The Best Lake District Books
Ranked #2,005 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #82,984 overall
A personal selection of the best Lake District books
Hundreds, probably thousands of books have been written about England's Lake District. How do you know which of these books is the best to buy? Well, I live in Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District and I love books, so I've used my first hand experience to pick out my current favorite books on a variety of Lake District topics to recommend to you.
As spring turns into summer, many of you will be planning a visit to the Lake District, or maybe you're just dreaming about Lake District and wishing you were here.
If you have never visited theEnglish Lake District before you will need a starter guide book, giving a comprehensive view of the Lake District geography, what to do and where to stay. Of course you can research online, which I do (lots!) but to get the feel of an area, and to dip into it and plan your visit, I still feel that a great basic guidebook can't be beaten.I'll show you my top choices of starter Lake District guide books.
Walking and hiking is one of the main reasons why people visit the Lake District, and I've suggested some books that I use to give me fresh ideas about hikes, and just to look at for inspiration when I can't get out in the Lake District countryside.
In recent years the Lake District has build up an excellent reputation for great local food, and I have picked my top book about Lake District food for you.
You might be interested in the history of the Lake District. There have been lots of great books about Lake District history written over the years, but a new book just published in the UK, coming out in October in the USA is my top choice for Lake District history.
You just can't leave William Wordsworth out of any discussion about the Lake District, and why would you want to ? William Wordsworth wrote his best poetry in the Lake District, and lived in the Lake District for most of his life. I'm suggesting books about Wordsworth and the Lake District, books that give you a tatse of life in Wordsworth's Lake District, and ,of course my choice out of the many collections of the poetry of William Wordsworth.
If you just want to dream about the beauty of the Lake District, or be reminded of your Lake District vacations and holidays in the Lake District, there is a huge choice of photographic collections of Lake District scenery. It is very hard to choose just one great book of Lake District photographs. We have at least 10 books of Lake District photographs in our Wordsworth Lounge at White Moss House Guest House , and I'm constantly tempted to buy more. Here I have picked out some of my favorite Lake District photographic books for you.
I hope you'll take a look at my suggestions of my best Lake District books, and if you have any other suggestions which you think are better, or which you think I should add, please let me know. This is my personal choice.
The photo at the top of this page is the cover of the new Time Out Guide to the Lake District, first published in June 2010. Time Out guides are always excellent.
This book is available from Amazon.
As spring turns into summer, many of you will be planning a visit to the Lake District, or maybe you're just dreaming about Lake District and wishing you were here.
If you have never visited theEnglish Lake District before you will need a starter guide book, giving a comprehensive view of the Lake District geography, what to do and where to stay. Of course you can research online, which I do (lots!) but to get the feel of an area, and to dip into it and plan your visit, I still feel that a great basic guidebook can't be beaten.I'll show you my top choices of starter Lake District guide books.
Walking and hiking is one of the main reasons why people visit the Lake District, and I've suggested some books that I use to give me fresh ideas about hikes, and just to look at for inspiration when I can't get out in the Lake District countryside.
In recent years the Lake District has build up an excellent reputation for great local food, and I have picked my top book about Lake District food for you.
You might be interested in the history of the Lake District. There have been lots of great books about Lake District history written over the years, but a new book just published in the UK, coming out in October in the USA is my top choice for Lake District history.
You just can't leave William Wordsworth out of any discussion about the Lake District, and why would you want to ? William Wordsworth wrote his best poetry in the Lake District, and lived in the Lake District for most of his life. I'm suggesting books about Wordsworth and the Lake District, books that give you a tatse of life in Wordsworth's Lake District, and ,of course my choice out of the many collections of the poetry of William Wordsworth.
If you just want to dream about the beauty of the Lake District, or be reminded of your Lake District vacations and holidays in the Lake District, there is a huge choice of photographic collections of Lake District scenery. It is very hard to choose just one great book of Lake District photographs. We have at least 10 books of Lake District photographs in our Wordsworth Lounge at White Moss House Guest House , and I'm constantly tempted to buy more. Here I have picked out some of my favorite Lake District photographic books for you.
