Kate Middleton and I love the Lake District - here is where to visit

The Herald Scotland

27-05-2025

The first is Catherine, the Princess of Wales, who made a recent 'secret visit' to Lake Windermere, praising the restorative power of the great outdoors. Speaking to a group of Scouts, she described the Lakes as 'a place to balance and find a sort of sense of peace and reconnection in what is otherwise a very busy world.'
She added that the region offered her a 'very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection.'
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Those sentiments resonated with me completely. Repeated visits to the Lake District have helped me truly appreciate the wellness boost that comes from being outside for hours on end, whether wandering through the area's labyrinth of walking trails, ambling beside a lake, or simply being in the moment, soaking in the sheer beauty of the scenery.
Then there's Beatrix Potter, literary genius, conservationist, and total Lake District devotee. Though born in London and first smitten with the countryside as a nine-year-old during a family Scottish holiday, it was the Lakes that truly captured her imagination.
They inspired her much-loved tales of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and friends – characters who continue to delight children worldwide, with global book sales exceeding 250 million.
Peter with the waxworks model of Beatrix Potter (Image: P Samson) Potter's success translated into remarkable real-world impact. As her books flourished, she reinvested her earnings from the books and the cleverly marketed merchandise into buying up swathes of land and an impressive property portfolio around Windermere and Derwentwater. Upon her death in 1943, she bequeathed around 4,000 acres of prime Lake District land and 14 farms to the National Trust helping to preserve much of the landscape we enjoy today.
Whenever I return from my Lake District trips, friends often say, 'You do the big hikes, don't you?' My answer? Not always. You don't need to be super fit or kitted out in hiking gear to enjoy the area. There are walks for all levels. A gentle half-hour stroll along the banks of Derwentwater from Keswick centre can be just as rewarding as a summit scramble.
When I first started exploring the fells, I'd puff and pant for Scotland. But I've progressed, and so far, I've proudly ticked off about 10 of the 214 Wainwrights — the iconic peaks catalogued in Alfred Wainwright's beloved Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. Only 204 to go! But in a place like this, there's no rush.
Peter at the summit of Catbells Peak (Image: P Samson) For something flatter, the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path is a scenic and accessible route. Just over three miles each way, it's perfect for walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs, and mobility scooters. Originally a railway line opened in 1864, the route features old bridges and tunnels, and informative boards that detail its industrial heritage. The Threlkeld Coffee Shop makes a perfect halfway pit stop, and if you prefer not to walk both ways, a local bus can take you back to Keswick.
Speaking of buses, the open-top double-decker service between Keswick and Windermere is a gem. For just £3 each way, you can enjoy sweeping views of lakes and hills from the breezy top deck — a budget-friendly way to see the area's sights and rolling landscapes.
Back in Keswick, I indulged in a nostalgic visit to the Derwent Pencil Museum. As someone who remembers the thrill of opening a fresh tin of coloured pencils on several Christmas mornings, this was a true trip down memory lane. The museum - entered via a replica graphite mine - tells the story of how pencils became a global staple. One fascinating exhibit reveals how WWII pilots used pencils containing hidden maps. Visitors receive a pencil to complete a fun museum quiz.
Bassenthwaite Lake (Image: P Samson)
Keswick itself makes a great base for exploring. With its range of independent shops, cafes, regular street markets and an excellent Booths supermarket, it's both charming and convenient. From here, it's also easy to reach other Lake District favourites such as Ambleside, Grasmere, Buttermere and, of course, Windermere by car or bus.
Foodies will also find plenty to love and devour. Cumbria boasts the highest number of Michelin stars outside London, including the famed three-starred L'Enclume in Grange-over-Sands, about an hour and 15 minutes from Keswick. I've yet to visit, but the Michelin Guide describes it as serving up a 'special brand of culinary alchemy.' One, perhaps, for a future trip.
A particularly magical stop is the village of Near Sawrey, about an hour away - Beatrix Potter's cherished retreat. She once described it as 'nearly perfect a little place as I ever lived in,' and it's easy to see why. With rolling hills and timeless charm, it feels almost untouched by the modern world. It's not hard to imagine Beatrix walking those lanes in search of inspiration or in the fields tending to her flock of award-winning Herdwick sheep.
To me, the Lake District really is picture-perfect and if blessed with good weather verging on the idyllic. Thanks to Potter's vision and generosity, so much of it has been lovingly preserved for everyone to enjoy. Every time I visit, I silently toast her and the enchanting world she created. Her stories may be fictional, but her impact on this landscape is wonderfully real.
TRAVEL NOTES
Peter drove from Glasgow to Keswick in around 2 hours and 20 minutes.
He stayed at Elmcot Cottage, a two-bedroom, well-equipped self-catering property with garden and off-street parking for two cars (a real Lake District perk). Seven nights from around £600, booked via cottages.com