The Lake District - one for your bucket list.

When I was little my family and I used to go up to the Lake District every Easter. We would stay with old friends and go boating on Lake Windermere. Now that I have my own family we carry on the tradition of travelling up to the North of England to visit the Lakes, these days staying with my cousin and her family. We usually go up some time around November and it is one of my most favourite events of the year.

Lake Windermere from Gummers Howe

If you have never been up to the Lake District then I can recommend it mightily! For us, from the Home Counties, its a pretty long drive, about five or six hours depending on the traffic, although for those of you from the USA or Australia this probably seems like a trip to the shops!

Lake Windermere

We usually turn up at my cousin's house just before midnight and settle down for a nice glass of wine and a chat before bedtime. The next day is a day to go for walks and there are so many to choose from. If you go onto the Lake District website there are lots of walks to choose from - from hard core walks to pleasant strolls. We tend to tailor our walks depending on which members of the family are with us!

We love to walk on the estuary at Greenodd, as well as walking the hills and around the lakes.

We are all keen photographers and the Lakes provide a never ending treasure trove of images. There's just nothing more wonderful that being outside with your family, breathing in the fresh air, taking photos and then, maybe, having a pint infront of a roaring fire in a local pub!

looking out over Windermere from Gummers Howe

On the way up to the top.

We usually have a big bonfire on the Saturday night, standing in the dark with sparklers and damson gin ... maybe some hot homemade soup too. My cousin makes an excellent butternut squash and chorizo soup!

There are lots of books and websites about the Lakes and I am no expert, but if you haven't been then you are missing out!! You don't have to be a huntin' fishin' walkin' expert. You just need to make sure you choose the right walk for you, whether its round the shops or up to the tops, and wear the right clothes for the walk you choose and the season you are in.

Secret Housewife and my Man.

The sites I have linked to are full of information, but really, if you've never been.... go! Its one of those places that should be on your bucket list. We tend to go when its quieter - fewer tourists, but any time of the year it's gorgeous.

Lake District Family Get Together.

Every year my cousin holds a bonfire party. She invites lots of my cousins and their children up to her house in the Lake District which is just beautiful and big enough to accommodate all of us. The week before last we all went up there - cousins, children, brothers, sisters - and yet again we had a lovely time.

The weekend is spent between eating and drinking well, chatting around the kitchen table or on comfy sofas, and walking in the gorgeous Cumbrian countryside. Last year we walked up to one of the lakes that lies in farm land near her house ...

This year we went to the coast, an estuary just below Morecambe Bay. The light was eerily beautiful and I took these photos ...

Our weekends up in the Lake District remind me of my childhood and I know that they store up good memories for all our children. They have space to play and run, they collect eggs from the chickens and walk the dog.

In the evenings we gather together after dinner and play games and the house rings with laughter. I am so grateful that as a family we are so close and have the opportunity to get together like this still.

Thank you lovely cousin. x