Day 5 in the Lake District at Christmas
For your final day visiting the Lake District, UK at Christmas, there are still some more great adventures waiting. There was some fresh snow for me on my final day in some parts of the Lake District – but other parts just remained icy, but still beautiful.
Skelwith Force
There are several really impressive waterfalls in the Lake District. Skelwith Force is quite easily accessible so it’s a great choice to visit in winter. You can park in the car park just outside Chesters By The River, a small cafe and shop. Follow the path around the back of the shop and you’ll see the river. Follow the path next to the river upstream, and you’ll be able to see the waterfall in about 10 minutes.
You can see the waterfall fairly well from the edge of the path, but for the best view you’ll need to climb down the rocks. Be very careful if the rocks are slipper and wet/icy! But the view from next to the waterfall really is worth it.
You can also walk further down the path past the waterfall to some fields and more mountain views. It was really snow when I visited which meant great snowy views!
Hawkshead village
Hawkshead is well known to be one of the most beautiful villages in the Lake District. The old houses make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and it’s a really cute place.
However, when I visited Hawkshead at Christmas, I was a little disappointed. The village felt really quiet and dead. A lot of the shops and cafes were closed, and the Beatrix Potter Gallery was closed as well. It was a shame, because the village was pretty and I could tell that it could be a really lovely place in summer. But when I visited in winter, it was underwhelming and I didn’t stay long.
Lakes Aquarium
My final stop visiting the Lake District, UK at Christmas was to the Lakes Aquarium. The Lakes Aquarium is at the bottom of Lake Windermere. You can check out the opening times here.
The Lakes Aquarium is fairly small, but it’s still a nice place to visit for an hour or so. It’s a great place to visit when the weather outside is cold and rainy. There are interesting displays of fish from all around the world, with an emphasis on freshwater fish that are found in lakes. Some of the fish were huge.
I really liked the tunnel where you could walk underneath the fish and see them swimming all around.
The Lakes Aquarium is the perfect final stop when visiting the Lake District, UK at Christmas. The Lake District really is a beautiful place for a winter holiday, and I’d definitely recommend visiting it during the winter, especially at Christmas.