I'm taking Mrs Fretters away to the Lakes this weekend for her birthday. Only 'problem' is, she's 29 weeks pregnant so hiking or drinking is out of the question. We have a meal booked for Saturday evening but I'm looking for something to fill the afternoon. We're travelling up on Saturday lunch time so it could be something on the way to the Lakes.

All suggestions welcome! Well, within reason

Shelter from the rain

Lake trip on the boats

- Derwentwater, Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston all have them

Barley is a good stop off en route to lakes. Great boozer, free roadside parking and more friendly welcoming locals than you can shake a stick at.

Try it once and you'll be back.....you may even abandon the lakes thing altogether and spend the weekend there. It's that good!

Beatrice Potter Cottage.
Dove Cottage.
Pencil Museum. Keswick
Grizedale Forest visitor centre.
Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.
There are many more.

Have fun.

Fretters wrote:I'm taking Mrs Fretters away to the Lakes this weekend for her birthday. Only 'problem' is, she's 29 weeks pregnant so hiking or drinking is out of the question. We have a meal booked for Saturday evening but I'm looking for something to fill the afternoon. We're travelling up on Saturday lunch time so it could be something on the way to the Lakes.

All suggestions welcome! Well, within reason

Was going to suggest Low Wood on Windermere and go Waterskiing ... but upon reading further perhaps not

No hiking, no drinking....

I hope your hotel has a pool or you're fooked son!

tarkys_ears wrote:No hiking, no drinking....

I hope your hotel has a pool or you're fooked son!

That's what got him into this mess.

Did somebody really suggest visiting a pencil museum?

Reckoner wrote:Did somebody really suggest visiting a pencil museum?

Its got the worlds biggest PENCIL ooooooh

They do 4x4 tours but I'm not sure they would be suitable for a heavily pregnant lady, going over rough ground.

If it's still operating at this time of year, the steam gondola on Coniston is a good way of seeing Coniston and the surrounding fells followed by a visit to the Bluebird cafe...excellent snacks and cakes. Car parking close by.
Lingholm on Derwentwater has an excellent cafe and some of the launches call at Lingholm.
Drive from Keswick over Honister Pass to Buttermere...excellent pub food at the Fish Inn in Buttermere village and then back to Keswick over either Newlands Pass or Whinlatter. From Buttermere village it's an easy short walk down to the lake.

Bosscat wrote:Its got the worlds biggest PENCIL ooooooh

It’s the one the constipated accountant uses for working things out.

If the weather's not great but you fancy a boat trip, the Windermere boats have big inside cabins with big picture windows. Bowness is a good place for a meander, as well.

Blackwell House is worth a visit.
Just south of Windermere, it has a craft shop, cafe, and an interesting history. The views are great over Windermere and the house itself has some fantastic rooms.

I would also suggest the Leonard Cheshire Homes Garden 'Holehird' near Windermere...

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But it wouldn't be its best this time of year... we always go in May when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom

Sizergh Castle on the way up, outside Kendal is worth a look.

Lancasterclaret wrote:Sizergh Castle on the way up, outside Kendal is worth a look.

Another Vote for Sizergh here too

fatboy47 wrote:Barley is a good stop off en route to lakes. Great boozer, free roadside parking and more friendly welcoming locals than you can shake a stick at.

Try it once and you'll be back.....you may even abandon the lakes thing altogether and spend the weekend there. It's that good!

Told you before.............Barley is full.

Kennedy's Chocolates at Orton is something decent to do on the way up.

If you had visited the chocolate factory in the first place you may not have ended up in this mess...

My wife and her mate enjoyed afternoon tea overlooking Windermere at the Laura Ashley hotel in the Belsfield room.
http://www.lauraashleyhotels.com/hotels ... food-drink" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A trip on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway perhaps..


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Lancasterclaret wrote:Lake trip on the boats

- Derwentwater, Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston all have them

Ullswater my personal favourite, especially the 'unexpected' pub (Howtown?)

Tarn hows is a beautiful place to visit

Lakeside distillery tour is a fantastic way to spend a few hours also a great bistro on site.

Is that football photograph shop still in Ambleside ? Years since I've been there.

Aclaret wrote:Is that football photograph shop still in Ambleside ? Years since I've been there.

Sadly I think it's gone.
I used to visit it regular, some fantastic photos, especially of the older grounds. He could catch an atmosphere for sure.

Aclaret wrote:Is that football photograph shop still in Ambleside ? Years since I've been there.

I seem to recall all the exhibits went to the football museum at Manchester Victoria.

