A guide to the Lake District National PArk
The 912 square miles of the Lake District National Park is often viewed as one of the most beautiful parts of the UK and for good reason.
With 16 lakes, 197 tarns, 214 wainwrights, and thousands of miles of trails to explore the region is an outdoor enthusiast dream.
The Lake District’s dramatic and enchanting landscape has also provided inspiration to poets, writers, and artists for centuries.
From Beatrix Potter to William Wordsworth, there is a vast array for cultural and artistic pleasure to be found across the National Park.
The region is also a foodie’s heaven. From farm shops and bakeries to craft breweries and classic pubs, there’s a whole host of humbler pleasures to gorge upon after a long day up in the fells.
Within this guide I listed 35 of my favourite hikes, ranging from very easy through to very hard, alongside my favourite waterfalls, tarns, wild swimming spots, coffee shops, sunset, and sunrise locations.
I have listed a variety of things to do and see which I believe reflects the true, captivating beauty of the lakes.
Some of the locations listed are extremely popular, an unavoidable and unfortunate side effect of Lakelands popularity, whilst others are hidden gems offering that peaceful serenity which the Lakes is synonymous with.
Most of my recommendations are outdoor based and involve some form of physical activity.
That is because getting out and about amongst the National Parks diverse and beautiful landscape, even if the sun isn’t shining, is the best way to experience and appreciate this wonderful region.
I have also listed my tips tips to enjoy the Lake District, along with my advice on on where to stay and how to get around the National Park.
Top things to see and do
My top 7 tips for visiting the Lake District
#1 - Pack the appropriate clothing
Funnily enough, the region would not be called the Lake District without its fair sprinkling of rain.
The National park is actually the wettest part of England with on average the region receiveing around 200 days of rain,
It is likely you’ll experience at least one shower during you’re visit. So alongside packing a comfortable but sturdy pair of walking shoes, dress appropriately and do not forget those waterproofs. A good quality rain jacket and some waterproof over trousers will make a world of difference.
#2 - Become an National Trust member to save on parking
Parking charges within the Lakes are by the most part, unavoidable.
If you are staying for a week or longer consider becoming a National Trust member. Around a quarter of the park is owned and run by them with parking being free for its members.
As the vast majority of the locations I recommend in this guide are on National Trust property it will not only save you a small fortune, but it will also mean that your money will be going back into maintaining and improving the regions facilities.
#3 - Make sure you have offline Maps
Due to the hilly nature of the Lake District, mobile phone service within the National Park is unpredictable at best.
With many people relying on their mobile phones for both GPS and navigation, having some form of offline map is essential for making sure you do not get lost and navigating between locations. .
My personal recommendation would be a free app called ‘Maps.ME’.
Once installed you simply have to download the ‘Lake District’ area and you then have access to offline maps for the whole region.
Within the app you can plan car, bike, and hiking routes which show distance, elevation and duration. It also shows every hiking trail within the national park alongside key natural and man-made features such as waterfalls, vistas, fells, shops, and places to eat and drink.
#4 - Purchase a proper hiking app
As Google maps will not cut it out in the signal free hills, I advocate that everyone has access to proper hiking app which they understand and is available to use offline.
My app of choice would be Ordnance Survey. The yearly subscription, which costs £28, gives you digital access to all 607 OS maps which covers the whole of Great Britain.
You can use it on any device, download routes to your phone, and even print of physical to-scale maps as a backup.
Just always make sure your maps and route is downloaded before you set off, as signal in the hills can be very patchy.
#5 - Prioritise the ‘Golden Hours’
To make the most of your time, alongside experiencing the true serenity the Lake District is synonymous with, take the time to get up and out for sunrise and hang around for the occasional sunset.
The true beauty of the lakes is encapsulated within the tranquil and tourist free mornings and evenings.
Even if the spectacular sunrise didn’t quite materialise, finding a parking spot will be effortless, and often having the location to yourself will make for an entirely otherworldly experience.
You can also make a humble brag on social media about winning the morning and winning day…
#6 - Don’t cram
Although the region isn’t huge, the narrow country roads combined with the areas popularity means that getting around the Lake District can often be very arduous and time consuming.
Treat the Lake District like a mini-country, with each of its lakes and hubs acting like its own city.
Pick one place and spend a day or two exploring it before moving onto somewhere else. Don’t worry about missing out as you can always come back, The mountains aren’t going anywhere soon
#7 - Don’t be put off by the weather
Plan and prioritise your activities around the daily forecast for each area and try get out and about no matter what nature throws at you.
Do not be down heartened by the weather forecast, there are heaps of low-level activities both to see and do if it rains and it will usually mean less people will be out and about.
My most memorable ended up being one of the wettest. Instead of staying in, I opted for a low-level hike to some waterfalls and was rewarded with a tourist free afternoon and a superb sunset.
When is the best time of year to visit the Lake District?
Having visited the Lake District in all four seasons I can truthfully say that there is no ‘best time’ to visit, as the National Park is beautiful year round.
The time of year you visit will however have a bearing on what type of experience you have.
The summer months tend to bring the best weather and the longest days. The trade off is that it’s peak season, meaning accommodation is at a premium and the roads, towns, and sights can become unbearably busy.
