Walks in the Lake District
Looking across Wast Water to Yewbarrow, Great Gable and Lingmell
I have been visiting the Lake District for many years now and I never tire of it. The Lake District is the most visited National Park in the United Kingdom which is not surprising because of its sheer beauty and the diversity of activities available to visitors. There are hundreds of options for walkers from gentle lakeside strolls to challenging mountain expeditions. The lakes and mountains combine to form impressive scenery. Farmland and settlement add aesthetic value to the natural scenery with an ecology modified by human influence including important wildlife habitats. On this page you will find links to all the Lake District walks featured on my site. And keep visiting, because it is an ever growing list. I recommend all the walks I feature and you can read about the highlights of each walk on each walk page. Enjoy these Lake District pages and enjoy your walking.
Interactive map of the walksWalks by Area:
Keswick Ambleside Windermere Kendal Penrith
All the Walks:
| Walk | Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Latrigg | 1.5 | A very easy walk suitable for all the family with a lovely view of Keswick. |
| Loughrigg Tarn | 1.7 | I think Loughrigg Tarn is in the best setting of all. See if you agree on this easy stroll. |
| Brothers Water | 2.4 | An easy circular walk near Hartsop village around one of the Lake Districts enigmatic waters. |
| Tarn Hows | 2.6 | A family friendly walk to the most visited Tarn in the Lake District, one of Victorian design. |
| Cat Bells and Little Town | 3.3 | Probably the most climbed hill in all of the Lake District. This way up is the best. |
| Ambleside, Loughrigg Fell, Loughrigg Tarn and Skelwith Bridge | 3.4 | Loughrigg Fell and Tarn are just two of the highlights of this short walk. |
| Blelham Tarn, Windermere and Wray Castle | 3.4 | A delightful Lake District walk suitable for all. With low fells, lakeside and a fairytale castle. |
| Elterwater, Loughrigg Tarn, Skelwith Bridge and Elter Water | 3.7 | A short Lakeland walk that visits two very different lakes. |
| Binsey | 4.1 | Wainwright did a self portrait of himself from this hill. I know why. |
| Fellbarrow and Low Fell | 4.2 | Low Fell affords one of the most spectacular scenes in all of Lakeland. |
| High Force, Gowbarrow Fell and Aira Force | 4.2 | A superb walk with waterfalls, woodland, low fells and exquisite views. |
| Rosthwaite, High Doat and Castle Crag | 4.4 | A walk from Rosthwaite to Castle Crag which includes exquisite views of Borrowdale |
| Grey Knotts, Brandreth and Fleetwith Pike | 4.6 | Along with Grey Knotts this is a good walk to three Wainwright Fells. |
| Scales Fell, Sharp Edge, Blencathra and Hall's Fell Ridge | 4.8 | A classic ridge walk featuring the drama of Sharp Edge, the ascent of Blencathra and the thrill of Hall's Fell Ridge. |
| Elterwater, Skelwith Force and Colwith Force | 4.8 | Skelwith Force and Colwith Force star in this brilliant spectacular walk. |
| Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Water | 5.0 | A walk with much variety. It begins with one of Wainwright's easier fells before a wonderful lakeside walk to finish. |
| Rosthwaite, Great Crag and Grange Fell | 5.2 | A moderate climb provides access to a wonderful tarn and craggy fells. |
| Buttermere, Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike | 5.4 | Wainwright's favourite climb to his favourite mountain and my favourite Lakeland descent in one walk. |
| Hawkshead to Lake Windermere | 5.5 | A pleasant walk with breathtaking views over Windermere. |
| Elterwater, Skelwith Force, Colwith Force, Cathedral Cave and Slater Bridge | 5.6 | A low level walk featuring a lake, some waterfalls, a cave and a remarkable stone bridge. |
| Gable Traverse, Great Napes and Great Gable | 5.8 | A stunning airy ascent via Gable Traverse and Little Hell Gate to one of Lakeland's favourites. |
| Mardale Head, Branstree, Selside Pike and Haweswater | 5.8 | A walk from Mardale Head with Haweswater a striking feature. |
