Hiking through the Cumbrian Lake District — England's green and pristine mountain playground — we admire idyllic lakes, discover misty waterfalls, tour a slate mine, and conquer stony summits. And we'll meet the locals — and their beloved dogs and sheep — everywhere. Then we hike Hadrian's Wall, play a little cricket, and are dazzled by Durham's Norman cathedral.
Newlands Valley, Keswick, Cumbria
tel. 017687/78544
For some reason, 70 percent of England's stone circles are here in Cumbria. This one's the best. The circle - 90 feet across and 5,000 years old — has 38 stones mysteriously laid out on a line between the two tallest peaks on the horizon. They serve as a celestial calendar for ritual celebrations. For maximum goose pimples (as they say here), show up at sunset (3 miles east of Keswick — follow brown signs, 3 min off A66, easy parking).