I hope you'll take a look at my suggestions of my best Lake District books, and if you have any other suggestions which you think are better, or which you think I should add, please let me know. This is my personal choice.
The photo at the top of this page is the cover of the new Time Out Guide to the Lake District, first published in June 2010. Time Out guides are always excellent.
This book is available from Amazon.
The best Lake District History Book
A new guide to the Lake District History by Ian Thompson
There have been many books written about the history of the Lake District, but this new book, written by Ian Thompson, is an excellent new addition and would make a great gift for lovers of the Lake District. Ian Thompson grew up in Barrow, on the edge of the Lake District, and has always loved the Lake District. He writes with great authority, clarity and lightness of style. A really top read about Lake District history.
Dr Ian Thompson now works at Newcastle University. Here is the review on Newcastle University's website of this Lake District book.
Review of The English Lakes , a History by Ian Thompson, Newcastle University
The Times newspaper also gave this Lake District History book an excellent review.
The Lake District, a History by Ian Thomspson reviewed by The Times
UK readers click the link on the left to buy from amazon.co.uk, and US reader, click on the link on the right to pre order- this book comes out in October in the US.
Dr Ian Thompson now works at Newcastle University. Here is the review on Newcastle University's website of this Lake District book.
Review of The English Lakes , a History by Ian Thompson, Newcastle University
The Times newspaper also gave this Lake District History book an excellent review.
The Lake District, a History by Ian Thomspson reviewed by The Times
UK readers click the link on the left to buy from amazon.co.uk, and US reader, click on the link on the right to pre order- this book comes out in October in the US.
The English Lakes: A History
Amazon Price: $8.65 (as of 06/02/2012)
pre order- released 26 October 2010
Current Top Selling Lake District Books at Amazon UK
These are the books about Cumbria, home of the Lake District, that are selling now at Amazon.co.uk
Take a look at the current best sellers in Lake Distirct Books at Amazon.co.uk
A great comprehensive guide book to Lake District Food
The best Lake District Food Book
Christian Dymond has produced this well researched, comprehensive , up to the minute guide book to Lake District Food.This is the best Lake District Guide Book for Foodies. I've had the pleasure of meeting Christian- he is an absolute fanatic about good food, and a great Lake District enthusiast.
It's not published in the USA, sorry, but I have found copies available on ebay and from some amazon sellers- I've highlighted possible sources in the link below.
An Antiquarian Academic Study - a Lake District book for the Intellectuals!
Professor Knight (1836-1916) wrote in huge detail about Wordsworth and the Lake District.
For those of you who like an academic challenge.
William Angus Knight was one of Wordsworth's earliest and most keen academic followers.
He researched and wrote in great detail about Wordsworth, and had a collection of Wordsworth's poems which he gave to The Dove Cottage Trust at Grasmere, who are the keepers of most of the Wordsworth historical archive.
These books are for serious Wordsworth followers, and are a piece of history.
UK readers click on the left image, US readers please click the right hand image to buy from Amazon.
William Angus Knight was one of Wordsworth's earliest and most keen academic followers.
He researched and wrote in great detail about Wordsworth, and had a collection of Wordsworth's poems which he gave to The Dove Cottage Trust at Grasmere, who are the keepers of most of the Wordsworth historical archive.
English Lake District As Interpreted in the Poems of Wordsworth
These books are for serious Wordsworth followers, and are a piece of history.
UK readers click on the left image, US readers please click the right hand image to buy from Amazon.
English Lake District As Interpreted in the Poems of Wordsworth
Amazon Price: $16.60 (as of 06/02/2012)
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You can buy Lake District Books on Kindle
If you're traveling, these lake District Kindle books would be great.
I'm looking out which books about the Lake District you can buy as a Kindle book.
