Romantic Places to Get Engaged in the Lake District
Where is the best place to get engaged in the Lake District? To propose to your girlfriend – or boyfriend? We let you into a few secret romantic corners.<\/p>
The Romantic Legacy of the Lake District
The Lake District has long been seen as the most romantic place in the UK, and that’s thanks to the legacy of the Romantic poets. Theirs was a Romantic view of the landscape, of nature, of the world, and nothing to do with sugary-sweet love symbols, but their impact has been everlasting and fascinating. (Which is what you hope your marriage will be!)<\/p>
Secret Gardens and Historic Hideaways
1. Most famous among them was William Wordsworth and it just so happens that the grounds of his home at Rydal Mount near Ambleside provide the most perfect setting for a proposal. It’s a natural garden, with no regimentation or harsh lines, just masses of flower borders, sloping lawns and glorious woodland. And even, at the top of the garden, the most perfect secret setting for a lover’s declaration, the tiny covered seat known as Wordsworth’s writing hut. Afterwards you can have a cream tea in the garden cafe.<\/p>
2. Not far away, in the grounds of Rydal Hall, is another favourite place for couples to plight their troth. The Grotto is a tiny stone building with a huge window onto Rydal Falls, plunging through a narrow gorge. It was built in 1668 by Sir Daniel Fleming as one of Britain’s earliest examples of a “viewing station” for artists, and William Wordsworth would walk here regularly in the evenings, writing about it in one of his poems An Evening Walk<\/em>. It’s locked overnight, but the best times to come for peace and quiet are early morning – before 10 – and later afternoon, after 4pm.<\/p>
Lakes, Yachts, and Mountain Views
3. Why not take to the water for the ultimate romantic moment? We’re not recommending a rowing boat, or your own motor boat: paddles and steering wheels might take your attention away from the ring…and you don’t want to drop that overboard. But on Coniston water you’ll find the beautiful Gondola, a rebuilt Victorian steam-powered yacht. You can cruise from Coniston pier to Lake Bank at the tranquil southernmost point of the lake and then return along the east shore, stopping at Parkamoor, Brantwood and Monk Coniston. Get yourselves a seat on the open deck away from the crowds….<\/p>
4. Head to the hills…literally. You could make a most impressive declaration on the summit of Scafell Pike, or Helvellyn, or the cute and beautifully named Catbells. Not so far, and leaving you with enough breath to ask the question, is our own local viewpoint of Orrest Head, with new benches (and a magnificent compass-sculpture) on the summit. Of course, we did hear of one guy who asked his girlfriend to marry him as he reached Keswick’s Moot Hall at the end of his 24-hour, 42-summit, 66-mile Bob Graham challenge run.<\/p>
A Romantic Proposal at Cedar Manor
5. …if you want a less extreme location, might we suggest our dining room, during one of our afternoon teas? The Cedar Manor is known to be one of the most romantic places to stay, and we’ve witnessed quite a few engagements here over the years. And if – heaven forbid – you’ve forgotten the ring, we do sell beautiful locally-crafted jewellery here in our Welcome Lounge! (And girls, it's time to start taking the initiative. A recent survey found that among straight couples, only 5% of women proposed to their man.)<\/p>