLESTONE ABBEY
Egglestone Abbey is a wonderful spot hidden in plain sight - mostly as it's overlooked by the neighbouring Barnard Castle. I heard about it on a whim, and straight away it became one of my favourite ruins. The site sits proud above the hidden river below, especially the arched window greeting you as you walk up the hill. The build is split into 3 sections, one with rooms and arches still in tact, whilst others show more passages of time but are still breathtakingly beautiful nonetheless!
CONISTON FELLS
Technically I covered this area when I spoke about Coniston above, but from the Coppermines & beyond there is just something amazing about the fell range that watches over the small village & long lake below. And it's not just the all round views from the fells that make it special, its the slices of history you can discover along the way as you meander along the variety of paths. I've been up here many times but I still have so much to explore, and favourite places to revisit!
