Lake District Walking Holidays

With its breathtaking glacial ribbon lakes, craggy hilltops and fascinating literary connections, the enchanting Lake District has a lot to offer. This storybook realm of rolling hills and natural, glistening waters cover around 1% of all the land area in Great Britain, which means there’s plenty of opportunities to explore off the beaten track on a Lake District walking holiday. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, the region’s enchanting waters and quaint English countryside have inspired some of the nation’s most famous authors, from Arthur Ransome and William Wordsworth to Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Beatrix Potter, who wrote the magical tales of Peter Rabbit. Aside from the lakes, this area is also home to more than 6,000 historical monuments and archaeological sites that date back to prehistoric times, from old roman roads to ancient stone circles and classic country estates.

With over 200 fell tops in the lakes district alone, this varying terrain makes the region a great place to explore on foot. Discover the Lake District’s best hiking trails, you’ll climb up Catbells and make the long-distance walk-up Skiddaw before making the beautiful ascent to Helvellyn, known as England’s greatest walk. You’ll end this Lake District walking holiday with an exhilarating hike to the summit plateau of Scafell Pike.

If you’re looking to explore the Lake District with literary eyes, our Literary Self-Guided Walking in the Lake District trip takes you to the Hammerscar Plantation before heading south along the Cumbria Way to complete the idyllic Coniston Circular Walk. Here, you’ll get to admire the serene Coniston Water, which served as the main inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s much-loved classic, Swallows and Amazons. With visits to the renowned National Trust’s Beatrix Potter Gallery, the peaceful Grizedale Forest and the neo-gothic Wray Castle, you don’t have to be a wordsmith to find this Lake District walking holiday utterly charming.

FAQs on Lake District Walking Holidays

Which is the best lake to walk around the Lake District?

If you’re looking for diverse scenery, wildlife and a fellside backdrop, Buttermere is one of the best lakes to walk around. It’s remote location and ethereal atmosphere attracts all kinds of walkers and there are plenty of places where you can take a dip along its shore.

Families tend to opt for Derwentwater as there are lots of interesting things to see along the route, such as the iconic Ashness Bridge, the viewpoint at Friar’s Crag and the Centenary Stone at Calfclose Bay. Alternatively, explore the 20-mile route that winds around Ullswater, stopping off at pretty villages along the way.

Where is the best hiking in the Lake District?

Wherever you go on Lake District walking holidays, you’ll be greeted with fantastic hiking routes. If you prefer to bag several fells in one go, hike along epic routes such as the Fairfield Horseshoe, Newlands Round, Kentmere Horseshoe or the Coledale Horseshoe. But if you’d rather stay low, walks such as the Ullswater Way, Blea Tarn and other waterside trails provide you with all the beauty but without the steep climbs.

The Cumbria Way is great for exploring the Lake District over a series of longer walks and the 73-mile route incorporates some of the most diverse landscapes of the national park, taking in historic towns and villages, mountain scenery, glacial valleys and ancient woodlands.

What is the most popular walk in the Lake District?

With 214 fells in the Lake District listed by Alfred Wainwright, there are many different walks to choose from, each with its own unique features. But you don’t always have to go high to appreciate breath-taking views on Lake District walking holidays as there are plenty of low-level and flat walks to discover too. There are many walks that have become extremely popular with seasoned hikers, families and beginners, and while we can’t list them all, here are just a few you might want to tackle:

Catbells
Helvellyn
Scafell Pike
Old Man of Coniston
Buttermere circular
Tarn Hows
Blencathra
Grasmere and Rydal Water
The Cumbria Way
Ullswater Way
Haystacks Helm Crag

Which Lake District lakes can you walk around?

There are 16 bodies of water in the Lake District (only Bassenthwaite is an official lake), with many offering fabulous circular routes that lead you among woodlands and below mighty fells. A few of our favourite lakes with some of the most picturesque scenery are:

Buttermere
Grasmere and Rydal Water
Windermere
Derwentwater
Ullswater
Loweswater
Coniston Water
Wastwater
Ennerdale Water

Is the Lake District good for walking?

Lake District walking holidays have become a popular choice for anyone wanting to explore the national park on foot. The landscape is diverse and dramatic, and around every turn you’ll discover something new and exciting. Whether you want to enjoy a flat walk with the children or attempt one of the highest peaks in the country, the Lake District has it all, from stunning fell views and peaceful lakeside walks to charming villages and towns.

Which part of Lake District is best?

Depending on what you like to see or do during Lake District walking holidays, each part of the national park holds something different in store. To escape the crowds and discover more remote and wild scenery, the Western Lake District is the place to go. Wasdale is particularly beautiful and its rugged landscape plays host to the deepest lake in England, Wastwater; the highest fell, Scafell Pike; and the smallest Church, St Olaf’s. You can also explore places like Eskdale, Buttermere and the sprawling coastline.

But if you enjoy vibrant towns and lakeside walks surrounded by imposing fells, head for Keswick where you can walk along the shore of Derwentwater or climb one of the many surrounding fells. South Lakeland also has some great towns and villages to explore, with Ambleside, Bowness and Windermere being popular among tourists.

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