Lake District: (not so) hidden gem you instantly fall in love with

Wild swimming in the waterfall, sheep trial, Michelin-star restaurant, roadtrips, bustrips, starglazing — oh, did I mention hikes?

Day 1

"Trains from Euston are disrupted due to an incident at Bushy"

Our Lake District adventure started with a bit of chaos. Trains from Euston were delayed and cancelled, and for a moment we thought we’d never leave London. But in the end, we managed to catch a direct train to Liverpool. Thanks to Olya’s detective skills, we even got seats, while many others had to stand for the whole two hours.

In Liverpool, we grabbed coffee, sandwiches from M&S, and made a quick stop at the official Liverpool FC store (yes, we already bought a cap and are planning to go back for more). With supplies sorted, we picked up our rental car and drove towards Ambleside.

On the way, Olya had a brilliant idea: wild swimming in a waterfall. We parked near a charming country house, hiked up, and found ourselves completely alone at a hidden waterfall with a natural pool. The view over the valley was breathtaking, the water was surprisingly warm, and we swam under the falls like kids. It felt magical.

When we finally checked into our B&B, we discovered we had the best room in the house—spacious, quiet, with views of the hills and a huge bathroom. Pure bliss. We ended the day with a late dinner in a nearby pub—burgers, salads, and lots of smiles.

Day 2

The next morning started with a hearty breakfast (special mention to the endless toast and jam), and then we set out to climb Cat Bells, one of the most famous fells in the Lakes. It’s not the highest mountain, but the views are stunning.

Armed with our hiking poles—best decision ever—we made it to the top in about an hour. From there, we kept going towards High Spy, enjoying the sun, the silence, and the mountain views that reminded us of Switzerland. Going up was easier than going down; by the time we reached the car our legs were shaking.

Luckily, there was a lake nearby. We jumped in, the icy water instantly refreshing us—it really did feel like being reborn.

Dinner that evening was in Keswick: Olya had fish, I had non-alcoholic beer, she tried a local Hawkshead ale. Afterwards, we sat in the garden of our B&B with a bottle of Georgian wine we’d brought with us, watching the sunset and chatting until late. Perfect ending.

Day 3

This day was special: Olya had booked us into a Michelin-starred restaurant, Lake Road Kitchen. Since dinner was at 5 pm, we went for an easy local hike in the morning, passing stepping stones over a river, Wordsworth’s cottage, and finally swimming in Rydal Water—our third swim in three days.

At Lake Road Kitchen, the experience was unforgettable. We had a five-course tasting menu, starting with New Zealand salmon that melted in the mouth, continuing with Wagyu steak (worth every penny), and finishing with a cheesecake so good we’re still talking about it. The service was warm, the chef himself came out a few times, and the whole evening felt both relaxed and very special.

We walked off dinner by the shores of Windermere, sat on a pier watching the sunset, then ended the night with stargazing. The sky was crystal clear, and we even caught a shooting star.

Three days in, and we already felt like we’d lived a small lifetime in the Lakes.

To be continued..