About us: Useful links
Visiting
The following links to websites are offered in good faith. The Lake District National Park Authority has no control over the content of the sites and no endorsement of any of the products or services contained on the sites is implied.
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Accommodation
General
- Go Lakes
- Discover the Lakes
- Escape 2 Lake District - hotels, bed and breakfasts, self catering cottages and campsites.
- Explore Lake District
- Keswick and the North Lakes
- Independent Hostel Guide
- Lake District Camping
- Lake District Hospitality Association - including pet-friendly accommodation
- Love to Escape
- National Trust Cottages in the Lake District
- Smooth Hound's Cumbria Hotel and Guest House Directory
- South Lakeland - Accommodation
- Western Lake District
- VirtualCumbria
- Visit Eden
- Youth Hostel Association
Self-catering cottages and lodges
- Ashlack Cottages
- Bassenthwaite Lakeside Lodges
- Coppermines and Coniston Lake District Cottages
- The Cottage Suite in Keswick
- Country Cottages Online
- Cumbrian Cottages
- The Derwent Manor Apartments
- Farmhouse Accommodation
- The Good Life Cottage Company - pet-friendly
- Greta Bridge Cottages in Keswick
- Heart of the Lakes self-catering holiday cottages
- Helvellyn Cottages in Glenridding, Ullswater
- The How Holiday Cottage in Patterdale, Ullswater
- Jonty's Cottage in Elterwater
- Lake District Inns and Cottages
- Lakelovers Lake District Cottages - Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Cumbria
- Lakeland Hideaways Cottages
- The Lakeland Cottage Company
- Lakeland Cottage Holidays
- Lakeland Holiday Cottages
- Lakes Breaks - self-catering accommodation
- Lodore House cottage overlooking Derwentwater
- Longlands Cottages in Cartmel
- Low Hall Cottage in Blindbothel
- Manesty Holiday Cottages, Borrowdale
- Mirefoot Cottages - self catering near Staveley
- Paradigm - renovated farm house and hay barn near Loweswater
- Pier Cottage by Coniston Water
- Rothay Lodge and Apartment - in Grasmere suitable for wheelchair users
- Sally's Cottages
- Scotgate Lakeland Lodges, Braithwaite
- Select Cottages - in Boot, Eskdale
- Station House Holiday Cottage, Troutbeck, Keswick
- Stayin the Lake District - Cottages
- Sykes Cottages
- UK Cottage Rental's Lake District Cottages
- The Views - Keswick town centre
- Wheelwrights Holiday Cottages
- Windermere Holiday Cottages
- Windermere Marina Village
- Woodgate Hall and Cottage near Lowick
Bed and breakfasts and guesthouses
- Bed and Breakfasts Guide
- Chestnuts Guesthouse, Windermere
- Cote How Bed and Breakfast, Rydal
- Crookabeck Bed and Breakfast, Patterdale
- Crookey Cottage Bed and Breakfast, Patterdale
- English Retreats - Bed and Breakfasts
- Enjoy Bed and Breakfast
- Fairlight Guest House, Glenridding
- Hazeldene Guest House, Keswick
- Heron Beck Guest House - Grasmere
- Home Farm Bed and Breakfast, Patterdale
- Horse and Farrier - Dacre
- Key Moss - Witherslack
- Kingswood Guesthouse - Ambleside
- Leathes Cottage, Borrowdale
- Ring House Cottages close to Coniston
- Yew Craggs Guesthouse, Borrowdale
Hotels and inns
- Beech Hill Hotel - Windermere
- Borrowdale Gates Hotel
- Bridge House Hotel, Grasmere
- Coast and Country Hotels by Windermere and Derwentwater
- Craig Manor Hotel - Bowness
- The Derwentwater Hotel
- English Lakes Hotels, Resorts and Venues
- Hillthwaite House Hotel - Windermere
- Lake District Hotels Limited - family owned and run hotels
- Lake District Inns and Cottages
- Lakeside Hotel and Spa - Windermere
- New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
- Signpost - Premier Hotels in Cumbria
- South Lakes Hotels at Newby Bridge and Crosthwaite
- The Windermere Hotel
Camping, caravanning and camping barns
Please take a look at our Camping and caravanning page and camping_barns page.
