Back Roads Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

196

3CAFELL0IKE

M

0ILLAR

M

'REAT'ABLE

M

7HINLATTER

0ASS

(ARD+NOTT

0ASS

$ERWENT

"ASSENTHWAITE

,AKE

#RUMMOCK

7ATER

%NNERDALE "UTTERMERE

7ATER

"TQBUSJB

%VOESBX

8BWFSUPO

.FBMTHBUF

*SFCZ

(JMDSVY 1MVNCMBOE #PUIFM

8FTUOFXUPO

5BMMFOUJSF

4VOEFSMBOE

#SBJUIXBJUF

/FXMBOET

-PSUPO

&NCMFUPO

#SJHIBN

&BHMFTmFME

%FBO .PTTFS

-PXFTXBUFS

-BNQMVHI

8)*/-"55&3

'03&45
1"3,

)0/*45&3

1"44

#655&3.&3&

$0$,&3.065)

The Poetry of the Lakes

This tour winds its way around the Lake District, starting with gentle miles through

green open pastures grazed by sheep. There are also a few long stretches to cover,

amid some of the most stupendous natural scenery in all of Britain. The route entails

two lovely, unchallenging passes; taking in scattered slate-roofed farms, it runs

alongside lakes great and small, touristy and tranquil. Stop-offs along the way include

the small town of Cockermouth, bustling Keswick on Derwent Water and the famous

Dove Cottage in Grasmere, once home to the poet William Wordsworth, who drew

his inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty.

BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

ACTIVITIES

Soak up the history of Carlisle, close to the Scottish borders,

taking in the magnificent cathedral and the doughty castle

Visit a traditional brewery to see Cockermouth beer in

production and sample the real ales in the brewery’s bar

Watch ospreys nesting via CCTV at the Whinlatter Forest Park

Go walking, hiking, off-road biking, sailing, canoeing –

the Lake District is one vast adventure playground

Go underground in the last working slate mine in Britain at

the stunning Honister Pass

Spend an evening at the theatre in Keswick and emerge to

find Derwent Water lapping the shore before you

Try and work out Sarah Nelson’s secret recipe by eating

her traditional Cumbrian gingerbread in Grasmere

Watch skilled glassblowers at work and buy a memento

from Ambleside

Tour the inside of the lakeside Victorian home of John Ruskin

the poet, artist, commentator and conservationist

Take a pleasure cruise across Coniston on a steam yacht

KEY

Drive route

Above Typical Lake District cottage built with local stone,

matching the dry-stone walls

Below Traditional cruiser skimming across the

surface of Ullswater lake near Keswick, see p201