{"id":905,"date":"2017-04-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelovers.cottage-search.com\/blog\/5-interesting-activities-lake-district-may\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T11:00:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:00:41","slug":"5-interesting-activities-lake-district-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/5-interesting-activities-lake-district-may\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Interesting Activities in the Lake District this May"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things to do this May in the Lake District<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\u00a0<\/span>With two bank holidays breaking up this long month the <\/span>Lake District<\/span><\/a> is abuzz. There are plenty of interesting activities in the Lake District this May.\u00a0 <\/span><\/div>\n
You can experience delicious dining, fantastic festivals, superb shows and verdant countryside. Come and have a look at some more unusual things to in the Lake District this May.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Emerald Lake, Hodge Close<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\u00a0<\/span>If bank holiday festivals and events are not your thing and you\u2019d like to escape the crowds, then this one is for you. The emblem of love and success, Emerald is the birthstone of May. For those who don\u2019t know about it, \u2018Emerald Lake\u2019 at Hodge Close Quarry, Langdale<\/span><\/a>, is one of the Lake District\u2019s secret gems.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Known <\/span><\/span>locally <\/span><\/span>as \u2018Emerald Lake\u2019, because of it\u2019s deep, elegant colouring, this slate quarry is best viewed from above<\/span><\/span>. Look down on Hodge Close, one of several open mines in the Tilberthwaite Valley.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Here the reflections of the sheer cliff-sides in the emerald green water is mesmerising<\/span><\/span>. As is the scale as you look 150 feet down into the paradise-like pool. Don\u2019t <\/span>
\nbe fooled<\/span><\/span>, as there\u2019s another 150 feet below the water, where\u00a0you may see divers exploring.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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This is not an enclosed mine and the sheer face is popular with abseilers. But caution <\/span>is needed, <\/span><\/span>so\u00a0please be very, very careful especially if you have children\u00a0and pets with you.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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This 3 miles <\/span>Hodge Close walk<\/span> also takes in Cathedral Quarry, which is also worth a look.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Windermere Island Hopping<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\u00a0<\/span>There are 18 islands on Lake Windermere<\/span><\/a>. \u2018Lilies of the Valley East and West\u2019 are two of them, so named after the flowers which once grew on these islands. Lily of the Valley is the birth flower of May.<\/div>\n
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And whilst the beautiful fauna is no longer found on Windermere\u2019s islands, they are a floating paradise of wildlife that you <\/span><\/span>simply <\/span><\/span>must explore<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Pack a picnic hamper, warm clothes for being on the lake, and with no experience necessary you can hire a motorboat from <\/span><\/span>Bowness Marina<\/span><\/a>
\n to cruise around the central islands<\/span><\/span>. Plus pooch can join you!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On the weekend of the 12th \u2013 14th May 2017 head to <\/span>Windermere Boat Show.<\/span><\/a> Not only will there be a display of impressive new boats but you can enjoy free 90 minute scenic kayak tours of Windermere\u2019s stunning scenery<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>Or chance yourself at SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding).<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Cross Bay Walk Challenge<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\u00a0<\/span>On 9 May 1951 the Lake District was designated a National Park. The Cross Bay walk at Morecambe Bay is a great way to see a side to the Lake District that many miss.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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From May, the dangerous tides of Morecambe Bay allow walkers to make the famous and exciting 8 mile cross over the sands between Arnside and Kents Bank<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There are several guided walks, which we recommend you joining, as the sand and tides are unpredictable<\/span><\/span>. You will <\/span>be escorted <\/span><\/span>across the 8 mile walk by Cedric Robinson MBE. He is the 25th royal appointed guide.<\/span><\/div>\n
It is a relaxing as well as exciting experience where you can experience up close some of what makes the Lake District National park, which includes 26 miles of shoreline, so unique<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Remember, don\u2019t <\/span>just <\/span><\/span>turn up, join an organised walk via a charity, such as <\/span>Cumbria Wildlife Trust<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Muncaster Castle Festivities<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Muncaster Castle is the place to go to experience traditional Lake District festivities.\u00a0 <\/span>The haunted historic castle hosts the \u2018Cumberland Sausage, Food & Drink Festival\u2019 over the early May bank holiday, 1st May<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>Whilst a carnival atmosphere hits the castle grounds, with <\/span><\/span>Muncaster Festival<\/span> running over the Spring bank holiday weekend, from the 28th \u2013 30th May<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Whilst Mucaster Castle\u2019s haunted history may be a bit scary, this is an excellent place to visit with children in tow<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>If the Enchanted Trail, with stepping stones, fairy doors and wooden dens to explore, as well as the Adventure Playground outside isn\u2019t enough, the indoor MeadowVole Maze is good fun for little visitors.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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You must also make a visit to Muncaster bluebell woods (May is the perfect time of year). <\/span>The woodland floor is awash with the striking blue and the air filled with the heady scent of the English bluebells<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n
You can distinguish them by their \u2018nodding\u2019 heads rather than the upright stems of their Spanish counterparts<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Gathering May \u201cKnots\u201d in May\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Bluebells\"<\/div>\n
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\u201cHere we go gathering nuts in May,\u201d <\/span>really <\/span><\/span>meaning \u201cknots\u201d, meaning bunches of flowers. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Indeed May, <\/span><\/span>the month of <\/span><\/span>fertility, is the best time of year to see an <\/span><\/span>abundance <\/span><\/span>of interesting flora and fauna that is unique to the Lake District<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Nesting season is well underway and the unspoilt and outstanding natural beauty of Bassenthwaite is a must this time of year<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Especially as KL, the majestic ringed Osprey has returned to the Lake District Osprey Project nesting site, after spending the winter in Africa<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/div>\n
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KL and the unringed partner she brought back are the first Osprey\u2019s to breed in the Lake District for 150 years. <\/span>And so it is worth heading to the free viewing points at Dodd Wood to spend some time with them and their soon-to-be chicks<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Whilst in the area, head to Whinlatter Forest, the UK\u2019s only true mountain forest for excellent walking and mountain biking trails<\/span><\/span>. Plus an enormous WildPlay adventure park! <\/span>
\nThis May you can catch some imaginative species of creatures on the amazing, new digital \u201cGruffalo Spotters Trail\u201d<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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Follow clues and footprint marker posts, where, via the <\/span><\/span>specially <\/span><\/span>designed The Gruffalo Spotter app \u00a0Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo appear before your eyes<\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In the central lakes, May marks the beginning of Garden Tours at Hill Top, former home of children\u2019s author Beatrix Potter<\/span><\/span>. <\/span>Meeting <\/span><\/span>strictly <\/span><\/span>\u201cat the veg plot\u201d the 21st Century Mr McGregor, Pete, gives an insightful guided tour around Beatrix Potter\u2019s farm garden<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Sniff out the distinctive garlic aroma of Wild Garlic. <\/span>Look for lush, pointy green leaves and pretty clusters of white flowers, as you ramble along woodland paths in particular<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Throw the leaves into a Spring salad and pop a jar of the flowers on your <\/span><\/span>Lake District Holiday Cottage<\/span><\/a> table and feel <\/span><\/span>suitably <\/span><\/span>countrified<\/span><\/span>!<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Find out whats on in the Lake District in May 2017. Explore Interesting Activities in the Lake District this summer with Lakelovers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=905"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8947,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/905\/revisions\/8947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}