Things to do in the Lake District

A Wildland region guide

Lake District, through Wildland eyes.

Fells, lakes and mist, the original British escape. Our pick of remarkable places to visit and stay in and around the Lake District.

Family days outWalks for twoSomewhere to stay

Things to do in the Lake District

18 places · best first
Scale Force — Place photographPlace photograph9.0

Scale Force

Above the south-western shore of Crummock Water, near Buttermere, Cumbria

Gorge waterfall · AllTrails estimates 1.5–2 hours for its 4.4-mile out-and-back route. Britain Express describes a shorter 2.5-mile return

Bassenthwaite Lakeside Lodges — Place photographPlace photograph8.6

Bassenthwaite Lakeside Lodges

Bassenthwaite, near Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4QZ

Nature-led holiday park · Weekend

Ullswater — Place photographPlace photograph8.6

Ullswater

Lake District, Cumbria

Lake · Half day

Castlerigg Stone Circle — Source imageSource image8.3

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Castle Lane, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4RN

Prehistoric · Under 1 hour

Tongue Pot — Source imageSource image8.2

Tongue Pot

Upper Eskdale, Lake District, Cumbria

River · Half day

Wild Haweswater — Place photographPlace photograph8.1

Wild Haweswater

Eastern Lake District, Cumbria

Mixed-habitat reserve · Half day

Tongue Pot — Source imageSource image8.1

Tongue Pot

Upper Eskdale, Lake District, Cumbria

River · Half day

Stanley Ghyll Force — Place photographPlace photograph8.0

Stanley Ghyll Force

Eskdale, western Lake District, Cumbria, England

Waterside landscape · 1–2 hours

Aira Force Waterfall — Place photographPlace photograph7.9

Aira Force Waterfall

Near Watermillock, Ullswater, Lake District

Waterside landscape · 1–2 hours for the waterfall

Drigg Sand Dunes & Beach — Place photographPlace photograph7.8

Drigg Sand Dunes & Beach

Drigg Beach, Holmrook, Cumbria

Dunes · 1–2 hours

Shap Abbey — Place photographPlace photograph7.3

Shap Abbey

Keld Lane, Shap, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3NB

Abbey · 1–2 hours

Eycott Hill — Place photographPlace photograph7.1

Eycott Hill

Eycott Hill, about 7 miles north of Penrith, Cumbria

Mixed-habitat reserve · 1–2 hours

Blea Tarn — Place photographPlace photograph7.0

Blea Tarn

Little Langdale, Lake District National Park

Lake · 1–2 hours

Stock Ghyll Force — Place photographPlace photograph7.0

Stock Ghyll Force

Ambleside, Lake District, Cumbria

Waterside landscape · 1–2 hours

Whitbarrow — Place photographPlace photograph7.0

Whitbarrow

Whitbarrow Forest, near Witherslack, Cumbria

Forest · 1–2 hours

Roudsea Wood and Mosses National Nature Reserve — Place photographPlace photograph6.8

Roudsea Wood and Mosses National Nature Reserve

South Lakeland, Cumbria

Mixed-habitat reserve · 1–2 hours

Windermere and Troutbeck — Place photographPlace photograph6.8

Windermere and Troutbeck

Troutbeck Valley and Windermere, Lake District

Valley · Half day

Lake District Falconry — Place photographPlace photograph5.8

Lake District Falconry

Crook Road, Kendal, LA23 3NF

Wildlife watching · Check before visiting

  1. 01Scale ForceAbove the south-western shore of Crummock Water, near Buttermere, Cumbria
  2. 02Bassenthwaite Lakeside LodgesBassenthwaite, near Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4QZ
  3. 03UllswaterLake District, Cumbria
  4. 04Castlerigg Stone CircleCastle Lane, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4RN
  5. 05Tongue PotUpper Eskdale, Lake District, Cumbria
  6. 06Wild HaweswaterEastern Lake District, Cumbria
  7. 07Tongue PotUpper Eskdale, Lake District, Cumbria
  8. 08Stanley Ghyll ForceEskdale, western Lake District, Cumbria, England
  9. 09Aira Force WaterfallNear Watermillock, Ullswater, Lake District
  10. 10Drigg Sand Dunes & BeachDrigg Beach, Holmrook, Cumbria

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