This part of England is well known for The Lake District and is extremely popular with visitors form all over the world and if you have visited, you will already know the attraction. The village and towns surrounding the lake district are very pretty and offer a great selection of shops, which you don’t always find in other areas of the UK. When anyone is visiting the UK, the lake district is one of the UK’s “Jewels”, however the North West covers a large area and I would recommend also looking at visiting places like Liverpool, in the southern area of the North West.
Brockhole - Visited May 2016
We had previously talked about hiring a motor boat on Lake Windermere and we were sat on a bench at Bowness-on-Windermere debating, so I suggested to my wife we take the boat cruise to Ambleside instead, that way we get a trip on the lake and get to walk around Ambleside. When we went to look at the times and prices, we saw the red cruise stopped at Brockhole on the way up and as we'd never been before, we decided to skip the motor boat and take the boat to Brockhole instead.
Brockhole is a really nice place to visit, with plenty for the kids, including treetop nets, treetop trek, adventure playground, mini golf and plenty of open space for a picnic. To get back to Bowness-on-Windermere we had to take a boat from Brockhole to Ambleside and then from Ambleside it goes straight back to Bowness-on-Windermere.
We had previously talked about hiring a motor boat on Lake Windermere and we were sat on a bench at Bowness-on-Windermere debating, so I suggested to my wife we take the boat cruise to Ambleside instead, that way we get a trip on the lake and get to walk around Ambleside. When we went to look at the times and prices, we saw the red cruise stopped at Brockhole on the way up and as we'd never been before, we decided to skip the motor boat and take the boat to Brockhole instead.
Brockhole is a really nice place to visit, with plenty for the kids, including treetop nets, treetop trek, adventure playground, mini golf and plenty of open space for a picnic. To get back to Bowness-on-Windermere we had to take a boat from Brockhole to Ambleside and then from Ambleside it goes straight back to Bowness-on-Windermere.
Runway Visitor Park - Manchester Airport - Visited May 2014
The visitor park at Manchester airport is one of the bigger and better ones I have seen and there’s plenty of parking (not sure on the cost, as we actually parked further away and walked), there’s plenty of picnic tables spread about and a large restaurant, however that’s not all. The unique thing here is they have some old aeroplanes that you can look inside (not all are open for viewing everyday) and the biggest of all is Concorde, which you can pay extra to view.
The visitor park at Manchester airport is one of the bigger and better ones I have seen and there’s plenty of parking (not sure on the cost, as we actually parked further away and walked), there’s plenty of picnic tables spread about and a large restaurant, however that’s not all. The unique thing here is they have some old aeroplanes that you can look inside (not all are open for viewing everyday) and the biggest of all is Concorde, which you can pay extra to view.
Southport – July 2013
Southport is a large coastal town south of Blackpool, there’s a lot to do and see, including a town centre full of shops, cafes' and restaurants. The seafront is quite long and so is the walk along the pier, as it stretches over the lake, onto the beach and finally gets close to the sea, which is usually quite a distance out, however if the walk along the pier is too long, then jump on the tram or road train for a lift.
For those of you who like a more thrilling ride, you can take a trip out on the jet boat or for a more leisurely ride on the lake, there’s the steam boat or self drive motor boats. There is also plenty for the kids to do, including a skate park, bumper boats, pitch and putt and a crazy golf (check out our Crazy/Mini Golf page here) course.
Southport is a large coastal town south of Blackpool, there’s a lot to do and see, including a town centre full of shops, cafes' and restaurants. The seafront is quite long and so is the walk along the pier, as it stretches over the lake, onto the beach and finally gets close to the sea, which is usually quite a distance out, however if the walk along the pier is too long, then jump on the tram or road train for a lift.
For those of you who like a more thrilling ride, you can take a trip out on the jet boat or for a more leisurely ride on the lake, there’s the steam boat or self drive motor boats. There is also plenty for the kids to do, including a skate park, bumper boats, pitch and putt and a crazy golf (check out our Crazy/Mini Golf page here) course.
The crazy golf course is an 18 hole course, which is spread over quite a large area in a large U shape; it can get busy during the holiday season, so you may have to queue. It’s a good course, fairly well maintained and although a fairly simple course, it has some good, challenging holes.
Keswick – May 2013
Keswick has a selection of shops and restaurants, set in a pretty town and from where we were staying (click here for my review), we only had to walk two minutes to get to the town and local restaurants.
Keswick has a selection of shops and restaurants, set in a pretty town and from where we were staying (click here for my review), we only had to walk two minutes to get to the town and local restaurants.
Hope Park is located between Keswick Town and Derwent Water, with beautiful gardens, open spaces and even a mini golf.
