Walks

Best Walks in the Lake District National Park

Of all the national parks in Britain, the Lake District in Cumbria is arguably the most celebrated – discover the area’s fells, rivers, waters and towns with the best  walks in the Lake District National Park.

Walk: Cat Bells

Explore this famous fell with this moderate-level 5.7km (3.5 mi) walking route, which should take around 2.5 hours to complete.

Route details

  • 5.7km/3.5 miles
  • 2.5 hours
  • Moderate

Walking route to the summit of Cat Bells in the Lake District.

 

Walk: Buttermere and Rannerdale Knotts, Cumbria

This 12km walk includes some of the Lake District’s most beautiful trees and forests, where myth and legend tangle with the Scots pines and the golden needles of larches.

Route details

  • 12km / 7.5 miles
  • 4 hours
  • Moderate

 

Walk: Rydal and Grasmere

Route details

  • 9.7km/6 miles
  • 4 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/2661401/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Rydal-Water-and-Grasmere-Cumbria

 

Walk: Lingmoor Fell Circuit

Route details

  • 13.4km/8.3 miles
  • 5 hours
  • Hard

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/1868472/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Lingmoor-Fell-circuit-Cumbria

 

Walk: Ennerdale and Haystacks

Route details

  • 22.9km/14.2 miles
  • 7 hours
  • Hard

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/1877592/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Ennerdale-and-Hay-Stacks-Cumbria

Walk: Hawkshead and Latterbarrow

Route details

  • 5km/3.1 miles
  • 2 hours
  • Easy/moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/2564907/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Hawkshead-and-Latterbarrow-Cumbria

 

Walk: Wasdale Head Inn, Gosforth

Route details

  • 7.9km/4.9 miles
  • 3 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/2544201/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Wasdale-Head-pub-Cumbria

 

Walk: Grizedale Forest

Route details

  • 12.2km/7.5 miles
  • 4 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/2661531/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Grizedale-Forest-Cumbria

Walk: Old Man of Coniston

Route details

  • 11.1km/6.9 miles
  • 5 hours
  • Hard

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/2661574/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Old-Man-of-Coniston-Cumbria

Walk: Howtown to Glenridding, Ullswater

The route

  • 10.6km/6.6 miles
  • 4 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/3421897/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Howtown-to-Glenridding-Ullswater-Cumbria

Walk: Castel Crag

The route

  • 6.5km/4 miles
  • 2.5 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/3813935/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Castle-Crag-Cumbria

Walk: Brigsteer Woods

Route details

  • 6.6km/ 4.1 miles
  • 2 hours
  • Easy/moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/1829171/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Brigsteer-Woods-Cumbria

Walk: Holme Wood, Loweswater

Route details

  • 5.9km/3.7 miles
  • 2 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/1831051/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Loweswater-and-Holm-Wood-Cumbria

Walk: Bowness-on-Windermere to Kennel Wood

Route details

  • 2.8 miles/ 4.6km
  • Moderate
  • 2 hours

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/2632370/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Bowness-on-Windermere-Cumbria

Walk: Duddon Valley

The route

  • 10km/6.2 miles
  • 4 hours
  • Moderate

https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/3682692/BBC-Countryfile-Magazine-Duddon-Valley-Cumbria

 

References

OS Explorer OL7: The Lake District, South-eastern area (OS Explorer Map)Ordnance Survey.

Ordnance Survey Outstanding Circular Walks 60 – Lake District by Terry Marsh.

The Lake District: High Level and Fell Walks: 30 Best Fell Walks by Vivienne Crow, 2015.

Lake District: Low Level and Lake Walks (British Walking) by Vivienne Crow, 2014.

50 Walks in Lake District (AA 50 Walks) by AA Publishing, 2019.