The rural county of Cumbria is one of the most attractive in England. It contains the whole of the area known as the Lake District, as well as the northern part of the Pennines mountain range and, somewhat counter-intuitively, a part of the Yorkshire Dales.
The county is replete with attractions for the visitor, its historic heritage ranging from houses and gardens to stone circles and activities ranging from walking and climbing to watersports and fishing. Cumbria\'s lakes, valleys and fells can loosely be broken down into eight areas.
The North Lakes are the most popular with the serious outdoor enthusiast and the South Lakes draw most of the holidaymakers. The Western Lakes are less busy but still hold some varied attractions and appeal to the walkers as well as families and groups. They are home to England\'s tallest mountain, known as Scafell Pike.
East Lakes has its quota of mountains too, including the well-known Helvellyn, and is a fairly quiet area. Visit the Eden Valley and North Pennine area for wilderness, castles and rural villages, or perhaps consider North and South Cumbria. In the former we find Hadrian\'s Wall and the city of Carlisle. In the latter, coastal resorts and the biggest town, Kendal. Finally, the edge of the Yorkshire Dales is a beautiful part of Cumbria with country pubs, easy walking, and a thriving arts scene.