Nicholas Hely Hutchinson

Nicholas Hely Hutchinson

The Lake District is by far one of the rainiest places in England, but the gentle patter (more like a heavy downpour) or raindrops, is key to why it looks so lovely. This diverse region includes not just mountains but soggy wetlands (for frogs, dragonflies and countless birds) and plenty of woodlands for wildlife to shelter under the tree canopies.

Always follow the Countryside Code to keep dogs and livestock safe. 

The uplands provide habitats for nesting birds (including majestic ospreys – fish-eating birds of prey). Alongside Rutland, the Lake District is also one of the best places to spot them. Almost extinct not so long ago, these migrating birds are now found mostly here and in the East Midlands. This is a great example of a conservation program made good.

Rain also helps local farmers to grow organic crops (although sheep farmers have a constant battle against footrot, as the grass rarely dries out).

Read our post on ending sewage pollution, something much in the news at present, due to issues on Lake Windermere.

The Unique Atmosphere of Rainy Days

a pawpect place Lucy Pittaway

Lucy Pittaway

Imagine mountains shrouded in mist, their peaks hidden yet holding a mystic allure. The valleys, with their lakes, display perfect reflections, each ripple adding an artistic touch. The rain gives an ethereal charm, turning every landscape into a painting. Peering into the water, you’ll see the clouds mirrored, a reminder of nature’s artistry.

The melody of raindrops tapping on leaves and rippling across water creates a soothing symphony. It’s a calming sound, like nature whispering to its visitors. This gentle drumming allows one to pause, breathe, and find peace. Is there a more perfect lullaby than rain in the Lake District?

For those who relish in the rain, don a raincoat and enjoy a misty walk. Tarn Hows offers a magical stroll where nature’s colours deepen under the rain. Each path is an invitation to uncover hidden beauty, urging you to discover more with every step.

Bring Your Brolly, Raincoat & Wellies!

blunt umbrella

If you’ve never visited the Lake District, then you don’t really know rain! Whilst say on the south coast, it can pour in the morning and the pavement is dry by mid-afternoon. In the Lake District, it rains – and rains – and rains! So bring your raincoat and natural rubber wellies!

Blunt Umbrellas are built to last for England’s seriously wild weather, and also include free repairs for 2 years. They were invented by an engineer who noticed that most umbrellas are little more than ‘rags on sticks’. His umbrellas last until you lose them, with a super-strong, fully-tensioned design that also don’t poke your eyes! They won’t even won’t (usually) turn inside out. And if they do, just flip it back without any harm.

If caught in a thunderstorm, keep a safe distance from trees and metal objects (umbrellas, golf clubs, motorbikes, wheelchairs, tent poles). Stay inside cars (fabric tops could catch fire, if struck).

If exposed, squat close to the ground with hands on knees, and tuck head between them, touching as little of the ground with your body (don’t lie down). If your hand stands on end, drop to the above position immediately.

More Sheep than People!

Buttercup sheep Hares & Herdwicks

Hares & Herdwicks

In winter (when the tourists go home), Cumbria has six times more sheep than people – 3 million of them! These intelligent creatures can recognise up to 50 people for up to 2 years, and know when you are smiling at them!

Leave sheep be, as they easily spook and miscarry. Herdwick sheep are suited to the isolated Cumbrian Fells climate, counted by farmers using the yan-tan-tethera method, a rhyme that uses rounds of 20 (also used in ancient times to count knitting stitches!)

Learn how to right an overturned sheep or it will die (hold upright until rain has drained off, to prevent it happening again). 

Rewilding in the Lake District

lake Holly Astle

Holly Astle

Wild Fell is the incredible and uplifting story of how a group of people (saddened by the extinction of a lone golden eagle, who died amid the remote eastern fells of the Lake District). Decide to bring back wildlife, even if it means a careful negotiation with some not-too-happy local farmers.

In this book, the author (an RSPB site manger) writes of efforts to breathe life back into two hill farms and their 30 square km of sprawling upland habitat. He and his team go about repairing damaged wetlands, meadows and woods, but change is not always welcome.