| Riggindale Crag, High Street and Mardale Ill Bell | 5.9 | A superb walk from Mardale Head, Haweswater to a wonderful ridge acessing High Street. Majestic views throughout this walk. |
| Nethermost Pike, Helvellyn, Lower Man and Browncove Crags | 6.6 | A walk with a tough start to great views worth looking forward to. |
| Jack's Rake, Pavey Ark and Thunacar Knott | 6.6 | A fantastic scramble is the highlight of this popular Langdale walk. |
| Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw, Little Man and Lonscale Fell | 6.6 | Accomplish six fabulous Wainwright Fells on a fantastic linear walk. |
| Hartsop above How, Hart Crag, Dove Crag and High Hartsop Dodd | 6.7 | A lovely high level walk starting from Brothers Water. On route the round trip meets the Fairfield Horseshoe. |
| Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Outerside and Barrow | 6.9 | This walk has a moderate first mile and then a tough second which provides a super high level walk with excellent views. |
| Steel Fell, Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag | 6.9 | A fantastic walk with some brilliant moments along the way. |
| Scafell, Scafell Pike and Lingmell from Wasdale Head | 6.9 | A classic route from Wasdale to the Scafell mountains via Brown Tongue and Lord's Rake. |
| Green Gable and Great Gable from Seathwaite | 7.0 | An super walk from Seathwaite via Sourmilk Gill and Windy Gap. |
| Rosthwaite, Eagle Crag, Sergeant's Crag and Black Moss Pot | 7.1 | A walk from Rosthwaite in Borrowdale to two of Lakeland's most attractive Wainwright Fells. |
| High Tove, Armboth Fell, High Seat, Bleaberry Fell and Walla Crag | 7.1 | Bounce along the long felltop of the North Central Fells to High Seat, Bleaberry Fell and more. |
| Blakeley Raise, Grike, Crag Fell, Whoap and Lank Rigg | 7.2 | A walk in the far western of Lakeland to three Wainwright fells. Views of mountains and the Cumbrian coast are enjoyed. |
| Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam | 7.5 | This classic walk including Swirral Edge and Catstye Cam is brilliant. |
| Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags | 7.7 | Two of the most north eastern Wainwright Fells from Mungrisdale walked in bleak midwinter. |
| Haystacks, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Green Gable | 8.0 | Also included on this spectacular walk penned by the formidable John Deasey are Kirk Fell and Green Gable. |
| The Langdale Pikes | 8.2 | One of the Lake District's iconic walks with many fantastic moments. |
| Blencathra via Sharp Edge | 8.2 | An awesome walk by any standards on an awesome mountain. |
| Mellbreak, Hen Comb, Gavel Fell, Blake Fell and Burnbeck Fell | 8.2 | Five Wainwright Fells beginning with a steep ascent of Mellbreak are accomplished on this walk in north west lakeland. |
| Steel Knotts, Wether Hill, Loadpot Hill, Arthur's Pike and Bonscale Pike | 8.3 | Steel Knotts and Arthur's Seat are just two of many highlights. |
| Lodore, Watendlath, Rosthwaite, Seatoller and Grange | 8.6 | A low level walk in Borrowdale but not without a couple of climbs to get around this unique circular route. |
| Knott Rigg, Ard Crags, Sail, Crag Hill, Wandope, Whiteless Pike & Rannerdale Knotts | 8.8 | No less than seven of Wainwrights Fells are covered in this walk from Buttermere. There is also a visit to Moss Force waterfall to enjoy. |
| Crinkle Crags, Bowfell & Esk Pike | 9.2 | A walk over the Crinkle Crags, Bowfell & Esk Pike from Great Langdale. |
| Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Cold Pike & Pike of Blisco | 9.2 | An adventure walk of much variety with precipitous paths, rock buttresses, scrambles and wide open uplands. |
| High Street, Thornthwaite Crag, Stony Cove Pike and Brothers Water | 9.3 | An ascent of from Hartsop which includes a finale on Caudale Moor. |
| Cat Bells, High Spy, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson | 9.4 | Stunning with the most fantastic views imaginable. To do on a clear day! |
| Glaramara, Allen Crags, Great End and Seathwaite Fell | 9.4 | Four splendid Wainwright Fells and you have a lovely circular walk from Seathwaite. Beware the steep beginning though. |