Other
- Kepplewray Centre for educational residential stays
- Striding Edge Hostel
Camping and caravanning
- Black Beck Caravan Park near Bouth
- Camp in Cumbria
- Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park near Keswick
- Camping and Caravanning Club's Alternative Camping such as pods
- Hawkshead Croft caravan site
- Lake District Camping
- Lakeland Campers - to hire VW camper vans
- Long Valley Yurts
- National Trust campsites
- Pier Cottage and Caravan Park by Coniston Water
- Pitchup.com
- Skelwith Fold Caravan Park, Ambleside
- South Lakeland Campers - to hire VW camper vans in South Lakeland
- Wild in Style Yurts by Windermere
and if you want to check what the weather's looking like:
- Weatherline - local weather forecast
Attractions
- Blackwell
- Brockhole - The Lake District Visitor Centre
- Coniston Boating Centre
- Dubwath Silver Meadows Nature Reserve at Bassenthwaite Lake
- Eden Arts
- The Lake District Pass - a visitor pass helping you to save money and have a great day out.
- Go Windermere with links to 6 great attractions
- Grizedale Forest Park
- Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall in Staveley
- Hawkshead Grammar School Museum - where Wordsworth studied
- Honister Slate Mine - including tours
- Rheged Discovery Centre
- South Lakes Wild Animals Park
- Traction Engine Driving Courses
- Whinlatter Forest Park
Local towns
Walking routes
- Car Free Walks
- Cumbria and Lake District walks from Go Lakes
- English Lake District - 3D routes using Google Earth's plug-in
- Family walks with Sprayway
- GPS Walking Routes - Cumbria
- The Happy Hiker
- John Dawson's Lake District Walks
- Lakeland Fells
- Lakeland Walks
- Lakeland Way
- My Wainwrights
- National Trust - Go walking in the North West
- Nature Valley Walks and Walking Maps - uses Flash
- Smartwool Walking Guides - Ambleside and Langdale, Keswick and Staveley and Kentmere walk leaflets.
- Walk - Ramblers magazine - Northern England section
- Walking Britain
- Walking Englishman
- Walking in Keswick and the North Lakes
- Walks in the Lake District
- Where 2 Walk
Cycling links
- Introduction to Cycling in the Lake District - Go Lakes
- Bike Hub
- Bike hire at Coniston Boating Centre
- Country Lanes Cycling Holidays
- CTC - the UK's National Cyclists' Organisation
- Cumbria and Lake District cycling routes from Go Lakes
- GPS Cycle Routes - Cumbria
- Grizedale Mountain Bikes
- Keswick Mountain Bikes
- Mountain bike hire in Coniston
- RiverDeepMountainHigh - including guided off-road riding and outdoor activity trips
- Rough-Stuff Fellowship - the oldest off-road cycling touring club in the UK
- Spinnoff guided mountain biking
- Sustrans - co-ordinator of National Cycle Network
- The Bike List
- TrailKings - mountain bike courses
- Wheelbase Cycling Shop in Staveley
- WildBike - mountain bike holidays
Outdoor activities
- Activities in Lakeland
- Ascents of Adventure
- Bendrigg Trust Residential Centre
- Best Activity Weekends Blog
- British Canoe Union
- British Mountaineering Council
- Cicerone - guides for walkers, trekkers, mountaineers, climbers and cyclists
- Climb365
- Contours Walking Holidays
- Cumbria Bridleways Society
- Cumbria Canoeists
- Cumbria Soaring Club - paragliding in the Lake District
- Curlew Guided Walks
- Destination Cumbria - Activity Booking Specialists
- Electric Boat Organisation
- GPS Training
- Gr8trails - guided short break and weekend UK adventures
- High Point Mountain Guides
- Lake District Mountain Guiding
- Kayarchy - the sea kayaker's handbook
- Kendal Mountaineering Services
- Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft
- KR guided walks
- Lake District Experience Days
- Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association
- Lake District Sheepdog Experience
- Lake District Walks
- Lakes Guided Walks
- Macs Adventure - walking and active holidays
- Mickledore Walking Holidays
- MobileAdventure
- More than Mountains
- Mountain Goat
- MountainTreks - guided walking and mountain skills training courses
- Mountains to Water - tailormade adventure packages in the Lake District
- National Trust - Experience the Lakes
- Open River Canoe Adventures
- Orient Express - UK day trips
- Outdoor Adventure
- Paws for a Walk - information on dog walking
- Penrith Ramblers
- Predator Lure Fishing on Coniston Water
- Safe Watersports
- Sherpa Van - baggage and accommodation service
- Striding Edge Walks
- SuMMit Good walking group for walkers in their 20s and 30s
- Summitreks - adventure activities
- Tours of Discovery
- UK Exploratory Self-Guided Walking Holidays
- Wainwrights on the air - portable radio enthusiasts' challenge
- Walking Forum - boards for discussing country walking and hiking in the UK
- Walking Women
- Walks for Women
- Wandering Aengus Treks
- Wandering Boots offering walking and navigation courses
- Whitehaven Rambling Club
- White Rose Motorcycle Tours
- Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association
- Windermere Golf Club
Outdoor equipment and maps
- Anatom outdoor equipment
- Aqua3 All Weather Maps
- Carlsons Fishing Tackle
- Climbers Shop in Ambleside
- Fieldsman Bookshop - includes tactile maps for visually impaired
- Pogu - Outdoor Accessories based in Staveley
- Summit Treks
- Teko Socks
Visitor information
- Cumbria Calling
- Cumbria Tourist Guides
- English Lakes - an illustrated guide to the Lake District
- I Know Lake District
- lake-district.com
- Lake District Directory - including information on boating and tourist attractions
- Lake District Tourist Guide
- Lakes Days Out - reviews for children by local schoolchildren
- Loweswatercam - photos, walk reports and more
- Manchester Airport Guide
- Nurture Lakeland's Green Business Directory
- Paul Pearson Photography - for wedding photography
- Pooley Bridge Online
- Striding Edge
- South Lakeland - Accommodation
- The Cumbria Directory
- Ullswater Association
- VirtualCumbria
- VisitBritain
- Visit Eden
- Wordsworth Country
- Your Guide 2 The Lake District
Want even more visitor information?
