Land O'Lakes

Windermere (not Lake Windermere, since mere means lake)

Cumbria was once part of Scotland until the English wrested it away. Now, the area—which contains the Lake District made famous by Wordsworth, Ruskin and others—attracts throngs of visitors and is touted as Britain’s most scenic national park. We took the two-hour train ride there south from Glasgow to see what the fuss was all about and how the 950-square mile district compares to the Highlands. The scenery is indeed beautiful: 17 sparkling lakes, picture-perfect Victorian villages, 7,000 miles of dry stack stone walls to define boundaries and keep the sheep in place, and high mountain passes with sweeping views. It’s a kinder, gentler version of the Highlands, with a less barren and dramatic landscape and a lot more people and places to buy a latte. Glad to have experienced it, but we’ll stick with the wild beauty of our northern neighbor. 

Local Residents, Cumbrian Mountains and Village of Grasmere

Castlerigg Stone Circle, 4,500 years old and counting