Things to do

Walking/Climbing

Jonty’s is the perfect location for Lake District Hill Walks straight from the door. Set in the Langdales, there is a host of routes up onto the Langdales for walking, climbing and scrambling. Langdale Pikes, Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle, Bow Fell, Loughrigg and Crinkle Crags are just some of the famous Lake District hills within walking distance from Jonty’s. It is also just a short drive from Elterwater to other major fell areas such as High Street, Helvellyn, ScaFell Pike, Skiddaw and Blencathra.

Wainwright’s guides to the fells are the best known guide books for the area, and a copy of his favourite fell walks is provided in Jonty’s for use during your stay – if you are a keen and experienced walker, why not tick off some Wainwright fells on each visit? One of our favourite routes is a scramble up Jack’s Rake up onto Pavey Ark, then a traverse around High Raise and back home to Jonty’s for a well earned pint in the Britannia Inn.

There are also many local, gentler walks across to Grasmere and around Chapel Stile too, if you prefer a more sedate lowland stroll. A wander down Langdale Beck from Elterwater to look at the Lake provides one of the most breathtaking views in the Lake District and is only 10 minutes walk from Jonty’s. Skelwith waterfall is also a favourite gentle outing from Jonty’s.

Ordnance Survey maps of the Lake District are provided for you at Jonty’s with enough choice of walks to suit everyone.

Please remember in the UK in the event of an emergency requiring Mountain rescue, dial 999 and ask for the Police, then as the Police for Mountain Rescue. Your local team is Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, please support their excellent charitable volunteer service if you see them around. For guidance on hill walking if you are unfamiliar, before going out contact the British Mountaineering Council on www.thebmc.co.uk.

Two Mountain Bikes are provided free of charge for your use during your stay. (At user’s own risk). For information on Mountain Bike routes and bridleways look on www.golakes.co.uk.

If you want to sail dinghies www.lakedistrict.gov.uk has information on sailing centres including the Coniston boating centre.

If letting someone else do the driving takes your fancy, there are cruises on Windermere, Coniston and Ullswater.  Windermere Cruises Tel: 015394 43360 or Ullswater Steamers 017684 82229.

Visit our lakes

There are many fantastically beautiful and breath-taking lakes to see close to Jonty’s, as you would expect in the Lake District! A must see list has to be Elter Water, Windermere, Rydal, Coniston (of the famous speed records by Donald Campbell and the Bluebird), Buttermere, Grasmere and Ullswater. Some lakes have steamers or pleasure boat trips where you can jump on and off to explore surrounding villages. Ullswater steamers and a sail from Glenridding to Howtown, with a walk back around the lake to Glenridding is another favourite of ours, stopping off at a coffee shop in Glenridding for the tea and cake. We hope you agree that Jonty’s is an ideal Lake District holiday cottage and Elterwater is a perfect central location for your stay.

Visit Lake District villages and towns

If outdoor pursuits activity is not what you fancy, there are numerous beautiful and historical towns and villages nearby such as Ambleside, Windermere, Hawkeshead, Grasmere, Keswick and Glenridding to visit, and of course pretty Elterwater Village outside Jonty’s front door. Elter is Norse for Swan, so Elter Water means Swan Lake. It won’t take long to explore Elterwater, but the side of the beautiful Langdale beck, the Picture Gallery and the Britannia Inn are a pleasant way to spend a peaceful afternoon wandering around the village.

Ambleside is less than 10 minutes by car and has a wealth of gift shops, bars, restaurants, pubs and outdoor gear shops, not to mention coffee shops and picture shops.

Grasmere is a lovely walk from Elterwater over the fell, or a short drive if you prefer.  Dove Cottage, Wordsworth’s home as England’s favourite poet, and the local gingerbread shops are well worth a visit in Grasmere, as is Heaton Cooper’s art gallery for some stunning prints of Lake District hills.

WaterHead and Windermere are just along the lake from Ambleside with regular ferry trips around the lake, or sail yourself if you prefer.  And if boats, well float your boat, there is the boat museum in Bowness-on-Windermere.

If you have little ones to entertain then the World of Beatrix Potter at Bowness on Windermere or the steam railway at Ravenglass are all only a brief car ride away from Jonty’s.

Keswick has more gift shops, cafes, pubs and gear shops and of course the famous Moot Hall, but the large Saturday market on Main street is also a pleasant way to drift around this lovely Lakeland town. Followed by a well earned pint of the local Jennings real ale at the Bank Tavern on the Main Street.  Fishers is a superb Mountain gear shop for Hill Walkers and Climbers.

Eating and drinking

Jonty’s has a fully equipped kitchen and dining room if you fancy a quiet night in, but of course for a local pint, there is the Britannia Inn 75m away along Main street for real ale and pub food, including the ubiquitous and waist expanding Cumberland Sausage.

The Stamp House at Ambleside is only a short drive from Jonty’s and is nice for a night out, while L’enclume in Cartmel is now the UK’s best restaurant for a special occasion. The Sharrow Bay on Ullswater do a superb traditional English afternoon tea or gourmet dinner too, but they all book up far in advance. There are so many places to eat from pubs, to wine bars to Michelin star restaurants. Famous local pubs include the Old Dungeon Ghyll Great Langdale (3.7 miles) and the Drunken Duck, Barngates (3.8 miles). The Britannia is only 75m from Jonty’s for a good range of local craft ale and pub food.

Our favourites are the Eltermere Inn only for a nice restaurant dinner or lunch; and the Lanty Slee bistro bar, which is perfect for an evening of drinks, cocktails and gorgeous bar food, with a breathtaking view, its own gin and a tale to tell about local smugglers. Both are within 10 minutes strolling distance from Jonty’s.

For more choice, restaurants and pubs are listed on www.sugarvine.com.