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Lake District Aug 31-Sept 4

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My husband and I will be coming from Oban, Scotland to the Lake District via train on August 31, leaving for USA on September 3 for Manchester for our flight home on Sept 4. We have booked lodging at Windermere as Mountain Goat tours have been recommended to us and without a car, felt this is the best way to go. We would appreciate your thoughts on our plan.
Aug 31 arrive Windermere via Scotrail from Oban, stay at Windermere Hotel x 3 nights
Sept 1 take 10 lakes all-day tour with Mountain Goat
Sept 2 take Yorkshire Dells all day tour with Mountain Goat
Sept 3 take train to Manchester for tomorrow's 1 pm flight

So- is there a different tour that might be better?
With not needing to be in Manchester early Sept 4, do we spend the day in Windermere and take a later afternoon train to Manchester?
Do you have a recommendation for a hotel in Manchester?
Also, any restaurant recommendations, and do we need reservations for each dinner?
You have been so helpful before. So glad we are getting closer to finalizing our plans. We did York, Edinburgh and the east coast several years ago and are excited to do the western side this time. York is my favorite!

Posted by
6422 posts

I know the Windermere Hotel is incredibly handy to the Railway Station and the Mountain Goat departure point, but am rather surprised that you have chosen there.
It's main focus is as a (big 50 seater) Coach Party Hotel- there are likely to be several there. The Coast and Country (the owners of the hotel) food is certainly adequate, but not remotely what you would call gourmet, more wholesome and plentiful and served at coach party speed. Unless they have put significant investment recently into the hotel (once a grand Railway Hotel) I wouldn't rank it as anything but adequate- that goes for all the old Shearings (Coast and Country predecessors) hotels.

I am not surprised that the TA reviews are all over the place in their scores. I really really wouldn't normally say this but almost anywhere else in Windermere would be better. If you are locked into it I hope your stay goes well, if you aren't I would suggest looking for somewhere else, obviously in Windermere town. I have no particular other preference. I feel really bad for the hotel in saying that. No one here has seen me say that about a hotel before.

I think those are two good tours. On 3 September you can afford to stay the whole day in Windermere- maybe do a South Lake cruise to Lakeside for the Aquarium and the Steam Railway, maybe visit the Lakeland Motor Museum.

Then take the 4pm train through to Manchester.

Or for a very different part of the Lake District you could do the MG High Adventure Tour (then the 7pm train), but I think the Steamer trip is a fitting end.

Generally, unless you are eating at one of the posh hotels, you don't need restaurant reservations in the Lake District, especially as that is just after the end of the summer school vacation.

With a 10am check in at MAN you don't need to stay overnight at the airport, stay in the City Centre. I would just choose a hotel close to Oxford Road or Piccadilly stations which suits your budget and leave at about 8.30 next morning to allow buffer time in case of any train problems.

Posted by
9 posts

I would leave the Lake District the day before your flight, may be leave mid afternoon and stay at the Radisson Blu in the airport. The train arrives at the airport and you just follow the signs to the hotel - no more than a 10 minute walk. In the morning you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then walk to your terminal.

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