47 million visitors

Tourists from all over the world visit the Lake District National Park for its spectacular scenery, wildlife, history and culture. Tourism is vital to the economy of the area, providing employment and supporting services in local communities.

This builds on increases each year since 2013, and takes total tourism revenue to £3bn. Staying visitors grew overall by 0.7%, and staying visitor nights grew by 1.9%, equivalent to an extra 49,000 visitors and 410,000 bednights.

Tourism is the main source of income for Lake District economy. Tourism brings great benefits to the area. Visitors spend money on accommodation, food, drink and leisure activities and indirectly support other business such as wholesalers and the building trade.

Aira Force

The Lake District National Park is one of the most highly populated. There are, however, only a handful of major settlements within this mountainous area, the towns of Keswick, Windermere, Ambleside, and Bowness-on-Windermere being the four largest.

Best towns to stay in the Lake District

• Hawkshead. Best for: Culture and charm. Image source: Lakedistrict.gov.
• Keswick. Best for: Museums and shopping. Image source: Lakedistrict.gov.
• Grasmere. Best for: History and calm. Image source: Lakedistrict.gov.
• Coniston. Best for: Walking and climbing.
• Cartmel. Best for: Quiet and calm.

The Most Beautiful Spots in the Lake District

• Ambleside. Natural Feature.
• Kirkstone Pass. Natural Feature.
• Castlerigg Stone Circle. Archaeological site.
• Shap Abbey. Church.
• Tarn Hows. Hiking Trail. Add.
• Scafell Pike. Natural Feature. Add.
• Wasdale Head from Wastwater. Natural Feature. Add.
• Ullswater from the steamer. Natural Feature. Add.

Just to recap; Keswick is our pick for the best town to stay in thanks to its restaurants, bars, attractions and activities. Its also where you’ll find our pick for the best hotel in the Lake District, the Skiddaw Hotel Keswick.

• The Samling. Lake Windermere, Lake District, England.
• Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa. Windermere, Lake District, England.
• Lindeth Fell Country House. Windermere, Lake District, England.
• Rothay Manor. Ambleside, Lake District, England.
• The Swan Hotel & Spa.
• The Forest Side.
• The Daffodil Hotel & Spa.
• The Yan at Broadrayne.

If you just want to see the major attractions of the Lake District 2 days/3nights would be sufficient. The two biggest attractions for foreign visitors appear to be Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, both will use up half a day.

The Lake District is one of those places lucky enough to be bathed in beauty whatever the season. While its spectacular scenery is perhaps best experienced in spring and summer with the longer days and warm weather as a companion, the last two seasons of the year also have their advantages.

No wonder the Lake District always looks so green, it has on average 200 days of rain each year – that could get depressing!

The Lake District has milder winters and cooler summers than would normally be expected at this latitude, between 54 degrees and 55 degrees north. This is due to the influence of the sea, particularly the Gulf stream. The weather is generally wet and mild.

March to June tend to be the driest months, with October to January the wettest, but at low levels there is relatively little difference between months.

A new study has shown that Dundee is the ‘driest city’ in the UK, with less recorded rainfall than any other part of the country. The report, compiled by gas supplier Flogas, has shown that the City of Discovery experienced the lowest number of rainy days between October and March, at just 11 per month.

15°C.

The ‘Midge Months’ are from mid June to early September, it seems like its the warmth and humidity that encourages them to bite, especially around lakes and streams ect. Its a definate no-no to go bare legged or footed around these times, especially in Woodland and in the evenings when they tend to swarm more.

Come between late September and late May If you arrive in Scotland, before the weather has warmed up too much you are unlikely to see many midges. Also if you visit in May or early September, you are also likely to encounter the best weather conditions Scotland has to offer.

Midges can be a huge irritation in the summer months across much of Britain, including Scotland, North Wales, the Lake District, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. Most of us will have experienced the discomfort of being swarmed and bitten by a cloud of midges.

Best midge repellents for Scotland

• citronella.
• thyme.
• DEET.
• DMP.

Citronella candles These are really effective and suit outdoor eating scenarios, picnics and BBQs, although BBQ smoke does a good job of keeping the midges away too. Midges dislike the smell of the candles, so burn a couple at a time to double your chances of keeping them away.

Avon’s Skin So Soft dry oil spray costs £2.25, smells pleasant (unlike many repellents) and is surprisingly effective at deterring mosquitoes and midges.

If there are too many midges, use repellent spray to protect yourself and your family, especially if you’re going camping or you live in a marshy area. The University of Florida entomologists recommend using DEET-based repellents to repel biting midges. You can use such proven DEET-based repellents as Repel.

How To Use Garden Plants To Deter Midges And Mosquitos

• Ageratum.
• Basil.
• Catmint (Nepeta)
• Citronella (Lemon Grass; East Indian Plant) (Cymbopogon citratus)
• Eucalyptus.
• Garlic.
• Geranium,scented leaved (Pelergonium citrosum)
• Lavender.

Midges can detect carbon dioxide in your breath 200 metres away. They are attracted to dark clothing and love boggy ground, undergrowth, and gloomy, still conditions at the start and end of the day.

These swarms last no more than a month, and may last only 1-2 weeks. In most species, adults live only for a few days; in some species they may survive for a few weeks. Adult midges generally do not feed, but may drink water or nectar.

Female tumbu flies can lay their eggs on damp clothing or in soil, and if these eggs come into contact with a person’s skin, they can burrow in, according to the report. Typically, larvae are found burrowed into the skin on a person’s back, buttocks or the back of the legs, the doctors said in the case report.

Biting midges are minute to tiny flies that can be severe biting pests of humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Their blood-sucking habits also raise concerns about possible involvement in the transmission of disease agents.

5 – How to Get Rid of Midges?

1. Set up biting insect CO2 traps, like any of our Mosquito Magnet® traps, to draw the insects away and kill them.
2. Install small-mesh screens in windows to prevent their entry.
3. Use air conditioning to keep midges from entering buildings.
4. Pick clothing that completely covers the skin.