I love to travel. I’ve travelled the world (literally) and can get quite itchy feet in between holidays so am always planning our next adventure. Much as I do like a bit of a relaxed holiday from time to time, I do prefer a bit of an explore. Hubs isn’t great at sitting still either and with active kiddies we, in general, prefer to be out and about a lot on our holidays. We have been abroad with the kiddies but we love our UK holidays too. There are some stunning places in the UK, and our recent holiday took in one of my favourites, the Lake District.
It’s been a bit of a cheeky one as it is in term time. Monkey isn’t yet 5 so as he’s not yet of “compulsory school age” we can get away with doing it without getting a fine. As the timing worked better for my parents, and little brother and fiance to join us, we decided to do it. Plus of course it was much cheaper.
We rented out a lovely, and very large, cottage for the 8 of us in Lakeside at the south western edge of Lake Windermere. I have been to the lakes a few times before and just love the lakes and mountains.
In short we’ve had an amazing week. I will write some more posts about some of the specific places we’ve visited over the next few weeks but on the whole we’ve done so much! Here’s a brief rundown (with tonnes of photos, obviously!)
We’ve seen a castle and an aquarium.
We’ve been on a boat trip up Lake Windermere, visiting Ambleside and Bowness along the way.
We’ve been to Beatrix Potter’s cottage, Hill Top and had afternoon with a gorgeous view at the hotel next door. We’ve been to the Claife viewing station on the edge of Windermere and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead.
We had a day close to the cottage, with a nature trail and adventure play area followed by a yummy lunch at a nearby hotel, before taking an amazing walk through the stunning woods opposite our cottage.
We visited Coniston and Tarn Hows where we saw some stunning waterfalls and amazing scenery before stopping at the Bobbin Mill to learn how bobbins were made. (This was actually fascinating and the tour was much more interesting than I thought it would be!) 
Finally we visited another lovely castle with the most amazing gardens I have possibly ever seen, and a lovely wild adventure trail. 
So it has been a busy but amazing week. We have seen and done so much… and yet we’ve barely touched the surface in terms of things to do up here.
Have you ever visited the lakes with your kids?
What a fabulous recap of your holiday!!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#wordoftheweek
The Lake District is so beautiful. Looks like you’ve had a wonderful time there and lovely to still be able to get away with going in term-time without getting a fine! I love the look of the castles and Beatrix Potter’s cottage 🙂
It looks like such a wonderful place to visit! I have always been a fan of beach holidays but for the last few years we have been to more inland places and we’ve really enjoyed the versatility of things to go and places to visit. I’d definitely love to visit the Lake District, your photos show what a beautiful place it is #wotw
What a fabulous break! We’ve only been there for a day once, way back when we’d just started dating, but we have said we’d like to go up for a break with the kids. You’ve convinced me to add this to our must-do list! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x
I love the Lake District. I used to go often as a child and it was wonderful when I could take my children there for the first time. Hill Top is a must, of course. I’ve not been to the Bobbin Mill. Sounds just my sort of thing. #wotw
I really don’t know the Lake district but your photos look amazing. I have only ever seen misty atmospheric photos before, but what a stunning area it is in the sunshine and it sounds like you found some wonderful places to visit. I don’t blame you taking the kids out of school while you still can, I know only too well how high the prices go in school holidays and how hard it now is to fill the rest of the year. I’d love to visit lake Windermere and that castle would definitely be on my list.
I absolutely love the Lake District, we stayed on the edge of Windermere a few years ago but without the kids, I’d love to go back with them one day. It looks like you managed to fit so much into the week!
What a beautiful place and you got so much done…you certainly did not sit still!! #countrykidsfun
It looks like you had an amazing time. We live close to the lake district and have never taken the kids, we must remedy that ! #WotW
This is firmly on our to visit list. I saw some of your pics on instagram featuring blue skies every day. You were very lucky, it looks stunning! #wotw
Pingback: Little Miss starts pre-school - Becoming a Stay at Home Mum
We’ve never been to the Lake District, but having seen your post, I’ve another destination to add to the travel bucket list.
I love your photos! It looks like you all had an amazing time. I get itchy feet between travelling too, always thinking of the next place to visit 🙂 #countrykids
Hi, you can’t beat the Lake District. You can’t beat a nice walk and a boat trip. It’s been a whiles since I visited so I need to again it’s been too long, Chloe #bestandworst
Such a beautiful area to explore and somewhere I keep looking at to visit with Monkey. I haven’t been there for nearly 10 years now. Looks like you all had so much fun #CountryKids
Wow it looks like you got up to tons. I can totally relate with the itchy feet I am already looking to plan our next getaway in June. I wish we could make the most of non school holidays but sadly my monkey started in Sept despite not being five until next month. Make the most of it xx #CountryKids
Oh this looks just divine. Such a beautiful part of the country and it’s great that you got to enjoy it with your family. Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Please you had a great time – I’m so lucky I live the other side of the lake district so about an hour away from windermere. There’s so many nice places to visit!
Oh, wow! Looks like an amazing holiday and sounds like you packed a lot in. I’d love to see Beatrix Potter’s cottage!
#TwinklyTuesday
Pingback: Siblings May 2017 - Becoming a Stay at Home Mum
This looks beautiful! We are having a cheeky little term time break too, oops!! Thanks for linking up to the #bestandworst
Adzuna Jobs | The Singleton Argus