Someone pass us a fine knit jumper and a mug of hot chocolate; autumn is on the horizon and we’re ready for it. Read on to discover five lovely Lake District walks, all of which are recommended by National Park rangers, so you can get your seasonal stomp on.
The Lake District National Park is the largest of the National Parks in England and Wales, covering 912 square miles of countryside: that’s a lot of fresh air. It is an excellent example of unspoilt wilderness with visitors revelling in its natural beauty including Skiddaw Mountain, Scafell Pike, Lake Windermere, and so much more.
If you’re in the mood to lace up your walking boots and delight in the crunch of leaves underfoot, the Lake District Park Rangers Favourite Walks guide – boasting 20 awesome rambles - is the perfect introduction to exploring this glorious part of the world. Let’s go!
Howtown to Patterdale
Distance: 6.8 miles / 11.1 km
Time: 4 hours walk, plus lake steamer
Terrain: Mainly footpaths, which can be rocky underfoot. Some up and down sections, and a busy road at the end
Start/finish: Glenridding pier (NY389169): a circular walk
Nearest postcode: CA11 0PB
Map: OS Explorer OL05 English Lakes – North-eastern area
The perfect combination of cruise and walk, this route is an opportunity to experience the magic of Ullswater from the water, lakeshore and fellside. Alfred Wainwright, famous for his Guides to the Fells, described this as “the most beautiful and rewarding walk in Lakeland.”
It begins with a path that climbs out of Howtown to reveal stunning views north towards Dunmallard Hill and the Pennines beyond. Ramblers will wind through ancient woodland, spot red squirrels (and red deer during the winter) and enjoy majestic views across ethereal bodies of water. The route is well waymarked and can easily be broken up into four distinct sections linking with the steamers or local bus service.
Get the full walking route with directions in the book
Eycott Hill Nature Reserve
Distance: 2½ miles / 4.1 km
Time: 2 – 2½ hours
Terrain: Undulating and mostly over wet ground. Do not attempt to take short cuts away from the marked route as this could result in sinking into deep mire. Rare breed cattle roam freely over Eycott Hill. These are typically Belted Galloway, which are very docile and ignore walkers.
Start/finish: Cumbria Wildlife Trust car park (NY393300): a circular walk
Nearest postcode: CA11 0XD
Map: OS Explorer OL05 English Lakes – North-eastern area
A quiet gem of a walk for nature lovers with the added benefits of stunning views of Blencathra and the northern fells combined with interesting archaeology and geology.
For centuries the land at Eycott Hill was owned by the dukes of Norfolk. It went on the market in 2012 and was bought by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation who kept it while the Cumbria Wildlife Trust raised the funds to buy the 530 acres in 2015 and turn it into a Nature reserve.
Depending on the time of year you visit, you will be rewarded by walking in the flower rich hay meadow or strolling by bog loving plants and a whole range of flowers that enjoy this upland habitat. If you are looking for a peaceful walk within nature, this is the one for you.
Get the full walking route with directions in the book
Keswick, Threlkeld and Latrigg
Distance: 9.3 miles / 15 km
Time: around 5 hours
Terrain: Maximum height achieved 367 metres (1203 feet) at the summit of Latrigg
Start/finish: Information Centre, Moot Hall (NY266234): a circular walk
Nearest postcode: CA12 5JR
Map: OS Explorer OL04 English Lakes – North-western area
This walk starts from the Tourist Information Centre in Keswick, goes along a disused railway to Threlkeld then returns to the start via the summit of Latrigg Fell.
Keswick is situated at the northern end of Derwent Water between the huge bulk of Skiddaw and the Borrowdale valley. It is the major centre for tourism in the north lakes. This pretty market town offers a wide range of attractions for visitors and is an excellent base for exploring the National Park.
This route follows a section of the 31½-mile Cockermouth Keswick & Penrith Railway, which was built between 1862 and 1864, to connect the industrial centres of Workington in the west with Durham in the east via the lofty Stainmore line. After its closure the four-mile section between Keswick and Threlkeld was taken over by the Lake District National Park Authority and converted into a footpath/cycle path, which sadly weathered much damage because of flooding caused by Storm Desmond in 2015. This has since been repaired at a cost approaching £9m, no less.
Get the full walking route with directions in the book
Tarn Hows, Lake and Trees
Distance: 4½ miles / 7.2 km
Time: 3 hours
Terrain: Grassy paths, tracks, some slopes and small climbs
Start/finish: Monk Coniston National Park car park (SD316978): a circular walk
Nearest postcode: LA22 0PW
Map: OS Explorer OL07 The English Lakes – South-eastern area
An easy walk through a Victorian Estate where natural beauty and human artifice have been harmoniously combined. The route passes some typical Cumbrian farmhouses with literary associations and starts at the head of lovely Coniston water.
From Monk Coniston the route passes Low Yewdale Farm where Arthur Ransome spent his summer holidays as a young man, later using it as his model for Dixon’s Farm in Swallows and Amazons. It later passes Yew Tree Farm with its traditional Spinning Gallery. This stood in for ‘Hill Top’, Beatrix Potter’s farm in the 2006 film, Miss Potter.
The route passes delightful waterfalls resplendent in dappled sunshine – weather permitting – and takes walkers to Tarn Hows, which is one of the district’s most famed beauty spots offering beautiful views of the distant fells. Descending from the tarns, an arboretum is encountered, with over 50 species of tree and shrub from all over the world.
Get the full walking route with directions in the book
Wasdale Wonder
Distance: 5 miles / 8 km
Time: 3 hours
Terrain: Ascent 90 metres. Easy walking over tracks and well-maintained footpaths. Short distance on narrow roads, which can be busy in summer.
Start/finish: Walkers’ car park (NY127038): a circular walk
Nearest postcode: CA20 1ET
Map: OS Explorer 303 Whitehaven & Workington
Explore lovely Wasdale – one of the quieter parts of the district but one of the most beautiful.
The walk follows the banks of the River Irt, crossing over it at Lund Bridge – a typical Cumbrian packhorse bridge. On emerging by the side of Wast Water – the deepest lake in England – there are views of Wasdale screes as they plunge from nearly 2,000 feet beneath the surface of the lake.
Looking up at the lake the famous ring of fells can be seen – Yewbarrow, Kirkfell, Great Gable and the Scafells – the view featured by the Lake District National Park in their logo.
Leaving the lake, the route returns along footpaths through mature woodland, open country and passes farmhouses and fields. It is every bit as charming as you can imagine.
Get the full walking route with directions in the book
Discover all 20 stunning walks in Lake District Park Rangers Favourite Walks, which is available to buy now online and wherever you buy your books.