Visit Golakes (opens in new window), the official website of the tourist board for The Lake District and Cumbria. Browse and book accommodation and attractions online and see what's on in the area.
Learning
The following links to websites are offered in good faith. The Lake District National Park Authority has no control over the content of the sites and no endorsement of any of the products or services contained on the sites is implied.
All links open in a new window.
Conservation
- Campaign for National Parks
- English Heritage
- Natural England
- Friends of the Lake District
- National Trust
- Virtual Fauna of Lakeland
- Water Page Resources: The Importance of Water Conservation
- Water Pollution Guide
- Wealth of Wildlife
- Wildlife In Cumbria
General
Education
History
Caring for
The following links to websites are offered in good faith. The Lake District National Park Authority has no control over the content of the sites and no endorsement of any of the products or services contained on the sites is implied.
All links open in a new window.
Local organisations
- Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme
- Coastal Partnership
- Fix the Fells
- Flora of the Fells
- Friends of the Lake District
- Friends of the Sir John Barrow Monument in Ulverston
- Lake District Osprey Project
- Nurture Lakeland
- Red Squirrels Northern England
- Virtual Fauna of Lakeland
National organisations
- Association of Heritage Interpretation
- Association of Inland Navigation Authorities
- BTCV
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- Defra
- English Heritage
- Environment Agency
- Field Studies Council
- Heather Trust
- National Trust
- Natural England
- Nature.net
- Plantlife
- Red Squirrel Survival Trust including online donations and shop
- Save our Squirrels
- The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- 2020VISION: For a wilder Britain
National Parks in the UK
- ANPA - Association of National Park Authorities
- Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
- Broads Authority
- Cairngorms National Park Authority
- Campaign for National Parks
- Dartmoor National Park Authority
- Exmoor National Park Authority
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
- National Parks Portal
- North York Moors National Park Authority
- Northumberland National Park Authority
- Peak District National Park Authority
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority
- Snowdonia National Park Authority
- South Downs National Park Authority
- The New Forest National Park Authority
- Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
National Parks worldwide
The following links to websites are offered in good faith. The Lake District National Park Authority has no control over the content of the sites and no endorsement of any of the products or services contained on the sites is implied.
All links open in a new window.
National organisations
- Country Land and Business Association
- Directgov
- Planning Aid - offering free independent advice
Grants
- Big Lottery Fund
- Sustainable Development Fund page from this website
Local organisations and projects
Local businesses
- Aktive 8 Outdoor clothing and equipment
- Books Cumbria
- Checkmate - a novel set in the Lake District
- Christine Hurford - 2D and 3D artist
- Cumbrian Fellbred
- FireFrost Jewellery - handmade glass jewellery
- The Fish Cellar - in Penrith
- Friars of Keswick - chocolates and sweets
- Fusion Glass Art
- Hayes Garden World - at Ambleside
- Holdens County Store mail order worms for fishing and compost
- Lakes Love Bug - distinctive wedding car service
- Love the Lakes Gifts - online store selling Cumbrian goods
- Made in Cumbria
- Rock and Run
- Septic Tank Emptying
- Stewardsons Country Clothing
- Wave Seat Company of Keswick for ergonomic computer seats
- Serious Tank Emptying
- Windermere and Bowness Chamber of Trade
Local communities
Local councils
- Allerdale Borough Council
- Copeland Borough Council
- Cumbria County Council
- Eden District Council
- South Lakeland District Council
Local parish councils
- Cumbria Association of Local Councils - Parish Councils in Cumbria
- Rangers - this web page has links to Ranger maps which show parish boundaries within the National Park
Local media