The Lake District

One of the world’s most beautiful and best-loved places, and some of its most gorgeous and best-loved walking. With very good reason. You would have a heart of stone were you not moved and inspired by this wonderful region. It may not have the drama of the Himalayas, Andes or Alps, but Lakeland strikes a huge range of emotive chords, from subtle, gentle lusciousness to harsh, wild drama; to old-fashioned fear.

To state the obvious, it is the region’s glacially scoured scenery that sets it apart, with gorgeous lakes winding between ancient, wild hills sporting soft woodland, foaming streams and waterfalls on their lower slopes. 

The lakes are, of course, inescapably associated with the romantic poetry of William Wordsworth, the delightful anthropomorphic animal stories of Beatrix Potter (Harry’s Great-Grandmother), and other writers, and endless (if at times hackneyed) beautiful pictures. It seems weird, now, that until the romantic perception took root, these mountains and delicate lakes were considered dreary, even sinister.

The Lake District has two drawbacks: popularity: you will have to accept that the famous or easy – but beautiful – walks will be overpopulated in high season. To achieve solitude, take lesser-known routes or go out of the high seasons.

weather, of which there is lots. While there are periods of glorious sunshine, come prepared for cloud and rain. Some of the lakes’ most beautiful light is on showery, broken cloudy days. 

With every valley and hillside likely to harbour some treasure, you could spend a lifetime walking here, and even Wainwright (who did so) probably didn’t catalogue every possibility. But between him, the outstanding Ciceroneguidebooks (their home is in Cumbria) and numerous other guides and pamphlets, the best walks are well covered. Actually, if you want solitude and to get into the “real” lakes, you can take any footpath on the excellent maps safe in the knowledge that it is almost impossible not to be delighted.

Note that wayfinding on some mountains isn’t that easy if the cloud comes down – Walkopedia got briefly disoriented near Scafell Pike in March 16 while in charge of two 13 year olds, and it was disconcerting.

You have three primary approaches: move around bagging the very best; a continuous walk; or finding a perfect place to stay, then delving deep into the surrounding area’s possibilities.

Walkopedia will not try to list every possibility, and we are at an early stage of our own Lake District eulogy, so we currently list only a small sample of the very best walks.

Continuous routes

The Coast to Coast: the Lakeland section of this great walk is a fabulous 4 day walk (5 if starting from the coast at St Bees), depending on where you start. The route has been brilliantly chosen, passing through consistently beautiful landscape as it meanders up perfect valleys and crosses high ground, with magnificent views of the peaks, lakes and valleys all around.

Day 1: Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwait (Borrowdale) (23km/ 14.5 miles)

Day 2: Rosthwait to Grasmere (11.3km/ 7 miles or more)

Day 3: Grasmere to Patterdale (11km/ 7 miles or more)

Day 4: Patterdale to Shap (24km/ 15 miles)

Cumbria Way and Cumbria High Way: The Cumbria Way is a fine and interesting walk, traversing one of the world’s most beautiful and best-loved places, but/and (depending on your viewpoint) it is said to be the least demanding of the UK’s long-distance routes, following valleys and crossing low passes. The informal Cumbria High Way, created by John Gilham for Cicerone Guide Books, is a superb alternative for the more adventurous walker, taking in some of the Lakes’ finest landscape. Actually there are several higher level alternatives for most days – Walkopedia went delightfully off-piste, creating our own variants to suit our tastes.Both routes run south-north (or vice versa, if you like the sun (and wind) on your face), from Ulverston in the south to Carlisle in the north, in 6 days, although you can cut out the first and last days, which are in field and foothill, and cross the heart of the Lake District, from Coniston to Caldbeck, in 4 days.

You can make your own continuous routes (Walkopedia has 4 min mind) , in circuits from chosen starting points, staying in different villages and either carrying your kit or having it transported by taxi or transfer service. Please give us your ideas for other wonderful continuous walks.

The Great (day) Walks

Central

Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain at 978 m. Heavily walked, best avoided at peak times. Walkable with Scafell.

