Travelling to the Lake District
Getting to and around the Lake District
At Original Cottages, we know how vital a smooth journey to your destination is. Please note that all of our cottages provide detailed information on how to get to them and that a SatNav or map is recommended when journeying to your holiday home. With that said, we have compiled this list of ways to get to the Lake District to give you a comprehensive overview of the best routes to the Lake District and how to get around the region once you arrive.
By Car
If you are travelling from Scotland, you need to head for the M74/A74 (M) to get across the border and into the North West of England. Once you reach Carlisle, head down the M6 for the centre of the Lake District National Park and surrounding areas. Those travelling from the North East of England will also want to aim for the M6, via the A69.
Visitors from Yorkshire may want to follow the A65 through North Yorkshire to reach the Lakes. Those travelling from the North West below the Lakes (e.g. Manchester and Lancashire) will want to follow the M6 or M65. Visitors from Wales should also follow this route.
Those travelling from the East of England should follow the A1 (M) and join onto either the M6 or A65 through Yorkshire.
If you are travelling from further south than that, then you should follow your nearest major motorway that links up to the M6.
By Train
The main train stations in the Lake District are Windermere, Carlisle, Barrow, Kendal and Penrith. In order to reach these stations when travelling from within England, you will have to change at Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, York and perhaps even London if you are travelling from the far south.
Oxenholme Lake District Train Station is served by the West Coast Mainline and is a great option for those travelling to Kendal and the surrounding areas.
Check out our description of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway to find out more about how to travel on this vintage service.
Getting around
The clue’s in the name when it comes to the Lakes and by that we mean that one of the best ways to see this amazing county is on the water! Windermere Lake Cruises offer boat tours that start from Ambleside, Brockhole, Bowness and Lakeside Pier, so can be a great and very scenic way to travel between these iconic Lakeland locations.
