Tour of the Lakes by car, over Hardnott, Wrynose and Honister Passes. Through villages such as Sawrey, Hawkshead, Coniston, Keswick, Grasmere and Ambleside.

This outing is recommended as a long, one day trip with short stops at places of interest.

From the hotel drive down the hill into Bowness to the ferry across the lake which takes you to the road to Sawrey and Hawkshead. The first village you come to is Far Sawrey then onto Near Sawrey where you pass Hilltop associated with Beatrix Potter and her children's stories.

Continuing onto Hawkshead you will find excellent shopping and catering facilities as well as the old grammar school where William Wordsworth was a pupil.

After leaving Hawkshead you will find a left turn signposted to Coniston and after a short drive uphill you can take a diversion to see Tarn Hows, one of the most popular views even though it is a man-made lake, and certainly worth a visit. You can drive past Tarn Hows on a one way road to Coniston, the lake with the associations with Donald Campbell and Bluebird as well as other water speed record attempts over the years.The village of Coniston is well worth a visit.

Leave Coniston by the Ambleside road and after a few miles you will see the signpost to Elterwater and the Langdale Valley and before entering the village of Elterwater is the left turn to take the old Roman road over Wrynose and Hardknott passes. The road is narrow but there are plenty of passing places as well as parking at viewpoints and this is one of the most dramatic rides in Britain. On the way you will pass Little Langdale Tarn which is a very small but beautiful lake. From the top of Hardknott Pass you can see the old Roman fort, and on a clear day the Isle of Man is visible. In any event the view down into the Eskdale Valley is sensational.

Once in the valley you will see the narrow gauge railway originally built to transport the minerals mined in the valley but now a very popular tourist attraction as a very attractive way to see the valley from the train. There are many attractions on the west coast such as Muncaster castle but we are suggesting this tour to see the lakes.

Having left the Eskdale valley following signs to Gosforth you will come to a hamlet called Santon Bridge where you turn right to visit Wastwater, the deepest and most dramatic lake. You can drive up to Wastdale Head but if time is pressing follow the signs to Gosforth as you drive alongside the lake. Gosforth has a beautiful church and one of the best examples of a Celtic Cross as well as other historical interest in the church.

There is a great maritime and naval tradition on the west coast. From Gosforth take the route north to Egremont and you will travel a short distance on the A595 to Calder Bridge where you turn right following the sign to Ennerdale Bridge.This road will take you over Cold Fell with wonderful views over the Irish Sea and you will see the Sellafield Nuclear Centre as well as the Isle of Man if the weather is clear. As you come down off Cold Fell you will see Ennerdale Water over to the right.

Ennerdale is a very remote and beautiful area. Passing through Ennerdale Bridge look for the signpost to Loweswater which you will drive alongside en route to seeing Crummock Water and Buttermere. The village of Buttermere is well worth a stop for refreshments. From here follow the signs for Keswick which will bring you to Honister Pass where the reopened slate quarry and visitor centre is worth stopping to see. Over Honister you come down into the Borrowdale valley passing Derwentwater leading to Keswick. You can take a diversion to Ashness Bridge and a magnificent viewpoint called Surprise View and from this point you can see Bassenthwaite Lake.

From Keswick you take the signs to Grasmere, Rydal and Windermere passing the lakes on the way. This is all achievable in a fairly long day with time for short stops at places of interest.