In reply to Danbow73:
The best place for a short trip in good weather is Wasdale - it's remote, beautiful, right in amongst the biggest crags and fells. In a dry spell you can climb on Scafell, the biggest and best crag Botterill's Slab (VS 4c), Moss Ghyll Grooves (VS 4c) Mickledore Grooves (VS 5a). Pillar (long walk-in, unfrequented, but big) and the Napes (Gable, south facing, more accessible). It's a long drive but worth it, it feels much more like a trip into the mountains than the other valleys. There's a choice of pub campsite (small field, can't take your car in) or NT (presumably eye-wateringly expensive, and it's a trek from the pub). The pub is good.
Eskdale is beautiful and quiet, and gives access to Scafell and Esk Buttress (big, remote crag - in some ways the best crag in the Lakes as it's South facing and relatively low lying Medusa Wall (VS 4c) Bridge's Route (HS 4b)). Long walk-ins up a really wonderful valley.
Langdale is the most convenient with lots of crags, none as good as the above, but much more choice and shorter walks. Gimmer The Crack (VS 4c) and Pavey are the big crags. Also a number of accessible valley crags. OK pubs and campsites, shortest drive - it's a great place.
Coniston is a nice place with a big campsite by the lake, decent pubs, and gives access to Dow, which is an accessible mountain crag of a good size, and has the best VS in the Lakes, Eliminate 'A' (VS 4c). But other than Dow, there's not much (there's slate, but it's harder grades). Not far from Langdale, so I'd probably stay in Langdale and drive round to Dow for a day if you go.
