We are to spend a week at a timeshare base in September, staying in Carnforth just below the Lake District. We expect to spend a couple days up in the Lake District, and will make a round trip to Edinburgh for two nites so we have a day there.
We're interested in what else to take in on the two full remaining day trips from our base, plus things we might take in on the two days traveling to and from Edinburgh.
Thanks for any advice.
Looks like you are actually based some distance from the Lake District. Presumably you would tour the poplar Lake District villages of Windermere, Grasmere etc.
If you drive through Windermere, consider a side trip to the highest pub in the Lake District, the Kirkstone Pass Inn. Drive up the A592 from Windermere and return via the old Kirkstone Pass Road (or the reverse). http://www.kirkstonepassinn.com/
Or continue from the Kirkstone Pass to Patterdale and Ullswater. From Patterdale you could do a short walk to Angle Tarn, considered by some the prettiest tarn in England. http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/thingstodo/walking/walks-blog/angle-tarn-the-best-tarn-in-the-lakes
Or from Patterdale you could do a longer walk Helvellyn via Striding Edge is a classical walk:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvellyn#The_eastern_ridges
Helvellyn (pronunciation: /hɛlˈvɛ.lɪn/) (possible meaning: pale yellow
moorland) is a mountain in the English Lake District, the highest
point of the Helvellyn range, a north-south line of mountains to the
north of Ambleside, between the lakes of Thirlmere and Ullswater.Striding Edge is a popular route which involves some scrambling,
linking the summit ridge of Birkhouse Moor to Helvellyn's summit by
what becomes a sharp arête. Striding Edge begins at Hole-in-the-Wall
and then stretches for over 1.5 km to the Helvellyn summit plateau.
This starting point is accessible from both Glenridding and
Patterdale.
Head south to see Lancaster or east to the Yorkshire Dales. A little further away there are interesting towns like Penrith and Appleby
If driving to Scotland, you'll want to stop at Hadrian's wall. You're similarly within driving distance for the Yorkshire Dales and "James Herriot country." To add a few of the TV show locations to your driving route, see http://www.worldofjamesherriot.com/tv-locations/. The pleasant town of Thirsk is where the author's home is open as a museum. The ruins of 12th Cen. Reivaulx Abbey are a short drive from there and Castle Howard (Brideshead Revisited) or the city of York are a bit further on. Rick also has long had a soft spot for the gaudy seaside town of Blackpool.
The last of the "morecombe bay walks" is in Sept,check with the 2 official guides.
Of course Carnforth has the famous tearoom at the station, excellent scones by the way
Across the Pennines to Durham.
Thru the Yorshire Dales to York - Fountains Abbey and Castle Howard.
We visited Sizergh Castle, a wonderful estate with beautiful lake, swans, and other grounds, as well as Levens Hall while visiting the Lake District in May 2015. Both are around Kendal, which I believe is just north of where you are going to be.
We really enjoyed hiking Aria Force by Lake Ullswater. Beautiful!!
Also the drive around Derwentwater Lake that Rick has in his book is gorgeous!!! Beautiful country, and lots of places to get out and take short walks up to waterfalls.
One interesting, out of the way thing that I enjoy, is a visit to Muncaster Castle out on the coast. The castle is still lived in by the family and they have established a beautiful owl center. They keep many varieties of owls, fly them, feed them, and generally educate the public about them. The setting is quite beautiful and it's a nice day out!
