VANLIFE WITH COOPER THE CRAFTER: THE LAKE DISTRICT

We asked our good friends Fran and Will to write about their and one of their many trips to the Lake District in their converted van - Cooper the crafter (Coops to his mates!)

People talk of a place, that captivates their soul, and this is ours - we hope you love it as much as we do. Go explore and remember, never say no to adventure ;-) - Fran @cooperthecrafter

When we started our van build, we had one destination in mind - the Lake District.  We’ve been visiting the Lakes for over a decade now and like so many, we too, are captivated by it all.  The mountain landscapes, lakeside views and vast open spaces makes it the perfect destination for anyone who loves the outdoors or is looking for escaping the rat race.  

Anyway, we thought we would give you the low down on our adventures this trip, our favourite spots and things to do if you are a new visitor or like us already have a long-term love for the lakes.

Let’s start with the walking (or hiking), it's what attracts thousands here every year, and we do enjoy the beauty of the fells.  Living in Suffolk, (which is you didn’t know is flat as a pancake), the fells never fail to mesmerise us, standing tall, in all their majestic beauty. BUT I will add we are not experts, we enjoy a walk, but you will not find us up before dawn and walking till dusk, we enjoy a steady ramble. 

The Fells and Lakes 

Cat bells - where it all started - a little gem of a fell, perfect for beginners and experts and comes with breathtaking views.  We’ve climbed this one a few times now, and each time it treats us to something wondrous.  There is a well defined path, with a nice steady climb, just don’t forget to stop and take in the air, the views and a few Herdwick sheep.

Buttermere Lake - especially fabulous in Autumn, when the trees start to turn, the sky holds the past of summer and you have the most amazing reflections in the water.  Easy flat walking all the way around the lakeside - it also has a bonus of a coffee stop with an array of treats (great for before, after or both!).  Perfect spot if you like to Paddleboard or have a swim (car parking is both ends, but the parking the other end of Buttermere is a bit easier for paddleboarding as not so far to walk)  

The Fairfield Horseshoe - this is a long one - the way we walked was about 17k, and if you head up at Rydal, the way we did, it's a leg burner, but if you pick a good day, my goodness its incredible.  Take plenty of food and drink, and walking shoes are a must as well as lots of layers as it can be chilly up top.  I left in a vest top and ended up with hat, puffer jacket, gloves and waterproof. Be prepared for all weathers with this one. 

Be mindful, the lakes can get busy, we always tend visit in September (as we are child free) and the past 2 years we have noticed a difference - we haven’t visited in school holidays so cannot comment, but parking can be difficult, esp in a van, so get your butt up early.   If you are national trust members, take your cards, as you’ll find lots of parking spots available https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/lake-district-car-parks  

Pit Stops

Vanlife means we are self sufficient, we don’t eat out a lot but I’m a sucker for cake and he’s a coffee nut, so here are some of what I call our ‘must stops’.

Lingholm Estate https://thelingholmkitchen.co.uk/  - discovered this a few years back, really nice stop for a spot of lunch or drink.  Outside seating and plenty of parking (there is a charge to park but a % is refunded if you use the cafe).  This year they had a take out hut, which was great for us as the queues were long for the main cafe.  This stop also provides a perfect place to rest if you are walking around Derwent Water (9 Miles).

Chesters by the River https://www.chestersbytheriver.co.uk/index.html - really popular stop, gets busy so go early, but also they have take out area at the back, which is cheaper and just as good.  If you do stop, get a seat on the terrace overlooking the river.  Food and cake is always good here, esp the doughnuts and the chickpea pasties - delicious.  It also has the added bonus of a lovely homewear and gift shop on site, Will’s idea of hell, but I bribe him with the coffee and treats.  I don’t think I’ve ever visited here and not bought something, its lovely.  Free parking on site. We visited twice this trip - ginger and tahini crunch was our top treat of the holiday. 

Our favourite cafe has sadly closed but they do have a deli, so if your every in Ambleside, go give it a visit - Rattle Ghyll Deli https://www.rattleghyll.com/ - go early for yummy treats.  

Now for a spot of shopping

As you probably expect there are ALOT of outdoor shops, so don’t stress if you forget you socks, coat or shoes, you are bound to find a replacement. 

We like a little wonder through Ambleside - its smaller than Windermere but less touristy, and we like its charm.  If I lose Will I can guarantee he will either be in the Mountain Factor https://www.themountainfactor.com/  who stock a good range of Patagonia and Fjallraven or the Alpkit store https://alpkit.com/ , a relatively newcomer to the outdoor market, specialising in UK designed, ethically produced and reasonably priced clothing and accessorise (does a lovely Bike or two).  Must mention the Beer shop aka Beer Ambleside https://www.beergb.com/ stocks a vast range of craft beer and Will never leaves empty handed.  For me I like popping into Detail Retail https://www.detailretail.net/ - full of nice things, especially cards, I stocked up of a years worth this trip.

I’m ending with what Wills says is the most important bit - Cooper the Crafter

We played it safe this time, knowing it might be busy, so we pre-booked some campsites in the Lakes.  Our plans meant we headed up late Sunday, so found ourselves doing an overnight stop at Tebay services, which was really good.  Parking was £18, include a £3 off voucher for the Farm shop.  There is a campsite on site if you are wanting a longer stay, but we just parked up round the back, staff were really helpful and you can access toilets in the services area, there is also a shower you can use for free. The bonus of this stop was the almond croissants and Portuguese tarts (we obviously needed) for breakfast.

Once in the lakes we stayed at Castlerigg Farm Camping https://castleriggfarm.com/ for 3 nights.  The have a no noise policy and don’t take group bookings, but for us is was fine, our raving days are behind us.  We can be completely off grid in Cooper, so we don’t need hook up.  What the site boasts is the views, they are stunning,  Fells all around and Derwent water in the background.  It was quieter than we thought it would be.  

Our last night was a real treat, we had been given the heads up that the National Trust were allowing vans to park overnight at their Pub the Sticklebarn Tavern, https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sticklebarn-and-the-langdales  and as members we thought ‘why not’.  Turned out it was perfect, we had a fab meal in the pub, sat outside around the fire pit, and enjoyed some local ales and red wine - and only a 1 minute walk to the van.  We had met some fellow vanlife friends there, and overnight a total of 3 vans stayed, so lovely and quiet.  £10 a night for any van, regardless if you’re a member and there are public toilets on site.

Cooper was a trooper.  It’s safe to say we love vanlife and cannot wait to hit the road again.

People talk of a place, that captivates their soul, and this is ours - we hope you love it as much as we do. Go explore and remember, never say no to adventure ;-)

Fran (Will and @cooperthecrafter) X

All images belong to Fran @cooperthecrafter