I love the Lakeland blends although I dislike most other aromatics, so please do not be scared off by the naysayers without trying them first. Britain's two biggest selling blends, Condor and St. Bruno, use the same types of flavoring as the Lakeland blenders do yet they clearly have a lot of fans.
There are two "Lakeland" blenders (the Gawiths), so named because they both are located in the Lake District of England. They are some of the only tobacco manufacturers left in the U.K. and have a lot of history between them. Sam Gawith even holds a worlds record for having the oldest piece of industrial machinery still in operation, and they still use it to make the same blends it made two centuries ago.
There are both flavored and unflavored tobaccos from both companies (they call them "scented" and "unscented"). The unscented blends are almost universally popular, but the scented ones trigger a strong love/hate reaction. They are often called "soapy," but I think they only taste like "soap" or "grandmothers perfume" to those who are unable to associate floral tastes and scents with anything other than toiletries. That sort of makes sense for Americans, but that isn't the experience of the rest of the world. For the British, who conquered India and appropriated much of its cuisine, I can only imagine this type of flavoring seemed as natural as cherry, vanilla, etc. seems to us. If you are accustomed to British/Indian foods, however, there won't be anything too surprising and a lot that may please you.
Ennerdale Flake, for instance, is treated with horror by many Americans yet is G&h's best selling flake tobacco. It's got a very complex mixture of flavoring applied such as almond, various fruits, and floral agents like rose. Interestingly enough, the flavors seem to enhance rather than mask the top-notch Virginias used as a base, especially during the second half of a bowl. Bosun Cut Plug, which features clove, is another popular one. The most floral of the lot is Kendal Flake, which tastes almost identical to the rice pudding served at our best local Indian restaurant. Anyway, there are many different blends to choose from, including some that have no discernible flavors added at all but go through a lot of the same processing methods (Full Virgnina Flake and Dark Flake, for instance).
Flavors aside, there are some other very distinctive traits about this genre of tobacco that makes it attractive to some smokers. The processing methods seem to greatly reduce the potential for tongue bite, which is a big deal for those with sensitive palettes. Also, the Lakeland aromatics actually taste pretty much like they smell and do not use any cavendish. American aros, on the other hand, use lots of cavendish and usually don't taste anything like they smell (there are exceptions, but not enough, IMO). Also, if you like tobaccos with a lot of nicotine, then the Lakelands may be exactly what you are looking for. While some of them (like Ennerdale) are mild enough for most anyone to enjoy, blends like Dark Flake and Coniston Cut Plug (not to mention the ropes) are almost dangerous in their strength.
Anyhow, don't let the opinions of those who dislike Lakelands sway you from trying them. They are quite popular (enough so that some have been around for more than 200 years) and for every guy I know who hates them I know another who loves them. I had no intention of even trying them based on all the talk about "soap" until tongue bite and curiosity got the better of me. It took exactly one ounce each of Ennerdale and Kendal flakes to completely convert me.
It is true, however, that the scented Lakelands will ghost a pipe like no one's business, so a cob is a good idea to start.