Romance in the Lake District: Top Five Locations
WANT to know where to find romance in the Lake District? You've come to the right place. The Lake District has just been named number one in the search for the most romantic getaways in the UK. The authors of the report said: "Romance abounds in England's stunning Lake District. Arguably the most picturesque region in the UK, this natural wonderland offers panoramic views so captivating, they'd make an ideal setting for a romance novel." And here's our top five locations to find romance in the Lake District.
Watch the Sun Go Down
We think there's something very special about a sunset. And if you want to find romance in the Lake District, you could head to the top of our third highest mountain, Hevellyn, which is famous for views to the west, and the east, for sunsets and sunrises. But there's an easier way to find a romantic sunset, and that's by climbing our local favourite hill, Orrest Head. Yes, it’s steep, but the newly laid path is easy to walk on. It’s very clear so you can’t get lost. It won’t take long. And we can promise the best views of Windermere and the fells beyond. The start of the climb is just across the road from the Cedar Manor.
Brief Encounter Revisited
Just a short drive from the Cedar Manor is a railway station with the most romantic tale in the history of movie-making. Carnforth, just north of Lancaster, is still a real train station, from where you can get trains direct to Manchester airport and to Leeds. But it's famous for being the location of Brief Encounter, still hailed as the one of the greatest of all British films. Here in the station cafe, renamed then as Milford Junction, Trevor Howard leaned over with his hanky to take some dust out of the eye of Celia Johnson, and a love story began which has captured hearts ever since.
The movie was filmed during WWII, so now at the award-winning Heritage Centre you can learn more about the film and its director David Lean. But also learn more about the lives of British people during the war. What were the fashions of the era during a time of ‘make do and mend’? How did the nation cope with rationing, bombing raids and their aftermath? What was it like being an evacuee?
You can stand on Platform 1 with its vintage suitcases and railway posters, and imagine the era when steam trains frequently passed through. And you can watch Brief Encounter on the big screen in a vintage mini cinema complete with tip-up seats. There’s also a pub with its own micro brewery, The Snug.
Walk in the Footsteps of the Maid of Buttermere
A circular walk around one of Britain’s loveliest lakes will take you past the scene of a great romantic tragedy. Mary Robinson was a shepherdess and the daughter of the landlord of the Fish Inn in the village of Buttermere. She was married bigamously in 1802 to John Hatfield, who called himself Colonel Hope.
The marriage of the celebrated local beauty to the brother of an earl (as he claimed) was widely reported, but eventually Hatfield was exposed as an impostor, bigamist and forger, was arrested, escaped, re-captured in South Wales, tried at Carlisle for forgery and hanged in 1803.
Mary Robinson is mentioned in William Wordsworth's poem The Prelude. He describes her as an "artless daughter of the hills". She is the subject of Melvyn Bragg's 1987 novel The Maid of Buttermere, which was adapted into a play by Lisa Evans and premiered at Keswick's Theatre by the Lake in 2009. The walk around the lake, under the shadow of the beautiful mountain, Haystacks, is a perfect place to find romance in the Lake District.
The Most Romantic Poet
If you're seriously looking for romance in the Lake District, then you must head to Rydal Mount. This was the home of the most famous of the Romantic poets, William Wordsworth. The house and the gardens are exquisite, especially in spring and summer, and you can sit outside in the forecourt with coffee and cake from the tea-room.
The house dates from the 16th century, and was then enlarged over time, even by Wordsworth himself. It contains a selection of the family’s prized possessions and portraits. Wordsworth was a keen landscape gardener and the five acre garden remains very much as he designed it. It consists of fell-side terraces, rock pools and an ancient mound. But it's also possible to get married here; the house is now officially a wedding venue.
Our Romantic Hotel
You might have just fallen in love. You might be heading to the Lakes with a proposal in mind. Or you might be celebrating an anniversary. Whatever the reason, if you want to find romance in the Lake District, this is where you should be staying. This is the perfect place for couples to unwind. All our boutique hotel rooms and luxury suites are different in style and size, so you can choose whichever suits you both the best.
Remember, we've been included in the “Best of the Best” top 25 romantic hotels in the UK on TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice for Romance for the past four years. And last year we were in second place overall. And if you're getting married and want a honeymoon or a mini-moon break, this is where to find a fabulous deal.
Header Image Credit
Header image is from Brief Encounter at the Carnforth Station Heritage Centre