scenic highlights...

Water is what the area is best known for, but there's more of it than you might think and more to do on or in it than you could imagine. At 10.5 miles, Windermere is England's longest lake and at 79 metres deep Wastwater is England's deepest - and was recently voted Britain's Favourite View. As well as lakes, meres and waters there are hill tarns, rivers, waterfalls (Aira Force is the best known, tumbling 21m from below a stone bridge) and a wonderful coastline.

There are only five peaks in England over 900 metres high and they are all in Cumbria. In the Wasdale Valley, at 978 metres high, you will find the country's highest peak, Scafell Pike. However, you don't have to be on top of a mountain to get the best views. There are many unmissable views across Cumbria and the Lake District including Surprise View overlooking Derwentwater, Orrest Head above Windermere, Ruskin's View at Kirkby Lonsdale and Hartside in the North Pennines.