I have always wanted to visit the Lakes District and this year I finally have the opportunity. I will be traveling in Ireland with friends until Sept 20, and I have already booked a flight from Dublin to Manchester that day. I have booked accommodation in Ambleside from Sept 21 until Sept 25, but I'm thinking it might be better to change my hotel reservation to begin on the 20th, as my flight arrives before noon (I originally thought to spend one night in Manchester). Traveling alone for this segment I would prefer to arrive at my destination before nightfall, so I would love some guidance as to the best way to travel from Manchester to Ambleside. I will be toting a carry-on roll aboard suitcase and a daypack.
For my days in Ambleside, I plan on hiking each day although I am also looking at the full day tour offered by Mountain-Goat called the 10 Lakes Spectacular. Ideally I would take this tour on my first full day in order to familiarize myself with the area. Since my two weeks in Ireland will be very busy (moving almost daily) I want this segment of my trip to be more relaxed - hence my desire to stay in one place and take day trips/day hikes from there. I would also like to know of any hiking groups that I might be able to meet up with while there. I am 68, in good shape, accustomed to hiking 5-6 miles 3 or 4 days a week at elevations around 5-6,000 feet.
At the end of my time in the Lakes District I will be traveling on to Italy to visit family, but haven't made any of those arrangements yet.
Posted by
Preston UK
1281 posts
Getting from Manchester Airport to the Lake District is easy. There are direct trains from the airport to Windermere several times a day and in addition trains mostly every hour to Oxenholme, where you make a very simple change on the branch line to Windermere. The station at Windermere is just 5 miles from Ambleside and there are regular 555 buses which take 15-20 minutes. Total journey time 2.5 to 3 hours, so with an arrival before 12 you will have plenty of time to get to Ambleside on the same day. (Although spending a bit of time in Manchester is never a bad idea).
Posted by
Lake District, England
8410 posts
20 September is a Saturday, so better to travel that day than on the Sunday when there is more likely to be rail engineering work.
There are trains at 1304 and 1404 change at Oxenholme, arrive Windermere 1456 and 1556 respectively, also a through train at 1429, arrive 1653.
No sooner than 8 weeks before travel buy an Airport Advance Single on either of the first two trains, which should be around £15. Unlike any other Advance Ticket in the UK if your flight is late you are allowed to travel up to two hours later if the flight is delayed and you get your ticket endorsed at the airport station ticket office.
As well as the 555 (which should be every half hour on a Saturday in September, destination Keswick)) there is the Open Top 599 bus every 20 minutes (destination Grasmere) so 5 buses an hour between Windermere and Ambleside.
On the 1429 through train you can get Advance Fares as low as £9 but those tickets can't be amended for a late flight.
As regards a local hiking group you could try contacting Kendal Ramblers (the local group of the Ramblers Association)- maybe through their Facebook Page- https://kendalramblers.weebly.com/
Unlike many RA local groups who have their walks at a weekend they seem to do walks on weekdays.
Posted by
Preston UK
1281 posts
Note that Scafell Pike, the highest point in the Lake District (and England) is only 3,208 feet high. That doesn't mean that there are not some serious walking routes in the area, as well as many easy ones.