| Great escapes to the Lake District |
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This month's travel team and their caravans: Jos Simon Our occasional contributor and site reviewer, Practical Caravan’s features editor Jennifer Stuart-Smith, Deputy editor Adèle Donaghie
The Lake District
The Lake District is a region of extremes: contained within its boundaries you’ll find England’s highest mountain,
its deepest lake, and its steepest road. You might even discover the country’s ugliest face if you visit during September when the Annual Gurning Competition takes place at the Egremont Crab Fair. But, ugly mugs aside, what will strike you most is that the Lake District is a place of extreme beauty.
We took our caravans to Keswick, at the heart of the Lake District National Park, to discover the best of what the area has to offer, and found ourselves surrounded by beauty. Our pitches looked out across Derwent Water, to Borrowdale, while behind us loomed the hulking mass of Skiddaw – one of the area’s largest mountains.
Everywhere you go, rugged mountains, rolling fields, and placid lakes combine to make the perfect escape from 21st-century life. Herdwick and Swaledale sheep graze the slopes as they have for centuries, and historic villages nestle in the valleys below. Whether you spend your days touring the excellent museums and visitor centres, or stretching your muscles out on the fells, you’ll find it easy to relax afterwards. There are lots of good places to eat, while a pint of locally brewed ale, sipped in front of an open fire in a traditional Lakeland pub, makes the perfect end to any day spent here.
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To enable you to pick and choose from our comprehensive range of Great Escapes, we have collected them all here for you. CLICK HERE |
SEE ALSO IN THE AUGUST 2005 ISSUE OF PRACTICAL CARAVAN
Nature Notes, The Great Outdoors, History and Culture, Eating Out, Great British Grub, Family Fun, Festivals and Events, General Information, Contacts.
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GETTING THERE
The most straightforward route into the North Lakes, whether coming from the North or the South, is to get off the M6 at Junction 40, signposted to Penrith. The A66 then takes you straight into Keswick on a scenic introduction to the area, and on to Cockermouth to the west. At Keswick the A591 takes you south to Grasmere and the B5289 winds its way to Borrowdale.
ALTERNATIVE SITES: CLs/CSs
Both the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club have numerous small caravan sites, with space for five or six tourers, in the Lakes.
ALSO IN THE MAGAZINE:
Hospitals, Cinemas, Swimming, Spares and accessories
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