Take a look to see my reviews of the best Kindle books about the Lake District.
If you are visiting from overseas, a Kindle and some Kindle Guides make great sense.
Take a look to see my reviews of the best Kindle books about the Lake District.
If you are visiting from overseas, a Kindle and some Kindle Guides make great sense.
- Kindle Guides to the Lake District
- My pick of the Lake District Guide books available so far on Kindle. the choice is fairly limited right now, but it will grow. Watch this space!
- More Lake District books for your Kindle
- Here are more books with Lake District links for your Kindle. Wordsworth's poetry, Beatrix Potter's biography and lots more.
I've written a lot about my, home, Grasmere and the Lake District
More Lake District information here
Use my first hand knowledge to increase your own Lake District knowledge with these articles. Please take a look.
William Wordsworth's Daffodils
William Wordsworth's poem, Daffodils, was written just half a mile from my home. Often known by its first line "I wandered lonely as a Cloud" the p...
Lake District Information.
I live at White Moss House , Grasmere, in the Lake District, and have written lots of lenses and articles giving information about things to do in the Lake D...
Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
The Lake District , in North West England,is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm lucky- I live in Grasmere, in the heart of the Lake District....
10 things to do in Grasmere.
Let me introduce you to my village-Grasmere, home to William Wordsworth.Grasmere is a small village in the heart of England's Lake District.,visited by thou...
Wordsworth's Lake District.
I live in a house owned by William Wordsworth, close to Dove Cottage Grasmere where Wordsworth wrote his most famous poems, including "Daffodils" ....
William Wordsworth's DaffodilsWilliam Wordsworth's poem, Daffodils, was written just half a mile from my home. Often known by its first line "I wandered lonely as a Cloud" the p...
Lake District Information.I live at White Moss House , Grasmere, in the Lake District, and have written lots of lenses and articles giving information about things to do in the Lake D...
Top 10 Lakes in the Lake DistrictThe Lake District , in North West England,is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm lucky- I live in Grasmere, in the heart of the Lake District....
10 things to do in Grasmere.Let me introduce you to my village-Grasmere, home to William Wordsworth.Grasmere is a small village in the heart of England's Lake District.,visited by thou...
Wordsworth's Lake District.I live in a house owned by William Wordsworth, close to Dove Cottage Grasmere where Wordsworth wrote his most famous poems, including "Daffodils" ....
The Best Lake District Book for food lovers
If you're lucky you might be able to buy this Lake District food book in the USA
Dymond Guide - The Lake District Cumbria Food and Drink
Amazon Price: $116.94 (as of 06/02/2012)
My favorite Lake District walking book- On High Lakeland Fells.
On High Lakeland Fells- wonderful Lake District walks in this book
There are so many great books about Lake District walks, and Lake District hikes, but this book On High Lakeland Fells by Bob Allen is the one that I turn to when planing a walk, or just to look at the beautiful photos and gain inspiration.
The book is divided into geographical sections of the main mountain ranges ( or "fells" as they are known in the Lake District )
There is a simple map for each area showing the main routes and the main summits , and a table showing the length and difficulty of the various routes.These routes are then described in detail, and are shown in wonderful photos taken by the author, Bob Allen.
I have bought this book as a gift for many of my friends who love to walk the Lake District fells.
One word of warning- Bob Allen estimates the time it takes to do these walks, but I have never managed these times! Unless you are very fit and fast, add an hour or two to Bob's times.
UK readers can buy from Amazon.co.uk by clicking the left image, and US readers can order from the link below.
Bob Allen has also written other great books with circular walks on Lower Lakeland Fells. These are currently out of print, but well worth buying if you can find them .
Bob is now retired from writing and is living in Grasmere. It's a shame that he says he won't write any more books. He is still walking for pleasure, and he still looks very, very fit!
The book is divided into geographical sections of the main mountain ranges ( or "fells" as they are known in the Lake District )
There is a simple map for each area showing the main routes and the main summits , and a table showing the length and difficulty of the various routes.These routes are then described in detail, and are shown in wonderful photos taken by the author, Bob Allen.
