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Hostelling in the English Lake District
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Returning to the Camping Barn
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The Lake District has been a popular holiday destination for over 100 years and is protected from modern development as a national park. It is well connected with the M6 skirting the west side, and the west Cumbria railway line giving access to the towns and villages along the coastal strip. Within the national park roads climb up to high passes in the mountains and skirt around the senic lakes.
Many visit The Lakes for the beautiful and dramatic landscapes, which with its position on the west of Britain, are subject to frequent changes in weather and light. The landscape is characterized by a harmonious mixture of rugged high fells with poor soils and thin vegetation, and the lower, improved pasture ('in-bye land'), with a contrasting, much greener appearance. Valley bottoms and lower valley sides are criss-crossed by miles of dry stone walls. Farms are dominated by sheep, with breeds such Rough Fell, Swaledale and the Herdwick, well adapted to the high fells. Variety is added by occasional woodlands, dominated by sessile oak and ash, and the a few conifer plantation. Woods, gills (deep, narrow clefts in the fell sides) and drystone walls are rich in mosses, ferns and lichen, which thrive with the high rainfall.
The buildings, of local slate, sandstone or limestone with slate roofs seem to belong the landscape. Traditional cottages are typically small with thick walls, often whitewashed. The larger buildings in the towns also display widespread use of local stone. Like in the rest of England there is a dense network of public paths and bridleways, usually well signed. In addition there are areas of open access land. The Outdoor Leisure maps of the Ordnance Survey showing all public rights of way are recommended, particularly the laminated versions (paper maps are soon decimated by wind and rain).
A great way to really get to know the Lake District is leave the car and to walk a circuit over a number of days, stopping in a different hostel, bunkhouse or camping barn each night. The fantastic scenery and the large number of hostels and camping barns within easy walking distance make the Lakes ideal for this type of hostelling. Lakeland hostels are great places to meet people and share experiences. Private and family rooms are available in many and self catering facilities are standard. Camping barns are much more basic and you will need your own sleeping bag/mat and in many cases your own cooking equipment (but at least there is no need to lug a tent around!). Many seasoned fell walkers use the hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns and are only too willing to give advice on routes, highlights, equipment, pubs, whatever!
Details of where to stay can be found in the Independent Hostel Guide (book or website). The website maps show the locations of the accommodation at different scales. The accommodation is represented by a balloons, sometime a few place which are close toegther are represented by one balloon, double click anywhere on the map to zoom-in until each place has its own balloon . All you need to know about the accommodation is available by clicking on its balloon. Click here to see the North England Map.
Although wild weather and wilderness are never far away, with a little planning a dry, warm and welcoming base awaits you at the end of the day! Published by : Bob Oldfield
Published on : November 1st, 2009
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