THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge often favour staycations with their family over foreign holidays – much like Kate Middleton enjoyed with her family as a child.
She and her siblings would spend every summer visiting a particularly quaint corner of the Lake District – next to Lake Coniston and the charming village of Coniston.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Kate’s brother James Middleton described his childhood summers in the Lake District.
He said: “The Lake District. It stems from my childhood, reading Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, and as I got older, Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.
“As my family and I spent time on Coniston Water and Lake Windermere, it was almost like we were living the stories in real life.
“I’d have visions of having my own ‘Timmy’ — the dog in the Famous Five — and imagined that we could go on adventures together.
“Every school holiday we would stay anywhere from a weekend to a week there, in sun or snow or rain, and because there was no electricity in the family cottage it was a real adventure — hiking in the mountains and playing in the Lakes.”
The Princess’s brother claims to have first visited the Lake District when he was just six months old, and the family’s ties to the area go back generations, with their paternal great-great-grandfather living in Yorkshire.
Their connection was even immortalised in a family coat of arms, which was given to Kate Middleton shortly before her marriage to Prince William.
A set of chevrons symbolises mountain landscapes like the Lake District, reflecting Princess Kate’s love of the outdoors.
More recently, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited the National Park in a royal capacity, making appearances at the Air Cadet‘s Windermere adventure training centre and turning their hands to sheep shearing.
As England‘s largest lake, Lake Windermere is a popular holiday destination in its own right.
But holidaymakers looking to visit the Lake District might want to head to Coniston Water, a slightly lesser-known body of water in the area.
In a review on TripAdvisor one person described their trip to Coniston, writing: “Close to the overrated Lake Windermere, Coniston is close, as the crow flies, but following a long winding road journey. It is a bit prettier than Windermere.”
Located in the southern area of the Lake District, Coniston is a quaint village at the mouth of the Coppermines Valley.
Historically, the village was known for its copper and slate mining.
However, in recent years, Coniston Water, a nearby lake has garnered tourist attention.
Roughly five miles long and half a mile wide, Coniston Water is located just a mile away from the village.
On Coniston Water, visitors can hire boats from Coniston Boating Centre, with dark sky canoeing taking place at night.
Coniston village is popular with hikers and ramblers because of its proximity to the Old Man of Coniston, one of Cumbria‘s most popular fells.
In the village, there are a range of shops, pubs and places to eat, including the Crown Inn.
Coniston also has its own local brewery – Coniston Brewery.
other nearby attractions include Lowther Castle & Gardens and Tarn Hows, an accessible walking route in the Lake District.
Coniston is a five-and-a-half-hour drive from London, and it’s a two-hour drive from Manchester.
Sun features writer Claire Dunwell recounts her stay in the the Middleton family’s old stomping ground…
Welly boots caked in mud, and huffing and puffing, we clamber the remaining few metres to the top of the craggy fell.
A friendly local had assured us that the steep climb up to the Brant Fell Viewpoint in the heart of the Lake District was well worth the sweat — and he was right.
We are treated to a glorious, grandstand view of Lake Windermere and the foggy mountain tops that envelope it.
Our home from home during our break was the Wild Boar Inn — one of two hotels in the Windermere area run by English Lakes Hotels — and what a treat it is.
It is a traditional country hotel in every sense, from the roaring log fires to the low ceilings and twisty corridors — but the highlight is undoubtedly its location.
It sits in the beautiful Gilpin Valley and the private 72-acre woodland right next door is a haven for birdwatchers and ramblers — offering walking trails both long and short.
The hotel is named after local legend Sir Richard de Gilpin, who is said to have slain the last wild boar in the historic county of Westmorland — now part of Cumbria — more than 700 years ago.
Although nowadays the butchery is confined to the hotel’s acclaimed Grill and Smokehouse open kitchen, which serves seasonal local produce.
I can vouch for the Cumbrian lamb, while my husband raved about the homemade chicken pie.
Whether you’re into hiking, cycling or sightseeing, or simply like a home-cooked meal washed down with a pint of the finest ale or glass of wine, you won’t be disappointed.
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