The Lake District is a National Park famous for its lakes, forests and mountains. We have written a lot about the Lakes in the past, about why it is so popular, what you can do there for a weekend break, walks for beginners and why the Lakes is the perfect location for food lovers.

But where exactly is it?

It seems like an absurd question. The Lake District is such a coveted destination in Great Britain, how could anyone not know where it is? Well, believe it or not, a lot of people. Visitors from other countries for one, and, incredibly, plenty of people from Blighty, too. So, we here at Mill House Cottages don’t want to leave anyone in the dark, forever wondering where this wonderous mountainous region is; it just wouldn’t be right.

So, here is our definitive guide to where exactly the Lake District is.

So, Where Is the Lakes?

The Lake District is in a little country called England. England is one of three countries located in the island of Great Britain, which is part of the sovereign state of the United Kingdom. Within England, there are 48 different counties, and the Lake District is contained entirely within one county: Cumbria.

Cumbria is in the North West of England and has a population of just under half a million and is one of the most sparsely populated counties in the United Kingdom. It is the third largest county in England by area, and is bounded to the north by the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders, to the west by the Irish Sea, to the south by Lancashire, to the southeast by North Yorkshire and to the east by County Durham and Northumberland.

How Far Away?

If you live anywhere in the North West of England, chances are you won’t be too far from the Lakes. But if you don’t, you’ll probably want to know how far away you are and how long it would take you to get there. Here is a handy guide for estimated drive times to the Lakes from some central points in the UK:

Lake District Facts and Stats

• The Lake District was established in 1951
• It coves an area of 2,362 square kilometres
• All land in England higher than 3,000 feet above sea level is in the Lakes
• The Lake District is home to the highest mountain in England: Scarfell Pike
• It is also home to the deepest and longest bodies of water in England, Wast Water and Windermere
• The Lakes has a total of 23 kilometres of coastline
• There are 281 ancient monuments
• There are 23 conservation areas
• The Lake District draws approximately 19.17 million visitors a year
• Woodland covers 12% of the Lake District, around 28,500 hectares
• The Lake District was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017

Lakes in the Lakes

When writing about the Lake District, we couldn’t possibly miss out one key component: the lakes themselves. The Lake District is home to 16 different lakes, the largest being Windermere. Only one of the lakes, Bassenthwaite Lake, is officially a lake by name, the others are meres or waters. The Lake District Lakes are as follows:

So, now that you have a better idea of where the Lakes is, how to get here and a little bit about what you can find here, we hope to be seeing you very soon. At Mill House Cottages, we have a range of available luxury holiday cottages in the Lake District for your next getaway. Check out our range of cottages available and book online today.

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to visit the Lake District. This peaceful season is also one of the most beautiful, as the leaves in the valleys turn from green to gold. The orchards in places like Sizergh are ripe with fruit, ready and waiting for harvesting; Ambleside is awash with autumn colours; Skiddaw is blazing with purple heather; and for early risers, you can take advantage of the beautiful displays of low-level mist above the lakes and rivers.

But this time of year is not only a beautiful sight to behold; autumn in the Lakes is full of fantastic seasonal events perfect for the whole family. Here are just a few picks from the extensive range of goings-on in the Lake District this autumn:

Forests of Folklore – Ambleside

Have you ever wondered where Beatrix Potter got the inspiration for some of the darker characters in her tales? This autumn, from 20^th October until the 24^th November, you can head over to Wray Castle in Ambleside for the Forests of Folklore event. The Germanic folk stories of Beatrix Potter’s childhood had elements of character and plot that eventually made their way into her own books. You can play hide and seek with the eerie shadows of Wray Castle’s very own folk characters inside their indoor shadow forest.

Halloween at Muncaster Castle – Ravenglass

Make this Halloween a truly special event with a visit to Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass. From the 23^rd to the 28^th October, you can visit one of Britain’s most haunted castles (if you dare), for a spooky variety of Halloween-themed activities.

Arrive in fancy dress and enjoy all that’s going on at the castle, including the Muncaster Monster Cabaret – a conjuring and comedy aerialist show with fire-eating and more. There is also The Scary Maze, where the Meadowvole Maze has been transformed into a dark, scary nightmare for Halloween; The Ghostly Grotto which includes lantern-making workshops, ghost stories and face-painting; Twilight Owls, a display of beautiful owls in low-level lighting; and the Castle Halloween Tour – a scripted, theatrical tour of the castle. Give your family a Halloween to remember with a visit to Muncaster Castle.

Broom and Wand Making Workshop – Acorn Bank

Another wonderful activity for the kids. Come down to Acorn Bank on the 27^th October from 10:30 to 15:30 for a broom and wand making workshop. Your little witches and wizards can make their very own broomstick and wand using natural, woodland materials. An activity that is certain to spark their imagination and creativity as well as get them outside and enjoying being in nature.