Derwent Water is a large lake to the south west of Keswick and is within a 5 minute walk of the town. You can walk around the lake, however the path doesn't follow the side of the lake all the way and we did find ourselves climbing a small section, which then led us to the roadside, which we also had to walk a long for a short distance. It’s a nice mixed walk, sensible walking shoes is highly recommended and on a nice day, take a picnic and find a nice place to sit, although there are no benches and there are also several points where you can get the boat if you decide to walk no further. We started at the park and walked south, clockwise around the lake and feel this is the best direction to head, Nichol end marina offers a coffee stop at the north end of the lake, but we’d almost completed the walk when we arrived there.
Coniston Lake – May 2013
We were originally considering taking a motor boat out on the lake; however it looked a little choppy on the day, so we decided to take a trip on the steam powered gondola instead. You can take motor boats or rowing boats out on most of the large lakes, but always take advice from the boat hire company, before taking out a boat on the lake or consider a boat trip instead.
We were originally considering taking a motor boat out on the lake; however it looked a little choppy on the day, so we decided to take a trip on the steam powered gondola instead. You can take motor boats or rowing boats out on most of the large lakes, but always take advice from the boat hire company, before taking out a boat on the lake or consider a boat trip instead.
Ennerdale Lake – May 2013
We visited Ennerdale lake, travelling via Buttermere over Honister Pass, as the owner of the guest house told us how beautiful the drive was and it’s definitely a bit hair raising at times on the narrow roads and I don’t make a great passenger, especially on high mountain roads. The walk around the lake was around 6 miles, however starting at the west end of the lake going anti-clockwise, we only managed to get about a mile ‘round, when we arrived at what appeared to be a dead end, unless you were brave enough to venture on with a bit of rock climbing, but I certainly wasn’t attempting something so potentially dangerous for novice walkers like me and my wife, so unfortunately we had to turn around and walk back.
We visited Ennerdale lake, travelling via Buttermere over Honister Pass, as the owner of the guest house told us how beautiful the drive was and it’s definitely a bit hair raising at times on the narrow roads and I don’t make a great passenger, especially on high mountain roads. The walk around the lake was around 6 miles, however starting at the west end of the lake going anti-clockwise, we only managed to get about a mile ‘round, when we arrived at what appeared to be a dead end, unless you were brave enough to venture on with a bit of rock climbing, but I certainly wasn’t attempting something so potentially dangerous for novice walkers like me and my wife, so unfortunately we had to turn around and walk back.
Windermere and Bowness - Last Visit May 2016
Windermere town is only small, with a selection of shops and is closer to the main road at the top, approx 1 mile from Bowness-on-Windermere and if you feel like a walk, it’s nice to park at Bowness-on-Windermere and walk up to Windermere town and then back or there is a small road train or bus you could also get on.
Bowness-on-Windermere is a much bigger place, with many shops and restaurants and is right on the edge of Lake Windermere. There’s a great atmosphere and if you can find an empty bench, grab an ice cream, sit and watch the boats coming and going or there’s the option to go out on the water yourself.
There are a few different boat trips you can choose from, the red cruise was the one we chose on our visit in May 2016, as it stops at Brockhole (see our review further up the page click here), you will need to tell them when you get on, as you may be the only one(s) wanting to get off there and to get back to Bowness-on-Windermere, you need to get a boat from Brockhole to Waterhead at Ambleside and from there a boat back to Bowness-on-Windermere. Another trip does a circular route around the lake or you can even hire a motor or rowing boat and go wherever you want (restrictions may apply).
Due to its popularity, Bowness-on-Windermere can get extremely busy, especially during the summer, so parking might not be easy if you don’t get there early, however there’s a car park in Bowness-on-Windermere village and another car park at the bottom closer to the lake.
Windermere town is only small, with a selection of shops and is closer to the main road at the top, approx 1 mile from Bowness-on-Windermere and if you feel like a walk, it’s nice to park at Bowness-on-Windermere and walk up to Windermere town and then back or there is a small road train or bus you could also get on.
Bowness-on-Windermere is a much bigger place, with many shops and restaurants and is right on the edge of Lake Windermere. There’s a great atmosphere and if you can find an empty bench, grab an ice cream, sit and watch the boats coming and going or there’s the option to go out on the water yourself.
There are a few different boat trips you can choose from, the red cruise was the one we chose on our visit in May 2016, as it stops at Brockhole (see our review further up the page click here), you will need to tell them when you get on, as you may be the only one(s) wanting to get off there and to get back to Bowness-on-Windermere, you need to get a boat from Brockhole to Waterhead at Ambleside and from there a boat back to Bowness-on-Windermere. Another trip does a circular route around the lake or you can even hire a motor or rowing boat and go wherever you want (restrictions may apply).
