UNUSUAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT, CUMBRIA PART TWO

Continuing from where I left off in my previous article on the Lake District, in this article I shall concentrate on a few more less traveled destinations across the English Lake District.

English Lakes Tour

You can contact the Mountain Goat mini coach conducted tour company beside Windermere rail station who will take you to all the 24 or 28 beautiful lakes in the English lake district including Ullswater, Derwentwater, Elterwater, Buttermere, Crummock water, Coniston, Rydal water, Grasmere, Wastwater, Thirlmere, Loughrigg Tarn and of course Windermere.

Dungeon Ghyll Force, Lake District

Ghyll means ravine. This is one of the must visit places in the English lake district – an impressive 60 feet waterfall ensconced in a shaded and deep ravine in the great Langdale valley. Stickle Ghyll is close by and if you climb up a steep path, you will reach Stickle Tarn, tarn meaning a Norwegian mountain pool. Hikers and mountaineers love to relax and stretch their legs in their favorite haunt the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel with its old world log fires and Cumberland ale.

Great Langdale or the LongValley, Lake District

This sprawling green glacial valley, tucked away in the midst of spectacular mountain scenery, far from the madding crowd has everything to captivate a nature lover – from fast flowing waterfalls to Ghylls and small tarns and rugged cliffs. Neolithic men used to manufacture stone axes out of the hard volcanic rock that makes up the craggy cliffs.

On the way to Langdale you will come across the attractive village of Elterwater, peaceful tarns, the ElterwaterLake, the 15 feet high Skelwith Force waterfall and the Skelwith bridge on the river. The valley is criss crossed by grey stone walls and narrow winding lanes, so be careful if you are driving your car. 

Ullswater, Lake District

The second largest lake in the English Lake District is Ullswater which is 8 miles long (Windermere is the largest). The best way to enjoy the beauty of Ullswater, its wooded shoreline and the rugged rocky mountainous landscape enveloping this large water body is to sail away on a cruise. You can catch a launch cruise from either Howtown or PooleyBridge or Glenridding.

It was at GlencoynePark beside Ullswater that a host of ever dancing gay yellow daffodils gave William Wordsworth the inspiration to coin his famous poem The Daffodils.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
THE DAFFODILS

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills, 
When all at once I saw a crowd, 
A host, of golden daffodils; 
Beside the lake, beneath the trees, 
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way, 
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay: 
Ten thousand saw I at a glance, 
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: 
A poet could not but be gay, 
In such a jocund company: 
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood, 
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude; 
And then my heart with pleasure fills, 
And dances with the daffodils.

Glenridding, Lake District

Tourists, especially hikers mainly flock to this village sitting on the southern tip of LakeUllswater because of its close proximity to Helvellyn – the 3^rd highest mountain peak in England.

Pooley Bridge, Lake District

Pooley bridge, a 16^th century bridge connects the two banks of River Eamont at the head of Ullswater. Quaint teashops, grey stone houses lining two wide streets and several tourist services overlook the lake.

Aira Force, Lake District

It is probably the most famous waterfall in the entire Lake District. Aira beck falls 70 feet from below a beautiful foot bridge made of stone and provides a striking glimpse into a landscaped Victorian park noted for its rocky scenery, arboretum and dramatic waterfalls. This waterfall has also inspired 3 more poems of William Wordsworth.