Despite the dark and cold days alongside some facilities being closed, winter can be a great time to visit, especially if the lakes are covered in a blanket of snow.
Accommodation is cheaper and areas of the National Park can become eerily quiet, which makes the popular locations far more enjoyable and memorable.
Autumn is a magical time to visit, especially when the leaves begin to change colour. Alongside temperatures staying quite high, Theres always something more dramatic about the sunsets during this time of year.
My personal preference would be to visit in late spring/early summer (May-June) or early autumn (September). The shoulder seasons come with a good balance of weather and daylight, alongside tending to be significantly quieter as the kids are in school.
How long should you spend in the Lake District?
How long is a piece of string?
If you love the outdoors and walking then you could easily spend months in the Lake District and still not run out of things to see and do.
I would look to spend a minimum of three days visiting the National Park, with 7-10 days being a perfect amount of time to explore the region.
The longer you spend here the less time you will spend rushing around to squeeze as much in, and you can also factor in the inevitable day which will become a complete washout.
If visiting for a week, I would look to spend a day exploring each of the following 6 regions: Langdale valleys, Wastwater, Buttermere valley, Derwentwater/Keswick, Ullswater, and Ambleside/Grasmere.
Each of these areas has an abundance of things to see, mountains to climb, alongside numerous low level viewpoints and walks.
If you do come for a long weekend or shorter, don’t try to pack too much into your schedule. Pick one of the areas I have listed above and spend a day or two exploring it.
Where is the best place to stay in the Lake District?
This question comes down to if you own a vehicle, what type of accommodation you want, and where is available.
My recommendation would be to try to stay in (or near to) the town of Keswick.
Located in the Northern Lakes, the market town is one of the main hubs of the National Park and can be quickly and easily accessed from the M6.
Alongside having a whole host of great facilities lining its rustic one way streets, including shops, restaurants and supermarkets. The town has a whole host of incredible things to see and do available from its doorstep.
In addition, I tend to find the northern regions of the Lake District more beautiful, exciting, and significantly quieter than those further south.
Derwentwater is a delightful lake and you are only a short drive from the beautiful valley of Buttermere.
A close second would be the village of Ambleside.
Its central location and abundance of facilities make this a great place to base yourself to explore the lakes. There is also a whole host of low and high level walks either starting from the village or very close by.
However during the busier months the Ambleside’s central location can become a problem.
Because it is a tourist hotspot and the main roads lead directly through its one way system, it becomes ridiculously busy and parking is virtually impossible.
If you are looking for something more reserved and off the grid, you can find yourself accommodation in one of the quieter regions of the the national park. Just dont forget to factor in travel to and around the park, and finding places to eat and drink.
I would personally avoid staying around Windermere.
It came across quite city like in its atmosphere which took away from the Lake Districts natural charm.
Being in the south of the National Park, it is also situated an hour or so’s drive from of the quieter and beautiful sections of the Lake District which I believe are found further north.
How to get to and around the Lake District?
Like any UK National Park, the best way to get around is by car as it means you go where you want, exactly when you want.
Due to the narrow roads and steep mountain passes, some of the more beautiful and quieter parts of the National Park aren’t served by public transport links, meaning a car is the only way to access them.
If you have car one thing to be aware of that the roads are very narrow and become quite congested, especially during the busier months.
This can make travelling around the Lake District National Park quite time consuming and laborious, despite locations being located only a short distance from each other.
Getting around without a car
Trains - The West Coast mainline runs to the east of the Lake District, connecting Oxenholme, Penrith, and Carlisle with London and Glasgow. A direct train also runs from Manchester to Windermere. Local trains from Oxenholme call at Kendal, Staveley and Windermere.
Buses and coaches - National Express run coaches to various towns in the Lake District from all over the UK and you can plan your journey using the Stage coach bus website. Alternatively you can download the Lakes by Bus pdf guide, which has everything you need to explore the Lake District.
Minibus tours and bus explorer tickets - There are several companies which offer you the chance to sit back and watch the scenery, with half day, full day and bespoke tours around the lakes and fells.
Steamers and boat cruises - Combining a one-way cruise with a bus, walk or cycle can be a great way to travel around a lake in a day. You can find a full guide to getting to and around the Lake District here
Final Thoughts
After experiencing the Lakes endless natural beauty, sweeping vistas and cultural heritage, it is evident why this special slice of Britain is visited by over 20 million people a year.
No matter you age, ability or interest, the Lake District has something for everyone.
Whether its a short lakeside walk, a woodland stroll to waterfall, or hike amongst the areas 214 wonderful Wainwrights, there are no-shortage of outdoor activities to help you escape and unwind.
Feet sore from walking? Visit one of the areas many cultural attractions, view the fells from a lakeside cruise, or grab a bite to eat at the plethora of delectable dining options scattered across the region.
That concludes my guide to the Lake District National Park.
Thanks for reading this far, I hope you enjoyed and found some inspiration for your next Lake District staycation. The region is truly beautiful and you wont be disappointed no matter what the season.
If you did find the guide useful, I’d appreciate you giving it a share or giving me a follow on social media, every bit of support goes a long way.
For more travel, & photography inspiration check out my in-depth guides to each of my favourite regions in Wales