The dramatic Langdale Pikes and Bowfell and Esk Pike above the beautiful Langdale valleys  – particularly ascending Pavey Ark via Jack’s Rake (see below).

Northern

Blencathra / Saddleback. Various routes, including the exciting, narrow Sharp Edge.

Skiddaw: stunning walking on its mid flanks. Boring slog to its summit is rewarded with enormous views. 

Eastern

High Street: a Roman road along this long flattish ridge, with an ancient stone circle. A fascinating, mysterious place with beautiful approaches and views the Ullswater hills.

The Helvellyn Ridge: superb approaches from all directions to the Lakes’ 3rd highest mountain. The airy, exposed knife-edge ridge of Striding Edge is one of Britain’s best-known walks. A true thrill.

Western

Haystacks /High Stile Ridge above Buttermere.

Catbells and High Spy: This popular narrow ridge above Derwent Water’s western shore has gorgeous views all round: across the lake but also up Borrowdale and across to Grisedale Pike and other western mountains. Continue up the ridge to High Spy. A diversion from the Cumbria High Way. 

Great Gable 

Pillar 

Southern

The Old Man of Coniston  and Swirl How: This is one of Walkopedia’s favourite UK walks: the Old Man is one of the most southerly high points, with huge views. A long (3 km?), level ridge runs between the Old Man and Swirl How at the northern end, which again commands expansive views. There you can swing back south, taking in Wether Lam if you wish, or you can descend the long and lovely Wet Side Edge via Great Carrs, to the Little Langdale valley. This is a superb day on the Cumbria High Way. The Old Man and Swirl How can of course be walked as their own separate expeditions, with numerous options, if time or energy are short.

All further ideas welcome!

Breathtaking beauty

Circle lovely Buttermere; include a steepish plod to gain wondrous views from Haystacks or High Stile or the pass above the lakehead.

Around Grasmere 

Howton to Patterdale, on Ullswater. Claimed to be Lakeland’s most beautiful lakeside walk (this is of course heavily contested). 7 miles. Take a ferry from Glenridding to Howton, then walk back via Patterdale at the lake’s end. Gets crowded at peak times. An alternative is a return ferry to Howton, making a delightful circuit behind the lakeside Hallin Fell, through exquisite Martindale.

Above ludicrously pretty Martindale by Ullswater, crossing lower ridges or getting the big picture from the High Street ridge.

Walla Crag or Friar’s Crag to the east above Derwent Water (the view from the latter described by the ever-opinionated Ruskin as one of the 3 finest in Europe). The Cumbria High Way goes this way.

All further ideas welcome!

Heartstoppers

Climb the infamous Jack’s Rake, a narrow fissure in the cliff-face of Pavey Ark in the Langdale Pikes massif. Truly thrilling, astounding walking, the first time Walkopedia discovered vertigo and the best cigarette of our life at the top.

Famous Striding Edge, leading east from Helvellyn. A knife-sharp serrated ridge, very exposed in places but not that dangerous in reasonable weather. An unforgettably exciting scramble.

Sharp Edge on Blencathra 

Areas to base yourself in for a few days

Grasmere: Wordsworth’s home in the heart of the Lakes has a multitude of great walks, including one of the best approaches to Helvellyn. 

Langdale Valley, also in the heart of the Lakes.

Keswick to the north, and  Borrowdale, running south from Keswick into the heart of the Lakes.

Buttermere and Crummock Water area.

Eskdale to the south-west, with fine walking in the highlands to the north and east, including approach walks to the Scafell massif. Explore the remarkably preserved Hardknott Roman fort.

Dunnerdale to the south-west, with access to the Old Man of Coniston and Swirl How as well as a lot of other fine walking. Some superb ridge walks.

Coniston on northern Coniston Water. A selection of great walks, especially around the Old Man of Coniston and Swirl How to the north-west. Some superb ridge walks.

Patterdale/ Glenridding at the head of Ullswater to the east. Great walking all around, including: Martindale; High Street; Grisedale, and Helvellyn.

We can always improve! Please help us by recommending your best walks and sending photos! Thank you!