The Lake District has been a popular tourist destination since the romantic poets and painters of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries discovered it. Despite this fact the wider county of Cumbria has, in large parts, been missed by travellers. However the county, one of England’s largest, has much more to offer than simply its well-known central area. Arguably the best time of year to visit Cumbria and the Lake District is the ‘off-season’, when the region is at its least crammed with visiting tourists. Hotels in the Lake District itself operate throughout the year and in the low season offer some of their best and most flexible deals. If you are planning on taking advantage of the quieter times in the Lake District, consider visiting some of the hidden treasures that Cumbria has to offer.
The lost valley?
The Eden Valley is one of Cumbria’s overlooked regions, yet sits directly next to the Lake District. Sandwiched between the Lake District Mountains to the west and the Pennines to the east, the Eden valley features a wide, rolling landscape, nestled below looming fells. The agricultural way of life is still the predominant industry in the Eden valley – although tourism has developed in the last twenty or so years. The valley runs north from the edge of the Yorkshire Dales to the Solway Firth and the Scottish border. The Settle to Carlisle railway line winds its way up the valley often close to the river Eden and offers a great way to explore this less travelled path. The main town in the Eden valley is Penrith, while smaller towns and villages are scattered along its length.
That other national park
Cumbria incorporates not one but two national parks – at least a small corner of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is included! Centred round the attractive market town of Sedbergh this area is distinct from the Cumbrian Mountains and certainly feels like the Yorkshire Dales. The Howgill Fells glower above Sedbergh, while hidden dales stretch away into the high Pennines. Sedbergh has a range of attractive shops and is well known for its bookshops including a number of antique or rare bookshops. An annual book festival takes place in the summer, but the town thrives throughout the year and has plenty to offer whenever you visit.
Outstanding Beauties
The Solway Coast and North Pennines are the other two protected landscapes in Cumbria. Both are designated for their unique character as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and for those staying in the Lake District offer a change of character in landscape. The Solway coast is within view of the northern Lake District Mountains and features wide salt marshes and tiny, unspoilt villages – many of which feel more Scottish than English. Across the water Scotland is easily visible and both coasts are sparsely populated which makes it a haven for wildlife and a bird spotters paradise. Beyond the Eden Valley to the east of the Lake District – but within only 30 miles – lies the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Featuring the highest Pennine peak – Cross Fell – which was for many years mistaken for England’s highest mountain. Cross Fell often has snow lingering through well into the summer and hidden below it lies England’s highest market town – Alston. Alston clings to the Pennines, with steep streets and hidden alleys. Once centre of an industrious coal mining region it now sits isolated in the wild landscape, now catering well for tourists the routes up to Alston are not always passable in winter – so check before travelling!
Hotels in the Lake District can offer a range of deals during the autumn and winter – allowing you to experience not only the Lake District minus the tourist crush but also some of Cumbria’s less well known highlights.
