Experience More in the Lake District

The Lake District

The Lake District is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK, with over 15.8 million visitors each year. This is hardly surprising considering the outstanding natural beauty of the area, its many picturesque towns and villages, as well as popular tourist attractions like the World of Beatrix Potter and the William Wordsworth Museum. Shockingly, holidaying in the Lake District wasn’t always so popular, prior to the Nineteenth Century, areas like the Lakes were seen as uncivilised and dangerous. It was thanks to the Romantic Poets, most namely William Wordsworth who in 1820 published a successful ‘Guide Through the District of the Lakes’, that public opinion changed and visitors to the are increased dramatically.

Experience More

For those initial visitors venturing into the Lakes would have felt almost like exploring uncharted lands, offering so many fresh and exciting experiences. Although nowadays the Lake District is a lot more well-known, there are still plenty of adventures and unique things to do off the beaten path. Here at Sykes, we want you to get the most from your holiday, from finding your perfect place to what you do while you are there. In regards to the latter, we have launched our Experience More campaign, with the Lake District being our first destination. Experience More will focus on one much-loved area of the UK at a time, showcasing the fun and unique ways visitors can experience said areas, while avoiding the typical tourist traps.

In our first Experience More video, we have highlighted a selection of these experiences, from wild swimming to walking alpacas, as well as sampling a dram of whiskey at the Lakes Distillery. Just three of the many unique experiences to be had in this fantastic location. For more information on these experiences and many more, browse our list of Things to Do in the Lake District, part of our Inspire Me guides.

Suzanna Swims – Open Water and Wild Swimming

Open water swimming can be a welcome escape from all the pressures of modern life. Surrounded by water, without the constant email alerts and bombardment of notifications from smart phones, you can get close to nature in an active yet mindful way, viewing the Lakes from a completely new perspective. Suzanna offers guided tours that can be catered to individual needs in most bodies of water across the Lake District.

Alpacaly Ever After

Forget taking your dog for a walk, why not take an Alpaca? At Alpacaly Ever After you can take one of these friendly animals on a guided walk around the grounds of the beautiful Lingholm Estate, situated on the shore of Derwentwater. Take them through the private gardens, enjoy a paddle in the waters and help with feeding time. Both private and group walks are available, with booking necessary.

The Lakes Distillery

A unique experience in Lakes, the Lake Distillery not only produces wonderful blended and malt whiskeys, but also its own gin and vodka. Enjoy a guided tour around the distillery to learn how these are made, followed by a tasting. The site also contains a visitor centre, gift shop, bar and bistro, which allows visitors to sample the spirits as well as other local produce.

Windermere Lake Cruises 

Walking in the Lake District is a popular past-time, but why not enjoy the fantastic scenery from a more comfortable aspect? Sit back and relax on one of a number of different type of cruises provided by Windermere Lake Cruises, stopping at key destinations such as Bowness, Ambleside, Brockhole or Lakeside Pier. Whether you are looking to walk one way and return by ferry or enjoy a three hour cruise with dinner, there are options to suit all needs.

Our Lake District things to do guide has all that you need to make your holiday a memorable experience. Explore the wonders of the region from one of many sublime places to stay in the Lake District.