Lake District Experience Required.

If you're going at the end of March, always keep your waterproofs within reach! Don't want to tempt fate, OP, but just be prepared ;)

Can't offer too much advice, because of my sieve-like memory, but get a decent walk book and you'll be well set. Good choice, BTW - I'm heading up there at the end of May for my honeymoon, and cannot wait!

One thing I'm determined to do this time is get along Striding Edge - last time I tried, the weather was foul, and I ended up going down the slope to Red Tarn :(
 
nicks3607 said:
One thing I'm determined to do this time is get along Striding Edge - last time I tried, the weather was foul, and I ended up going down the slope to Red Tarn :(
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Had a similar experience, we attempted Helvelyn but the weather was awful, blistering cold gales and very little visibilty. Although, the next day it was beautifully sunny and we headed up Scafell in shorts and t-shirt, there was fair bit of snow on the ground nearer the peaks, but it was all good. :)

edit: should always prepare for the worst though, mountain ranges tend to have their own ideas when it comes to weather. We hiked around Snowdonia one year in August and the weather was crap, very wet.
 
If you don't mind paying much and want to get away from the VERY touristy areas like Ambleside/Kedwisk/Windermere I would suggest going to Wastwater and staying at the Wasdale Head Inn or maybe even Pod it at the National Trust campsite.

You have all the biggest mountains in the Lakes on your doorstep also if u want to stretch your legs. Scafell, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and lots more.

But you'll be some time from any 'real life' but I think it's a much nicer place to stay than the usual spots like Keswick/Ambleside
 
haha we had some noob when we up helvlyn on striding edge and the weather turned quick and basically we couldnt see more than a few feet he just started running in front not even knowing where he was going :eek: 1000 ft drop on each side well done lol

the weather cleared pretty quicly though and it turned out to be awesome. theres a x type shelter at top if i remember right
 
We took our mountain bikes up Helvlyn in January a few years ago ( 93 ish ) It was fun riding across the top in the snow.
 
nicks3607 said:
One thing I'm determined to do this time is get along Striding Edge - last time I tried, the weather was foul, and I ended up going down the slope to Red Tarn :(
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lakes07_striding_HSH_small.jpg
 
Love Helvellyn and Striding Edge- did it September 2009 from Glenridding, approaching Helvellyn from the north. The edge is a fine piece of geology. Sadly though as JBuk points out, it is quite a hotspot for injuries and fatalities. If you've got your wits about you you'll be fine, there is a path that bypasses the spine so you don't have to scramble over it if you don't want to.
 
I lived on the fringe of the lake district for 35 years, and there's some cracking places where I'd advise you go. Not sure how you're travelling up as haven't read the thread too much, but:

Waster water has a decent youth hostel, do food, beer etc and some good info for all sorts of walks

Take a drive through wasdale, and on up and over hard-knot pass (you'll love it)
Walk around lake buttermere then drive through wrye-nose pass and into
keswick for some lunch and a row on the lake (can get busy here)

Walk up Skidaw, you can make this one from around 3 miles to 10 if you're up for it

Splash out and have a night in Aphridities lodge, bowness in windermere (can vouch for the american pine log cabin with ourside hot tub and enjoy the town, some good boozers and not short of people all ages being merry

Visit Ullswater and go on the steamer, if you're feeling really flashy have a meal in Sharrow bay hotel (michelin star'd place) costs a packet but well worth it

Or, simpley drive to the various places at leasure, have a walk, have some lunch, hire a bike and do some cycling, it realy is the most beautiful place in England (maybe I'm slightly biased :-])
 
Loving all the suggestions coming through so far, lots of food for thought. Will definitely give this a read through several times, working all weekend which is a pain but at least Monday and Tuesday I've got off so shall hopefully get something sorted during that time :)
 
Lived in Grasmere for a year working at one of the hostels, and visited most of the other Lakes hostels on my days off. Certainly don't discount them, most will have private rooms for a small premium and are pretty civilised in offering reasonable food and drink if you don't want to self cater.

Rowing on Derwentwater is pretty special, just a perfect view in all directions, followed by lunch in the upstairs cafe in George Fishers (lovely Borrowdale smoked trout pate). Keswick hostel, handy but not stunning location (i.e. it isn't Skiddaw House), but renovated to a very modern standard which might suit you.

Ambleside is perhaps the best place to spend an evening, or a whole day if like gear shops. Some quality pubs (Royal Oak, Golden Rule), very good restuarants (Lucys, Sheila's cottage, Fellinis) and always something worth seeing at Zeffs cinema. The hostel is a bit big for my liking, and as much as I don't care for Windermere (bit undramatic), it's a nice spot on the edge of the Lake.

Erm, in terms of fellwalking there's just too much to choose from, depends on your appetite.
 
beh said:
Lived in Grasmere for a year working at one of the hostels.
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Was it Thorney How?

Went there in September with my class, 30 Year 5 children running around the Lake District... Fun times! :D

It's for sale now though. Might have sold it by now.

Butterlyp How has just been done up, so I guess the YHA didn't feel like they needed the crappy one now!
 
vicisthebest said:
Was it Thorney How?

Went there in September with my class, 30 Year 5 children running around the Lake District... Fun times! :D

It's for sale now though. Might have sold it by now.

Butterlyp How has just been done up, so I guess the YHA didn't feel like they needed the crappy one now!
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Aye, was Thorney, few years back now. Was slightly gutted when I heard they were selling it so they could use the money for a city hostel.

Butharlyp didn't look much different when I popped my head in at end of September, apparently surprisingly little was actually done to it. Don't suppose you were at Thorney on the 28th, that would be a coincidence.

For me, Thorney always had a lot more charm to it.
 
No, we were there on 15th-18th. We booked it exclusively -my school has 4 Year 5 classes so we all went for 3 days each over two weeks, I was third to go though.

Was run down, don't think it's been well loved recently. But everything was clean and was fine for what it was, a youth hostel. The kids loved it - and so did I!

And I was told Butharlyp had been done up but obv didn't see it before so couldn't really comment!
 
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The missus and I stayed in a nice B&B at the lake district on our way up to Edinburgh a while back, and the pub down the road made the most amazing chicken pies. It was cheap, but a hell of a lot better than a hostel, and the scenery was amazing (was right next to a lake, unsurprisingly :p) I'll have a look and see if she can remember what it was called. Beautiful area though, and B&B's are a great way to experience it without breaking the bank.
 
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