Due to its popularity, Bowness-on-Windermere can get extremely busy, especially during the summer, so parking might not be easy if you don’t get there early, however there’s a car park in Bowness-on-Windermere village and another car park at the bottom closer to the lake.
The below pictures were taken on a boat trip on the lake in May 2016.
Ambleside and Waterhead – Last Visit May 2016
Waterhead is a pretty little place where the ferry from Bowness-on-Windermere drops off and from here it’s about a 10 minute walk to Ambleside town or there’s local buses and shuttle bus that runs from here to Ambleside. Ambleside is a beautiful little town to walk around and there’s plenty of shops and restaurants to go in.
Waterhead is a pretty little place where the ferry from Bowness-on-Windermere drops off and from here it’s about a 10 minute walk to Ambleside town or there’s local buses and shuttle bus that runs from here to Ambleside. Ambleside is a beautiful little town to walk around and there’s plenty of shops and restaurants to go in.
Liverpool - Last Visited 2012
Liverpool 1 is a very large shopping area, with hundreds of shops to look around and most of all there are a variety of shops for us men out shopping with our wife/girlfriend/mum etc. We then went down to Albert Dock, which is also a great place to walk around, with many shops and cafes. Down on Albert Dock is the recently built Museum of Liverpool, which has free entry, but is worth making a donation in the donations box in the entrance hall. There is a great feature staircase in the centre, but there are loads of steps to climb (lifts are available). Over 3 floors there is plenty to see and learn, with some great views of the dock.
Liverpool 1 is a very large shopping area, with hundreds of shops to look around and most of all there are a variety of shops for us men out shopping with our wife/girlfriend/mum etc. We then went down to Albert Dock, which is also a great place to walk around, with many shops and cafes. Down on Albert Dock is the recently built Museum of Liverpool, which has free entry, but is worth making a donation in the donations box in the entrance hall. There is a great feature staircase in the centre, but there are loads of steps to climb (lifts are available). Over 3 floors there is plenty to see and learn, with some great views of the dock.
While walking around Albert Dock, we noticed The Yellow Duckmarine, an amphibious vehicle to take you on a tour of Liverpool, but unfortunately, we didn't have time to go on one. I decided I wanted to go on one on our next vist, you can check out my review, photos and videos by Clicking Here!
I would highly recommend making your visit to Liverpool a 2 or even 3 day break, as you can easily spend a full day looking ‘round Liverpool 1 and Albert Dock and there are many other places to visit in the area.
On our second visit to Liverpool , we followed some steps up from the shops at Liverpool 1 to find a large open area (Chavasse Park) with many restaurants, including Pizza Express, Zizzi, Nandos, Red Hot World Buffet and many more, making Liverpool 1 shopping area and fantastic place to not only shop, but stop for lunch. There is also a cinema and we also found Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf on the way up the stairs, but we didn't have time to play, so it's noted for our next visit.
On our second visit to Liverpool , we followed some steps up from the shops at Liverpool 1 to find a large open area (Chavasse Park) with many restaurants, including Pizza Express, Zizzi, Nandos, Red Hot World Buffet and many more, making Liverpool 1 shopping area and fantastic place to not only shop, but stop for lunch. There is also a cinema and we also found Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf on the way up the stairs, but we didn't have time to play, so it's noted for our next visit.
Maryport – May 2013
We drove here on the spur and unfortunately it was not the typical seaside town we were expecting, it was very quiet (literally we saw about 6 people) and it all looked a bit drab, so we turned around and drove back, therefore we won’t be going again.
We drove here on the spur and unfortunately it was not the typical seaside town we were expecting, it was very quiet (literally we saw about 6 people) and it all looked a bit drab, so we turned around and drove back, therefore we won’t be going again.
Manchester - Last Visited 2012
There is definitely plenty of shops in the town centre to look in, including a large selection in the Arndale centre, like Fossil, Lego, Pandora and many more, it’s a town that needs exploring.
There is definitely plenty of shops in the town centre to look in, including a large selection in the Arndale centre, like Fossil, Lego, Pandora and many more, it’s a town that needs exploring.
Nantwich - Feb 2015
There are several car parks in the centre of Nantwich, however most of them are only small, so after trying a couple, we parked in the Snow Hill car park, which I believe is the biggest. Nantwich is similar to Chester, with it’s historic buildings, but it’s not as big as in my opinion not as nice, but still a lovely town to visit.
There are several car parks in the centre of Nantwich, however most of them are only small, so after trying a couple, we parked in the Snow Hill car park, which I believe is the biggest. Nantwich is similar to Chester, with it’s historic buildings, but it’s not as big as in my opinion not as nice, but still a lovely town to visit.