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The best viewpoints in the Lake District National Park - 12 easy to access locations

Chris Knight

Want epic views but dont really want to walk very far? Then this is the blog post for you.

Despite being home to 214 wainwrights, the Lake District has a whole host of low level and easy to access viewpoints which provide incredibly picturesque mountain views.

In this blog I have listed 12 easy to access locations which offer incredible views over the Lake District National Park.

Half of the viewpoints require you to barely walk more than 200m whilst some you dont even need to get out of you car for.

At a glance:

  • Wastwater

  • Blea Tarn, Langdale

  • Friars Crag, Derwentwater

  • Latrigg Fell, Keswick

  • Buttermere Lake

  • Surprise View, Derwentwater

  • Moss Force, Newlands Pass

  • Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater

  • Crummock Water

  • Noble Knott Car Park, Whinlatter pass

  • Duke of Portland Boathouse, Pooley Bridge

  • Hardknott Pass

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Wastwater

The deepest lake in the Lake District National park and possibly the most dramatic. 

The 3 mile long lake is enveloped on three side by a amphitheatre of towering peaks.

At the eastern end of the lake lies towering trifecta of Great gable, Kirk Fell, and Scafell Pike.

The three peaks dominate the head of the valley and make arguably the most impressive low level view in the Lake District.

You dont even need to leave you car to appreciate the scale and beauty of the surroundings as the drive along Wastwaters northern shoreline is as good as any.

However I would recommend getting out to snap a few photos a fully appreciate the views.

My suggestion of a place to stop would be at Countess Beck on the northern shoreline. The beach is located next to the turn off and is marked by a large rocky outlet which protrudes into the lake.

Theres plenty of free parking in gravel laybys on the roadside (See the image below), from which its less than 25m walk to the waters edge. 

It’s also a great spot to go for a wildswim, just make sure you acclimatise before jumping straight in, the water is notoriously cold due to the lakes depth.

Blea Tarn

Situated in a hanging valley between Little and Greater Langdale, Blea Tarn is a small but tranquil body of water surrounded by craggy fells.

Alongside being one of the most accessible tarns in Lakeland, its also one of the most beautiful.

The mountain lake is extremely popular with landscape photographers due to the mirror-like reflections it produces of the Langdale Pikes on windless days.

Its also a great location for stargazing and astrophotography due to its ease of access and dark sky location.

A National trust car park is situated opposite the tarn and is £3 for 2 hours or £5 for all day. From there you simply cross the road and descend the wheelchair friendly path for 2o0m until you reach the shoreline.

A word of warning, both single-track roads which lead up to the car park are a 20% gradient, so some clutch control may be required.

Friars Crag

Located on the Derwentwater foreshore, Friars Crag has to one of the most accessible and beautiful viewpoints in the Lake District National Park.

The tree covered headland looks out over the lake towards Cat Bells and the Jaws of Borrowdale offering a magical panorama of mountainous terrain.

Adding to the allure of the viewpoint is wooden bench situated at the tip of the viewpoint which offers unobstructed views of the lake.

The wheelchair friendly walk starts at the Theatre by the Lake car park and runs along Derwentwater’s eastern shoreline for 1km out to the viewpoint.

On the way back make sure you stop by Crow park which is in front of the Theatre for a view towards Derwent Island and Catbells.

The view From Crow Park

Latrigg Fell

Due to its quick and easy access, Latrigg Fell is the ideal spot for sunrise or if your want mountain vistas when you are short on time or energy.

On a good day, you will have amazing views over Derwentwater and the Borrowdale valley and a full panorama of some of the highest mountains in England including Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, and the Newlands Horseshoe.

There also a appropriately placed bench at the viewpoint so you can sit and enjoy the magnificent view.

From thee car park located at the head of Gale Road (CA12 4PH) there are two 1km trails to reach the viewpoint.

The wheelchair friendly path skirts around the peak to the right, and the more direct route leads over the top of the Latrigg Fell. Either way the walk should take around 15-20 minutes.

Buttermere

Buttermere valley and lake is consistently voted for as one of the most beautiful landscapes in both the Lake District and the UK. 

The lake shoreline is lined with forests enveloped on three sides by craggy fells. On a calm day you will be treated to glorious reflections of the lofty craggy fells which encircle the lake on three sides.

Whilst I would recommend tackling a full 6km loop of the lake, there is one viewpoint which should be top of your priority.

That location is the shoreline at the south eastern end of the lake which looks directly towards Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks. On a still day it produces mirror like reflections of the two mountains and the trees which line its southern bank.

The nearest parking for this location is Gatesgarth Car Park, which costs £4 all day. From here it is a 1km walk back along the roadside to the beach.

An alternative viewpoint is from its northern shoreline. Paid parking is available next to the Buttermere Court Hotel in the village and from there its a flat 700m walk via a wheelchair friendly path to the shoreline.

Parking is relatively limited at both locations so if you are planning to visit in the summer or during a weekend, get here early to secure a space.

Surprise View

Surprise view is an easy to reach viewpoint perched high on an oak-lined cliff edge high above the south-eastern shores Derwentwater.

From the two gravel car parks, you only have to cross the road to be granted sensational views back over Derwentwater towards Catbells, Skiddaw, and Bassenthwaite Lake.

If you have dogs or young children be careful as there are no barriers on the edge of the viewpoint.

The drive up to the car park is relatively steep and narrow, so take should be taken. On route to surprise view you will pass over Ashness Bridge, a narrow, stone, packhorse bridge, which has one of the Lake District’s most famous views.

