The Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England. It’s a mountainous area in the north-west, in the county of Cumbria. Famous for its beautiful countryside (and particularly for its lakes), it’s a popular holiday destination. Even in the days of cheap foreign travel, it still gets over 14 million tourists a year.
The biggest tourist attractions are the lakes and mountains. Many visitors come to walk and climb the fells (as the mountains are called in Cumbria). These include Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England at 978 metres. Other popular holiday activities are sailing and canoeing. There are 19 major lakes, including Windermere (the largest), Coniston Water, Ullswater and Bassenthwaite Lake, which is the only one to be called a “lake”.