I think its 'General Walking discussion', 'Long Distance walks' and for purchases in the UK, 'Gear.
When hiking through the Lakes, if you have the time and inclination to visit other places, I would suggest that wait until you get to Grasmere before doing so. The main north south main road disects through the Lake District here and you get the opportunity to use buses. From here you can visit Keswick and the Ambleside areas, even Windermere as well.
When you get to Patterdale (Glenridding is just along the road) you can get a bus to Penrith going one way or to Windermere, over the Kirkstone Pass. The last time I did it the Glenridding to Penrith route was a great experience. I caught a double decker bus and managed to sit upstairs on the front seat. I had to really hold on tightly, the driver took that bus along the twisting, undulating road along the edge of Ullwater as if he was racing a car. Really great fun as the bus rocked and rolled from side to side, like being on a bucking bronco!
I have also done Patterdale to Windermere (better route than from Grasmere to Windermere) I was sitting this time in a single decker bus, belting madly along narrow roads with stone walls either side. Very unnerving to be sitting on the bus seeing a car coming towards us, the optical illussion you get is, there is no room for the bus and car to pass. So many sharp intakes of breath and gritting of teeth, how the driver squeezed his bus through the availble space at 30 mph was beyong my understanding. Great fun though!
Also if you take a bus ride you may get a real and personal experience of the local people. In the UK the elderly are given a free bus pass by our government (I have one) and its one of those occasions where locals get on the bus, greet each other, have laughs together, gossip about people they know and so on. Not done in malice but hilarious at times, I've been allowed to join in the conversation more than once. If you like mixing with other people I would suggest, not to be missed.