Whether you’re taking the dog out, or after a long hike, scenic walks in the Lake District are in abundance. There is a vast choice of tracks and trails through some of the most stunning countryside in England.
Scenic walks in the Lake District
Ash Landing and Claife Heights in Windermere
The first of our scenic walks in the Lake District takes place here in Windemere.
For the slightly hardier souls, this 7.5 mile walk begins at the car park at Ash Landing. If you are staying in Windermere you are right in the heart of the lakes and there is plenty of accommodation, attractions and shops nearby.
This walk boasts incredible views, which first attracted Victorian tourists to the area. Claife Heights appeared in one of the first guidebooks about the lakes by Thomas West in 1778. A viewing station gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy the sights through coloured glass.
Tom Gill to Tarn Hows at Coniston
This 1.6 mile walk starts at Tom Gill Car Park at Glen Mary Bridge. It offers one of the most famous views of the Lake District. The path around the fell top tarn has been made accessible for buggies and mobility scooters, attracting walkers of all ages and levels of personal fitness.
Slightly more challenging is the short steep approach to the tarn past Tom Gill Beck. Amazing views on a clear day over the fells.
Buttermere to Rannerdale
This 3 mile walk passes one of the most photographed sites in the Lake District, the trees known as the Sentinels at the southern end of Buttermere. Enjoy the pebbly beach of Crummock Water and Scale Force, which is the highest falls in the Lake District. There are plenty of easy walks around Buttermere but if you fancy more of a challenge go to Rannerdale Knotts, where the bluebells bloom every Spring.
Ambleside to Troutbeck
This walk is almost 6 miles long and starts at Market Cross in Ambleside. Keep a lookout for the tallest tree in Cumbria en route, at almost 58 metres in height. If you visit between April and June, take a look round Stagshaw Gardens with an incredible display of flora and fauna. Ambleside also offers a wide choice of places to visit, from museums to quirky shops and cafés.
Friar´s Crag, Keswick
Starting at Lakeside Car Park this three-quarter of a mile trek is said to be one of the most beautiful scenes in Europe. Friar´s Crag juts out into Derwentwater towards Derwent Isle. Memorials to John Ruskin and Canon Rawsley can be found near the lakeside, and this is also a great spot for stargazing at night.
Corpse Road, Loweswater
At just 3.6 miles long, this scenic walk starts at Maggie´s Bridge Car Park. So called after the road was used to transport the dead from the neighbouring villages to local burial grounds. Despite the name of the Walk, the area around Loweswater offers beautiful countryside, and Holme Force Falls are well worth seeing.
Greendale and Middle Fell in the Western Fells
This walk is 3.5 miles starting at Greendale, and this part of the Lake District offers beautiful, unspoiled countryside and relatively uncrowded paths. Enjoy the wild beauty of Wasdale and the Roman history of Eskdale. Greendale Tarn is a great place to stop off for a picnic.
Distance walking is a great way to improve cardio fitness, while if you’re wishing to improve personal fitness you can always turn it into a gentle run.
You will find plenty of accommodation options in the Lake District. Book a spa break with Aphrodites Lodge.