I have bought this book as a gift for many of my friends who love to walk the Lake District fells.
One word of warning- Bob Allen estimates the time it takes to do these walks, but I have never managed these times! Unless you are very fit and fast, add an hour or two to Bob's times.
UK readers can buy from Amazon.co.uk by clicking the left image, and US readers can order from the link below.
Bob Allen has also written other great books with circular walks on Lower Lakeland Fells. These are currently out of print, but well worth buying if you can find them .
Bob is now retired from writing and is living in Grasmere. It's a shame that he says he won't write any more books. He is still walking for pleasure, and he still looks very, very fit!
On High Lakeland Fells
Amazon Price: $21.57 (as of 06/02/2012)
Follow me tweeting from the heart of the Lake District.
Tweeting from White Moss House, once owned by Wordsworth
I tweet a lot from my Grasmere B & B.!
Alfred Wainwright's Lake District Books are classics
Alfred Wainwright The Pictoral Guides to the Lake District.
The Best of Wainwright Second Edition
Purists will not be happy with my choice of a "Best of Wainwright" book but I'm assuming that true Wainwright fans ( of which I am one) will not need any guide from me about the value of The Pictoral Guides. I own them all, and if I lost one i would replace it- a full set is essential to me, but as an introduction, this Best of Wainwright is a great starting point. If you want to buy the individual books, please do!
This Best Of Wainwright is edited by Hunter Davies, born in Cumbria, still with a home here, biographer of the Beatles and Wordsworth and all round Lake District enthusiast ( and yes, I have met him too- he's brilliant to talk to and writes superbly)
Best of Wainwright
Amazon Price: $15.58 (as of 06/02/2012)
A special Lake District Book- Dorothy Wordsworth's journals
Dorothy Wordsworth's Journals- a wonderful Lake District book
Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of poet William Wordsworth, kept a detailed dairy of her life at Dove Cottage , Grasmere in the first few years of the 19th century. Her writings about daffodils inspired the poem of the same name, possibly the most famous poem in the world.
Full of details about her walks, her meals, her conversations, this fascinating diary has been brilliantly edited by Wordsworth scholar Pamela Woof.
Available in the UK and the US- please click on the links below to buy from Amazon.
Full of details about her walks, her meals, her conversations, this fascinating diary has been brilliantly edited by Wordsworth scholar Pamela Woof.
Available in the UK and the US- please click on the links below to buy from Amazon.
The Grasmere and Alfoxden Journals
(Oxford World's Classics)
The Grasmere and Alfoxden Journals (Oxford World's Classics)
Amazon Price: $6.07 (as of 06/02/2012)
Lake District Photographs
Stunning Lake District pictures
This superb book of Lake District photgraphs is by local Lake District photographer, Val Corbet. Val Corbet's work features regularly in local magazines such as Cumbria Life .
Whether you live in the UK or the US, tou can buy this book online.
Lake District Panoramas:
Stunning Photographs of England's Lakeland
(Regional Panoramas)
Whether you live in the UK or the US, tou can buy this book online.
Lake District Panoramas (Panoramas S.)
Amazon Price: $0.96 (as of 06/02/2012)
There are many excellent books of Lake District photography. This book of Lake District panoramas features some wonderful Lake District pictures for you to enjoy, or to give as a gift to lovers of the Lake Dsitrict.
Here are more articles written in the Lake District, about the Lake District
Have you got time to read more about the Lake Dsitrict?
Traditional Lake District FoodTraditional Lake District Food is spicy and distinctive. Lake District recipes as we now know developed in the 18th century ,when exotic spices, fruits and...
Lake District Tea Bread RecipeTea bread is a traditional Lake District recipe, perfect for afternoon tea What is tea bread? Well, it's a sort of fruit loaf that uses tea ,( yes tea that...
