Regions › United Kingdom

The Lake District

Long lakes between bare hills with stone walls and sheep. In the north-west of England you walk from village to lake and back to your motorhome.

The lake Wast Water with the mountain Great Gable behind it and wild flowers along the road
Wast Water with Great Gable.

England's highest mountain and deepest lake

The Lake District has been a national park since 1951 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017 as a cultural landscape. Here stands Scafell Pike: at 978 metres the highest mountain in England. Wast Water is the deepest lake in England and Windermere the longest.

Herdwick sheep graze freely on the hills. The poet William Wordsworth lived at Dove Cottage in Grasmere from 1799 to 1808. Beatrix Potter left her farm Hill Top to the National Trust.

It is also the wettest part of England: so always take rain gear with you.

Walk in May, June or September

It is wettest from October through January. The nicest walking is in May and June and from September to early October. During the British summer holidays it is busy. From November through March there can be snow. Stick to the low routes then because the summits call for winter equipment.

View from Walla Crag over Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake
Derwentwater from Walla Crag.

Beautiful walks

Walla Crag and Ashness Bridge

7 km · 2 hours · circular walk · about 320 m of climbing · starts at the Great Wood car park near Keswick

Up to the crag of Walla Crag with views over Derwentwater to Skiddaw. On the way back you pass Ashness Bridge: an old stone bridge where packhorses once crossed. The path is wet and rocky in places.

View route on the map

Around Buttermere

about 7 km · 3 hours · circular walk · almost flat · starts in the village of Buttermere

Around the lake below Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks through Burtness Wood. At Hassness you walk through a short tunnel in the rock. There is a short stretch along the road and one rocky step. From late March to early November bus 77 runs to the village. Hollows Farm Campsite in Borrowdale lies on the other side of the Honister Pass.

View route on the map

Along Ullswater from Howtown to Glenridding

3 to 3.5 hours · one way · about 200 m of climbing · starts at the pier in Howtown

Take the boat from Glenridding to Howtown and then walk back along the shore path. Wainwright called this the most beautiful lakeside walk in the Lake District. The path goes up and down and is rocky now and then. A single boat ticket cost £12.75 for an adult in 2026. Gillside Camping is close to Glenridding.

View route on the map

Grasmere and Rydal Water

8.5 to 9.5 km · 3 hours · circular walk · about 200 m of climbing · starts in Grasmere

Along Loughrigg Terrace with views over the lake of Grasmere to Rydal Cave. You walk back along the old Coffin Route past Rydal Mount to Dove Cottage: that is where Wordsworth lived. Baysbrown Farm is a good 3 kilometres away.

View route on the map

The path along the shore of Buttermere with Fleetwith Pike behind it
The shore of Buttermere with Fleetwith Pike.
The lake of Grasmere seen from Loughrigg Terrace
Grasmere from Loughrigg Terrace.

Our campsites nearby

In and around the Lake District almost thirty campsites are on our map. These are the closest to the walks above. For each campsite the map shows the circular walks that start close by.