Alongside Rutland, the Lake District is also one of the best places to spot ospreys (fish-eating birds of prey). Almost extinct not so long ago, these migrating birds are now found mostly here and in the East Midlands.

This is a great example of a conservation program made good. We almost lost these magnificent birds, now it’s quite common to spot them, sweeping down to catch trout in the many lakes.

I found myself turning the pages, with an inward leap of joy. Reasoned, intelligent, compassionate, well-informed; this is a story of hope and renewal for both nature and farming. Isabella Tree

Saving nature is a tough job. In this book we get to understand why people do it; real soul-deep passion. Simon Barnes

His writing is studded with moments of intense beauty – you can almost smell rock and moss and nectar, hear butterflies and grasshoppers  flit and whirr, feel the shadow of a great wing passing between you and the sun. British Wildlife 

Books to Learn More On the Lake District

 

all before me

All Before Me is a writer’s account of how her recovery from a mental breakdown (while teaching English in Japan) led her to leave for the Lake District, to live and work at Dove Cottage, the home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy.

Still in her early 20s, the beauty of the mountain landscape and the extraordinary legacy of the literary duo led her to feel back to herself, as she discovered a place that felt like home. And in the community of fellow colleagues, poets and villagers, she made life bonds of friendships and finally, love.

36 Islands by poet Robert Twigger, sees him head into the Lake District, to visit all the islands in this region. Some little more than rocks, and some home only to wildlife – the perfect spot for a night of wild camping.

Armed only with an inflatable canoe (and inspired by local writers such as Wainwright and Wordsworth), he journeys beyond the tourists and busy roads, to islands both real and remembered. And finds a new sense of discovery, about himself and the world we live in.

Exploring Lake District Dales is a guide to the 100 plus dales in this beautiful aera, many tranquil escapes from daily Lakeland life. Yet beyond the main river arteries, most dales remain little-known, some see more sheep and deer than humans. This book dives into the geology, geography, history and culture of the dales.

Lost in the Lakes is the tale of travel writer Tom, who decides to take an adventure in the Cumbrian Lake District like no other. Instead of just going up a mountain, he decides to explore towering peaks, wide-open valleys and magnificent lakes, all on one big adventure, stopping off at a cosy inn or two along the way.

From Penrith and back (via Keswick, Cockermouth, Coniston, Grasmere and Windermere), he puts on his walking boots and visits places in between. And finds that away from the tourist routes along this ‘big wobbly circle’ tour, he finds our why this dramatic scenery attracts so many visitors each year.

Across a landscape that inspired the Romantic poets, he takes in remote parks of the park that many tourists miss. And enjoys plenty of encounters with fellow hikers, staying in shepherds huts, bothies and old climbers’ hotels along the way. And even goes for a (chilly) dip in Derwentwater.

This is the Lake District, but seen from its walking paths. With just a back pack, an open mind, and a spring in the step.

Each chapter is named for entertainment. No boring guidebooks here. For example, here are two:

Coniston to Cartmel, via Hawkshead and Boland Bridge. ‘Rejecting nothing and believing all things to be right and good.

Cartmel to Ambleside, via Bowness. With a loop to Rydal and Grasmere: Foodies and Wordsworthians.

Here’s a quick excerpt from the first chapter:

Then he talked walking for a while. a rocky ridge leading to the top of Helvellyn, the third highest Lake District peak. ‘It can be dangerous. Very. I’ve done it a few times. First, you get a weather report. It may be a gorgeous morning, but then the wind and clouds come in’. He paused and sipped his pint.

‘When the wind comes you just lie flat and wait. You could quite easily get blown off the edge. It’s a sheer drop. You shouldn’t even attempt to stand up in a storm. The wind. It’s atrocious. If you see it coming, you should lie down’. He paused once again, then said more brightly, ‘On a clear mind you, it’s fantastic scenery’.

Tom Chesshyre is a writer who has travelled over 40,000 miles worldwide for his train books, walked the length of the River Thames and also journey to Hull and Back. He lives in London.

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