A Lake District Meander
The Lake District in the north west of England is one of the most beautiful places to visit when on a UK hiking holiday. With its unique wildlife, beautiful lakes and tall fells, it is a popular hiking destination. Learn about the sites worth seeing, the local wildlife and the literary greats who have been inspired by the region.
A Walker’s Paradise
Walking holidays in the UK are good for quiet moments in the English countryside, leisurely strolls along the shores of beautiful lakes, and seeing the country’s indigenous wildlife. And what better a place than the Lake District to enjoy all the country has to offer.
Situated in the north western region of England, the district consists of lakes and mountains spanning a wide area about 855 square miles. The terrain is varied enough that is good for UK hiking holidays as well as leisurely country strolls. Mountains with peaks reaching 978m make for excellent climbing, and lower peaks consisting of open moorland are great for more relaxed walks.
The area is interesting to geologists too, with Skiddaw Slate and Barrowdale Volcanic rocks dating back about 500 million years. The area’s features came about during a period of glaciation, where the ice carved U-shaped valleys in the earth. This geographically interesting area is great for walking holidays in the UK, where you can explore this ancient area.
The Lake District is situated in the dampest part of the UK, and temperatures in mid summer are around 15˚ during the day. This is an ideal temperature for a UK hiking holiday, as you won’t need to bring along extra jackets, but nor will you suffer from exercising in the heat.
A Wildlife Wonderland
The Lake District National Park is home to an abundant wildlife, hosting a number of protected animals, and many species indigenous to the United Kingdom. A walking holiday in this region will allow you to view the unique wildlife rarely found anywhere else.
Meander along the lakeside pathways and stop to enjoy the red squirrels scampering by. England’s only nesting pair of golden eagles can be found here, and you could be lucky enough to spot one.
For botanists, two fascinating flowers can be found here. The sundew and butterwort flowers and carnivorous plants native to England. The plants lure and trap their prey (unsuspecting insects), which provide most of their nutrition. There is certainly no shortage of interesting plant life to discover while on a UK hiking holiday in this region.
The life below the lake waters is of interest too, with three species of endangered fish found in the lakes. The endangered Vendace is found in the waters of Bassenthwaite and Derwent; the Schnelly in Brothes Water, Haweswater, Red Tarn and Ullswater; and the Arctic charr can be found in many of the lakes, including Buttermere, Coniston Water and Ennerdale Water.
Worth a Word or Two
The Lake District is associated with the English literature of the 18th and 19th centuries, with many great poets and novelists finding inspiration in this region’s beauty. Thomas Gray was first to write about the region, in the 1769 book, Grand Tour. It is no wonder then, that the Lake District is a popular UK walking holiday destination, if the region’s beauty is so marked that it is a source of inspiration to many great artists.
The poem Daffodils, one of the most famous poems of William Wordsworth, was inspired by the daffodils on the shores of Ullswater, and this famous poet lived in the Lake District for sixty years. Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey, all three notable poets, became known as the Lake Poets, because their time spent in the region was inspirational to their work.
Beatrix Potter, the famous children’s author, was resident for some time at Hill Top Farm, where she gained inspirations for many of her stories from the region. Look out for Peter Rabbit when on a UK hiking holiday, where you might just spot him hopping along the lake shores.
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Countrywide Holidays. They are dedicated to providing the very finest UK hiking holidays at the best value prices.
