1. Muncaster Castle - We loved Muncaster Castle when we visited. It's a wonderful place to spend an hour or so exploring and looking around inside the beautiful castle. The historic castle dates back from the medieval age and has been home to the Pennington family for over 800 years. The Castle sits in over 70 acres of wild, woodland gardens set against the stunning backdrop of the Lakeland fells including Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. The Hawk & Owl Centre is well worth a visit - I actually managed to hold an owl when we visited which was an amazing experience.
2. Buttermere Lake - Buttermere lake was one of my favorite places to spend the day when we were in the Lake District last time. The scenic views are just utterly breathtaking. It is so calm and tranquil there. There are so many places to stop and have a picnic, or take some photographs or even just sit and take in all of the surrounding beauty. Buttermere Lake is not to be missed.
3. Catbells - Of the mountains in the Lake District, this is probably the easiest to walk to the top of and probably the most family-friendly, I've not done this one myself but some of my family have and apparently the views are stunning.
4. Lake Windermere - Windermere is where we stayed when we visited the Lake District for the first time back in 2012 for our honeymoon. It's such a beautiful area with a very relaxed atmosphere. We took a really lovely boat ride around the lake and it was a really nice way to spend an hour. There are lots of little shops about and nice places to eat here.
5. Grasmere - Grasmere village is a charming little village where so many poets and writers took inspiration from. With cute cottages, pubs, cafes and shops as well as the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop, Grasmere is definitely worth a visit. I'm not usually a huge fan of gingerbread, but the gingerbread from Grasmere is amazing and is a must try!
6. Honister Pass - Honister pass is one of the most scenic and breathtaking mountain routes in the Lake District. We usually explore the route by car following the Honister pass from Keswick. If you're looking for one of Britain's most scenic drives, this is it!
7. Aira Force - Aira Force is such a stunning waterfall to visit for the whole family. It's a fantastic walk and the scenery is stunning. Good footwear is a must for this as there are a few inclines and stairs and it can get slippery if wet.
8. Honister Slate Mine - England's last remaining working slate mine is such an interesting visit. The tour is brilliant and it's amazing to learn about the history and stories of the mine. You get a really good idea about what life inside a mine as a miner is like. Top tip: Wrap up warm, because it can get cold inside!
9. Derwent Water - Derwent Water is absolutely stunning. It has everything - peace, tranquillity and lovely views. There are plenty of walking trails and loads of different places to see and photograph the lake. Well worth a visit!
10. Book to stay in a beautiful Lake District cottage - One of the best things about a stay in the Lake District is spending the day exploring all of your beautiful surroundings and then coming back to your cosy and charming cottage to relax and spend the evening with your family. You can find and book such cottages via Good Life Lake District Cottages who have a huge range of beautiful cottages in the Lake District to choose from.
Have you visited the Lake District? What else would you add to this list?
Thank you for reading. Alex xo