Thanks all! Some great suggestions.

If she's still pretty mobile fretters, Tarn hows is great.

Only about 3 km, but good path with no real gradients

A pleasant stroll around Grasmere itself is very pleasant. No real steep gradients around the lake, lovely views and only about 2.5 miles in total.

Lancasterclaret wrote:If she's still pretty mobile fretters, Tarn hows is great.

Only about 3 km, but good path with no real gradients

She really isn't the sciatica and cramps are rife.

If you like a short but beautiful walk round a lake Buttermere is a must. Approx 4 miles easy walking.

Fretters wrote:She really isn't the sciatica and cramps are rife.

Ah, then scenic drive is your best bet.

Derwent water to Borrowdale, up and down Honister and back over Newlands to Keswick is nice, but it does depend on whereabouts you are staying.

Upper deck of the bus from Ambleside to Keswick. Takes you past Rydal Water and Grasmere. Cup of tea in Keswick and then back to Ambleside. Ticket about 12 quid each return and you are guaranteed beautiful views. Sorted.

if you enjoy mountain scenery and don't mind an exciting drive over mountain passes then drive through Langdale and over the Wynose and Hardnot passes into Eskdale , then onto Wasdale and up to Wasdale Head, where on a good day Great Gable , Scafell and the Wastwater screes can be very dramatic and Awe inspiring. Lunch at the Wasdale Head Hotel, then return via lweswater, Crummock Water Buttermere and Honister Pass toBorowdale and Keswick. Depending on weather you can stop off at various points for photos.

Burtonwoodclaret wrote:if you enjoy mountain scenery and don't mind an exciting drive over mountain passes then drive through Langdale and over the Wynose and Hardnot passes into Eskdale , then onto Wasdale and up to Wasdale Head, where on a good day Great Gable , Scafell and the Wastwater screes can be very dramatic and Awe inspiring. Lunch at the Wasdale Head Hotel, then return via lweswater, Crummock Water Buttermere and Honister Pass toBorowdale and Keswick. Depending on weather you can stop off at various points for photos.

take a bog roll if youre going to do that drive....the Wrynose/Hardknotts bit at least.

Bosscat wrote:
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But it wouldn't be its best this time of year... we always go in May when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom

And the football season is over!

sheep

fatboy47 wrote:take a bog roll if youre going to do that drive....the Wrynose/Hardknotts bit at least.

Would not do that road with a pregnant lass, nor in anything other than perfect weather conditions

think about a spa day for her, we stay at The Langdale Hotel & Leisure centre, good spa, in Langdale of course and not to be confused with the Langdale hotel on Windermere. Just next door to the estate are two pubs, highly recommend the Britannia, which my sons say are the best in the Lakes and we are there every year. I am positive there are many other spa centres around but also check out any local market, I always like a wander around Keswick, which has a market and lots of pubs he usually waits for me in. Kirby Lonsdale has a nice market on certain days which could be a nice stop on the way if going that way and the market was on the day of your travels

Hawks Head is a nice place but maybe a little small for a full afternoon.

I am sure you'll enjoy whatever you do

Lancasterclaret wrote:Sizergh Castle on the way up, outside Kendal is worth a look.

The 'house' is apparently closed for the weekend due to a private function, do you think it's still worth going for the gardens? Could be nice at this time of year if we have the weather.

KateR wrote:think about a spa day for her, we stay at The Langdale Hotel & Leisure centre, good spa, in Langdale of course and not to be confused with the Langdale hotel on Windermere. Just next door to the estate are two pubs, highly recommend the Britannia, which my sons say are the best in the Lakes and we are there every year. I am positive there are many other spa centres around but also check out any local market, I always like a wander around Keswick, which has a market and lots of pubs he usually waits for me in. Kirby Lonsdale has a nice market on certain days which could be a nice stop on the way if going that way and the market was on the day of your travels

Hawks Head is a nice place but maybe a little small for a full afternoon.

I am sure you'll enjoy whatever you do

You're limited to what you can do at a spa when pregnant, you can't even go in a jacuzzi for some reason! You can't have many of the treatments either due to chemicals etc. Appreciate the suggestion though!

Fretters wrote:The 'house' is apparently closed for the weekend due to a private function, do you think it's still worth going for the gardens? Could be nice at this time of year if we have the weather.

Yeah, the gardens are lovely.

There is superb rockery/stream area to the side of the house, and a nice small lake around the back.

Don't bother going to Sellafield visitor centre, last time I went there I was told it shut 20 years ago