Rydal Water Walk.This walk round the lovely lake of Rydal Water, in England's Lake District, takes most people about 2 hours. It takes in some of the most beautiful scenery i...
Ambleside is a village in Cumbria, in England's glorious Lake District. Ambleside is the base for many Lake District activities, in the centre of the Lake Di...
Herdwick sheep , the Lake District sheep.Herdwick sheep are the sheep of Cumbria, in the Northwest corner of England. The Lake District is the most famous part of Cumbria, loved by visitors for its ...
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Possibly the best all round Lake District Guide Book.
The Rough Guide to the Lake District- an excellent Lake District guide book
The Rough Guide to the Lake District
(Rough Guide Travel Guides)
The Rough Guide to the Lake District is one of the Best Lake District books as a starter guide book. Buy in the UK or US from amazon.
The Rough Guide to the Lake District (Rough Guide Lake District)
Amazon Price: $10.57 (as of 06/02/2012)
No selection of Lake District Books is complete without Wordsworth
An excellent Wordsworth antholgy
The collected works of William Wordsworth- read and ponder on the poetry of Wordsworth, written in Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District.
The Major Works:
Including The Prelude
(Oxford World's Classics)
Selected Poetry (Oxford World's Classics)
Amazon Price: $5.76 (as of 06/02/2012)
Whitemoss has written and Insider's Guide to the Lake District.
Read these lenses if you are planning to visit the Lake District
Lenses about the Lake District collected together by whitemoss- local lenses by a local resident.
Stop! Before you rush to buy that Lake District Book, please give this page the "Thumbs Up"
The Best lake District books- worth a Like?
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
The Lake District- what are people saying today about the Lake District.
The Lake District - not just in books- in real life too!
I bet lots of these visitors to the Lake District will be buying Lake District books. I wonder, have they read my guide to the Best Lake District Books?!
The Best Lake District books- in my opinion- what's your opinion?
I'll be adding to this list as more of my favorite books come to mind
These are some of my favorite Lake District books.I've just published this lens, and will be adding more books in the next few days, so please return for another visit.
If you have any views on this list, or any suggestions, or if you just want to let me know you've visited, I'd love to hear from you.
And if you have a minute to give this lens the "thumbs up" I'd be very happy.
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david_wesley321
Jan 29, 2011 @ 4:20 pm | delete
- Check out Books On Kindle for a wide selection of books, many free you can get for the Kindle. Highly recommended!
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Dave_Lawrance
Dec 17, 2010 @ 9:37 am | delete
- A great selection of book here!
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the777group
Oct 29, 2010 @ 8:45 pm | delete
- The Lake District looks stupendous!
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awelldressedbullet
Sep 15, 2010 @ 9:33 am | delete
- Great lens and lots of good recommendations too! - Kathy
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whitemoss
Sep 15, 2010 @ 10:01 am | delete
- Thanks for your visit.
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- Load More
by whitemoss
My home White Moss House was owned by Wordsworth. It's now a guest house in England's Lake District You can stay here!
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I'm a Kindle fan- here's a great Lake District book for your Kindle
Carry this guide to Lake District walks on your Kindle
Great Mountain Days in the Lake District: 50 Great Routes
Amazon Price: (as of 06/02/2012)
A really great read, a great Lake District Guide, and it's available to load to your Kindle.
Not got a Kindle? You need one
Read your Kindle wherever you go, even in bright sunshine.
Kindle Keyboard 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers
Amazon Price: $139.00 (as of 06/02/2012)
I have this Kindle. I take it everywhere. Perfect for vacations
You'll need a good map to explore the Lake District
This is an excellent map for the Lake District
Touring Map: Lake District & Cumbria (Tour Maps)
Amazon Price: $5.59 (as of 06/02/2012)
Ordnance survey maps are the best maps in the UK. For hikers, you can buy 4 maps of the Lake District, split into quarters, with every path and stream in great details, but for driving, general walks and exploring, this is the best map of the Lake District.