The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival – Kendal

The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival is the only event of its kind in the UK, and it takes place in the quaint little market town of Kendal. The festival celebrates the amazing world of comic artists, creators and writers, bringing the biggest names in comic art to Cumbria. This year it consists of 70 special guests from across the comic world. You can get work signed by your favourite creator, buy some incredible works or enjoy the various talks and discussions exploring comic art in all its guises.

Woodland Pumpkin Trail – Allan Bank and Grasmere

This autumn, the Allan Bank Woodland trail will be taken over by spooky pumpkins. Your children can venture into the woods to see how many they can find, just make sure they remember to check inside the spine-tingling tunnel. Allan Bank is a place to relax in front of a warm fire while the children play. This is available from the 15^th October until the 31^st and booking is not required.

The Peter Rabbit Trail – Hill Top

One to certainly delight kids and adults alike; from now until the 2^nd October, head down to Hill Top in Cumbria for the Peter Rabbit Trail. On this trail, you’ll join Peter Rabbit as he searches for Beatrix’s clues in the garden and for Samuel Whiskers’ family in the house. Explore the garden with your senses. Keep your eyes peeled for objects hidden in the vegetable patch that may have fallen out of Beatrix’s handbag. Relive your favourite childhood books and let your children experience the magic that is Beatrix Potter.

Get down to the Lake District this year and take advantage of all the incredible events going on. We have a range of luxury holiday cottages in the Lake District to suit all needs. Whether you want to get your spook on this Halloween, or feel wonderful and festive in time for Christmas, there will be something going on in the Lakes for you and your whole family.

St Andrews is a beautiful seaside town in Fife, on Scotland’s east coast. Home to the oldest University in Scotland (and the 3^rd oldest in the English-speaking world), this town is rife with history, and there are so many wonderful things to see and do. One of the best things about visiting St Andrews is that so many of the attractions are within walking distance of each other, so you can enjoy a great day out on foot.

Here are just some of the things you can’t miss out on in St Andrews:

Golf

There could be nothing written about St Andrews that didn’t mention golf! The 'home of golf' is what St Andrews is known as worldwide. In part, because The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, founded in 1754, is the headquarters of golf, and exercised legislative authority over the game worldwide (excluding the US and Mexico) until 2004. St Andrews boasts being the most frequent venue for The Open Championship; the oldest of four major golf championships.

As a result, St Andrews is the perfect destination for any golf enthusiasts. As well as being home to the oldest golf club in the world, and many courses, there are other golf-related activities to do here. You could take a trip to the Golf Shop of St Andrews, a shop that has a wide range of golf clothing and gifts featuring the St Andrews Crest.

There’s also the British Golf Museum, showcasing a detailed history of the development of the game and the equipment, a footage archive and substantial quantities of golf memorabilia. For golf lovers, there’s no better place to visit than St Andrews.

Scotland’s Secret Bunker

A secret kept for 40 years – beneath a Scottish farmhouse in St Andrews is a tunnel that leads to Scotland’s Secret Bunker. Almost 100 feet below ground level, the bunker is open to the public to come and journey down the 450-foot tunnel and through the blast doors to discover the secrets of the bunker – which was built to safeguard Scotland during the Cold War in the event of nuclear attack.

This attraction is a fascinating look into Cold War history. You can discover how they would have survived a nuclear attack from the deadliest bombs. For history fans and those with a general sense of curiosity, this is not to be missed.

The Great Outdoors

St Andrews is a beautiful town full of gorgeous outdoor spaces and parks where you can spend time connecting with nature. Craigtoun Park, for instance, is a free-to-enter haven of trees, grass areas, Fairy Glen and gardens, and includes payable attractions such as a miniature railway, boats and crazy golf.

There is also the St Andrews Botanic Gardens, an inspirational garden in the heart of the town with trees, scrubs, ponds, a waterfall, rock and peat gardens, a herb garden and extensive glasshouses. If you want to unwind and find a peaceful spot to enjoy nature, you won’t be short of places to do so in St Andrews.

Historic Sites

Such a historical town is full of historic sites to visit – and no, they’re not all golf courses. St Andrews has its own castle which has had stints as a fortress, palace and a prison. It is largely in ruins from the centuries of war and high tides, but it’s still a remarkable sight to behold to any visitor. If you just can’t get enough of ruins, there is also the St Andrews Cathedral. Once the largest church in Scotland, these ruins hold the story of a once truly magnificent construction. Visitors can venture to the top for a truly spectacular view of St Andrews.

St Andrews is a wonderful holiday break destination. If you’re looking for waterside cottages in Scotland, contact Mill House Cottages today. We have a unique selection of cottages to rent in St Andrews and other parts of Scotland which are sure to meet all of your needs.