Go off the beaten track and avoid the crowds

Holidaymakers and day-trippers in ever-increasing numbers are enjoying the delights of the Lake District, but this is leading to over-crowding and congestion. Around 1 million visitors are expected over the bank holiday weekend but most will be facing the same traffic jams and queues they had hoped to leave behind.

The Lake District National Park covers 885 square miles yet the majority of tourists are crammed into an area covering less than 50 square miles around centres such as Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere.

Ray Blackburn, proprietor of The Derwent Lodge Hotel in Embleton, by Bassenthwaite Lake, has seen a huge increase in enquiries and a lot of them are from people who love the Lakes but want to escape the masses clustering around Windermere and Ambleside.

“14 million people a year visit the Lake District National Park but a few places are now becoming so swamped with cars, coaches and people that the beauty and tranquillity of the region is increasingly hard to recognise, let alone enjoy,” says Blackburn.

“People need to switch off their Sat Navs, get out their maps, get away from the masses and explore the wonderful northern areas of the Lakes,” says Blackburn.

The Derwent Lodge Hotel is in the village of Embleton, just off the A66 between the market towns of Cockermouth and Keswick. The hotel, situated between the towns of Keswick and Cockermouth, was originally an 18th century farmhouse that has now been beautifully renovated and extended.

It has been family owned and run for 20 years and provides both en-suite accommodation as well as luxurious, individually designed apartments. The apartments sleep up to eight people so are ideal for large families or groups. The hotel has a renowned restaurant that provides a wide range of regional and international dishes and uses locally sourced produce whenever possible.

Prices start at £75 for single occupancy and £110 for a double. To find out more log on to the website at thederwentlodge.co.uk.