| Holme Fell, Cathedral Cave, Black Fell and Tarn Hows | 9.4 | A walk with lots of interest throughout including two lovely fells, quarries, a sumptuous cave and beautiful Tarn Hows. |
| Old Man Of Coniston, Black Crag, Swirl How and Wetherlam | 9.5 | The Old Man of Coniston is just one highlight of this thrilling exploration. |
| Buttermere, Crummock Water, Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag | 9.7 | A walk of the most iconic range of mountains in the region which provides gorgeous views extending to the north Cumbria coast. |
| Raise, Helvellyn and Striding Edge | 9.8 | Probably the most popular walk in the Lakes, but not the way we did it! |
| Kidsty Pike, High Raise, Rampsgill Head, The Knott, Rest Dodd, Angletarn Pikes, Boredale Hause | 9.8 | A walk in the Lake District from Hartsop to six of Wainwright's Far Eastern Fells with the lovely bonus of a break beside Angle Tarn |
| Tilberthwaite, Old Man of Coniston, Levers Hawse, Swirl How and Wetherlam | 10.0 | A circuit of the Coniston Fells starting out from one of the prettiest and remote Lakeland locations. |
| Sail, Crag Hill, Grasmoor, Hopehill Head and Grisedale Pike | 10.0 | Probably the most popular walk outside the big mountains and rightly so. |
| Pillar, Scoat Fell, Red Pike and Yewbarrow | 10.2 | One of the classic horseshoe walks including Pillar and Red Pike. |
| Bowfell, Rossett Pike and The Langdale Pikes | 10.3 | A spectacular walking linking iconic Bowfell to the fabulous Langdale Pikes. This one is a John Deasey special. |
| Fairfield, Great Rigg and Heron Pike | 10.4 | Breathtaking views can be found on the high ridges of this walk. |
| Striding Edge, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, Grisedale Tarn, St Sunday Crag and Birks | 10.7 | The classic Grisedale Horseshoe featuring the drama of Striding Edge, the ascent of Helvellyn and the completion of three more Wainwright mountains. |
| Stybarrow Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd and Clough Head | 10.7 | A tough climb to Sticks Pass gives access to lush high fell pleasures. |
| Kirk Fell, Looking Stead, Pillar, Steeple and Red Pike | 10.9 | This version of the Mosedale Horseshoe is a much more difficult option with the long climb of Kirk Fell first. A fulfilling challenge. |
| Scafell and Scafell Pike | 11.0 | A classic walk from Seathwaite via the Corridor Route to the Scafells. |
| Dow Crag, Old Man of Coniston, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Seathwaite Tarn and Wallowbarrow Gorge | 12.0 | A long day out from the Duddon valley to the Coniston Fells including a visit to the Old Man. |
| Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, Seat Sandal, Fairfield, Hart Crag, High Pike and Low Pike | 12.0 | A tough but very rewarding twelve mile walk to seven of Alfred Wainwright's Lakeland Fells. The first three miles is a long climb to the heights but then the walk is all spectacle. |
| Yoke, Ill Bell, Frostwick, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts | 12.3 | A brilliant walk in the Far Eastern Fells with seven of Alfred Wainwright's Fells encountered on the route. |
| Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike and Scafell | 14.0 | A challenging 14 mile walk from Langdale to the highest mountains in England. |
| Scrambles: | ||
| The Jack's Rake Scramble | N/A | How to climb this most popular Lake District Grade 1 scramble. |
| The Lord's Rake Scramble | N/A | A scramble up the Lord's Rake gully to reach the Scafell plateau. |
Feedback and Suggestions:
I am always pleased to received feedback on the structure and content of the website. I also welcome suggestions on how I can improve the website which may include new areas to cover, new walks or route alterations to existing walks. To contact me with feedback and/ or suggestions please complete the Walking Englishman Feedback Form. Thank you.
(Note: Walking without proper preparation can be dangerous. Information and downloads on this website are provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check the material and use accordingly. Postscript: My walk reports are not route guides and should not be treated as such. They are written with personal reflections of my walks)