If you are either short on time or want to see the sunset with as little effort as possible, then this is spot for you.

Photo by Jack Anstey on Unsplash

Moss Force, Newlands Pass

Situated a few hundred yards from the crest of the Newlands pass, Moss force is mighty 100m waterfall that dramatically spills over three separate cascades. 

Its a waterfall which will immeadiately snatch you attention if you are driving up the newlands pass from the North.

There is a small amount of free parking available on the side of the road on the summit of the pass from here you only have to step out of your car to get a grand view of the falls. 

Although the view is impressive enough from the roadside, you can get up walk up to its base via one of two short trails that lead to the middle and lower sections of the waterfall. 

Another option is to walk up the hill on the opposite side of the road to gain not only a great view of the falls but some terrific views down both sides of the valley. 

Once you have finished here make sure you carry on over to Buttermere to take in the Lake districts most beautiful valley.

Glencoyne Bay

Situated on the the western corner of Ullswater’s shoreline lies the gorgeous Glencoyne Bay. 

The rocky beach offers a terrific view looking eastwards towards Pooley Bridge and South towards Patterdale. 

Alongside being a great low level view point, the bay has a pebbled shoreline which provides safe and easy access into the the water. 

Parking is located in the the National trust Car park on the the other side of the A592. From here you simply have to cross the road and you will be on the beach. 

The car park is also the starting point for the hike up to Glenridding Dodd. This moderately challenging 5.5km hike involves 360m of elevation gain and offers sensational views over Ullswater.

Glenridding Dodd, Glencoyne bay is in the middle left of the shot.

Crummock Water

Although it's neighbour Buttermere often grabs all the attention and plaudits, the shores of Crummock Water are arguably just as beautiful. 

The two and a half mile lake is separated from Buttermere by a 1km strip of farmland. 

Make the effort to drive the road which runs along the lakes eastern shoreline towards Buttermere. The alpine-esqe road skirts and weaves along the edge of the lake providing magical views back down the valley from inside your vehicle

The best place on the lake to visit is its stunning southern shoreline, where you will find a large pebbled shoreline which offers a great view looking north.

The gently sloping shoreline also provides safe and easy access into the water, make this a perfect wild swimming spot.

There numerous parking spots on the roadside of the b5289, from which you can hop out of car and make the short walk down on its beautiful beaches. 

Alternatively you can park in the National Trust car park next to Buttermere quarry and make the short 750m walk through the woodland down to the shoreline. 

If you are visiting Crummock water I would recommend taking the time to visit Scale Force waterfall and/or hiking up to Rannerdale Knotts or going for a walk around Buttermere. 

Whinlatter pass

Winding its way through the Thornthwaite Forest, Whinlatter Pass forms part of a beautiful circular scenic drive from Keswick that includes Newlands Pass or Honister Pass, Loweswater, Buttermere and Crummock Water

The pass rises to a height of 1,043 feet above sea level, and offers magnificent views back towards the mighty Skiddaw and over Bassenthwaite Lake.

The best section of the pass is the long straight section that heads towards Skiddaw from the visitor centre.

Shortly after the pass begins to descend there is small gravel pull in on the side of the road called Noble Knott Car Park from which you can sit and take in the view.

Because the pass s is a far less severe route than many of its counterparts such as Newlands, Honister, Wrynose, and Hardknot, it often stays open during the colder winter months if it snows.

Duke of Portland Boathouse

Voted “the best waterside retreat” by BBC Countryfile Magazine, the Duke of Portland Boathouse is a small brick and wooden boathouse perched on the northern shoreline of Ullswater.

The boathouse is one of the most iconic and most photographed buildings in the Lake District as its unique location at the top of Ullswater gives it superb, unparalleled views across this beautiful lake.

The building originally belonged to the 3rd Duke of Portland in the 18th century, who was Prime Minister twice. Unfortunately he had to sell the boathouse along with his Cumberland estates to pay his legal bills, hence why its ended up as a rental property.

there is small amount of parking opposite the boathouse on the side of the A592, from there you have to walk along the road to the shoreline which allows you look down he lake.

Hardknott Pass

  • Distance to viewpoint: You dont need to leave your vehicle

  • Parking: Numerous pull ins at the top of the pass

  • W3W Location: ///onlookers.tame.indirect

Located between Eskdale and the Duddon Valley the Hardknott is the steepest and most notorious of all the Lake Districts mountain passes.

Described as Britains wildest road, it has a copius number of hairpin bends and a maximum gradient of 1 in 3 (about 33%). It also shares the title of steepest road in England with Rosedale Chimney Bank in North Yorkshire.

I was actually taken back by how wild and brutally steep this road is. I had been told rumours about its legendary steepness but didn’t fully appreciate it until I drove it.

I had a long Wheelbase VW at the time and I was genuinely worried that I might not make it up and round some of the tight hairpin bends.

There are epic views all along the pass, especially from its highest point.

It’s a road that I recommend you drive if safe to do so, especially if you are going to visit Wastwater.

However please dont attempt drive over it in winter if it is somehow still open. You will only end up getting stuck or seriously damaging your car and self.

So there we have it, 12 of the the best and most accessible viewpoints in the Lake District National Park.

If I had to pick a favourite it would be Blea Tarn followed by Buttermere.

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You can find more Lake District inspiration in the following blogs;

For more Welsh travel inspiration check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite Welsh regions below.

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