Best itinerary for 3 1/2 days in the N. Lake District of England?

Diane, we need a little more information in order to help you.

Do you prefer B&Bs or a hotel? Something in a town like Keswick or something more remote?
Will you have kids with you? If you will be there three nights I assume you only have two days. What are your interests? What do you mean by " special interest"?

How far north?

How are you going to be getting around?

My apologies, the rest of my post didn't "take"... what I meant to say was...
we will have a rented car, and we did just book a place in Keswick. I have a special interest in dogs, and would enjoy anything having to do with dogs including a sheepherding demo. I also have a special love for Beatrix Potter! We'll be there 3 nights, and will have the last 1/2 day as well as we mozy back over to Newcastle to return our car.

Thank you!
Diane

June 24-27

Thank you!

Hi Diane,
There are so many things to do in the Lake District and it really depends on what you are interested in.
You mentioned dogs....if you just type "sheep dog lake district" into google, you will find several people who have businesses that demonstrate their herding dogs. Just driving around on the secondary roads in this area you're bound to come across farmers using their dogs go herd their sheep...it's a common sight here.
Beatrix Potter...go to her farm that is open to the public; Hilltop. She used much of it as well as the village it's in, in her drawings made famous in her children's books. It's crowded but worth it. The farm where they filmed "Miss Potter" is north of Sawrey to the south of Honister in a small valley. The people who own it run it as a B&B now.
If you like literature you can visit Wordsworth's Dove Cottage on the main road between Ambleside and Grasmere. John Ruskin's home overlooks beautiful Coniston water. Both can be toured.
The Castlerigg Stone Circle just out of Keswick to the east is a beautiful place to spend some time - take your camera. The circle itself as well as the vistas from there are very picturesque.
If you like to hike or just walk, there are countless trails covering the whole national park. Go to the moot hall in Keswick where the tourist office is located to ask about what might suit your level of interest.
It's also fun to take one of the antique boats from the dock at the lakeside of Derwentwater in Keswick. It stops at several places along the lakeshore where you can get off and walk or hike.
Be sure to pick up gingerbread at Grasmere Gingerbread...in Grasmere of course. Unlike any gingerbread you've ever had - make sure to have ice cold milk handy. One of my favorite things anywhere!
The south end of the lake near Buttermere is one of my favorite places in the Lakes...the end of the lake has a lovely trail with that wraps around through fields and beautiful trees. You can walk round the whole lake or just stroll part of it. I don't know what it is about this place but it draws me back every time.