LakeDistrict
3
Day Itinerary •
UK
Three days in the Lake District give you the full extraordinary sweep of England's finest National Park. Windermere by steam launch, Wordsworth's Grasmere, the Langdale Pikes, the perfect circuit of Buttermere, the Honister Slate Mine via ferrata, the dramatic Borrowdale valley and the Ullswater steamer with the choice of Striding Edge on Helvellyn are all within reach of a single well-placed base. This route covers the central and western Lakes from Windermere and Ambleside through the literary village of Grasmere to the extraordinary Langdale valley, then crosses to Buttermere and Borrowdale before finishing on the most beautiful lake in England at Ullswater. Three days of extraordinary fells, lake cruises and the finest country pub culture in England.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to October
Getting There
Train to Windermere from Oxenholme, then bus
Getting Around
Car essential, supplemented by lake launches
Budget Per Day
Approx 95 to 255 GBP per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, fell walking options for all levels
DAY 1
CENTRAL LAKES
MORNING
WINDERMERE AND AMBLESIDE, GATEWAY TO THE CENTRAL LAKES
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England, 10.5 miles long and up to 220 feet deep, its extraordinary shoreline of wooded islands and Victorian boat houses giving it an atmosphere quite unlike any other lake in Britain. The Windermere Lake Cruises ferry connects Ambleside, Bowness and Lakeside in the finest boat journey in England. Ambleside at the head of the lake is the finest base town in the Lake District. Cruises from approx 12 pounds. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
GRASMERE, THE HOME OF WORDSWORTH AND THE FINEST GINGERBREAD IN ENGLAND
Grasmere is the most literary village in England, home to William Wordsworth for 14 years. Dove Cottage where Wordsworth lived from 1799 to 1808 contains the finest small literary museum in Britain. The extraordinary Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread Shop in the village, operating since 1854, sells gingerbread made from a secret recipe to extraordinary queues every day. The Grasmere valley walk around the lake is remarkable. Entry to Dove Cottage approx 10 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
LANGDALE AND THE FINEST VALLEY IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
Great Langdale is the most extraordinary valley in the Lake District, its extraordinary Langdale Pikes rising 2,415 feet above the valley floor in a wall of ancient volcanic rock. The valley is the finest example of glacial landscape in England, its corries, moraines and hanging valleys all visible from the valley road. The Stickle Ghyll waterfall above the New Dungeon Ghyll inn is the finest accessible waterfall in the Lakes. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Rydal Cave, a vast quarrying cave above Rydal Water between Ambleside and Grasmere, is one of the most extraordinary and least known hidden places in the Lake District. The extraordinary chamber, large enough to accommodate hundreds of people, looks out through its opening over the extraordinary lake and the surrounding fells. Accessible via a 30-minute walk from Rydal village on the public footpath. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Zeffirellis, Ambleside The finest breakfast in the Lake District. Outstanding eggs and local produce in the best cafe in Ambleside. | Lunch: Chesters by the River, Skelwith Bridge Outstanding riverside cafe. Local sandwiches and the finest cake in the Lakes. | Dinner: The Drunken Duck, Ambleside The finest pub in the Lake District. Outstanding local game, fell-bred lamb and their own brewery ales.
DAY 2
WESTERN LAKES
MORNING
BUTTERMERE AND THE MOST PERFECT LAKE IN ENGLAND
Buttermere is the finest and most perfectly proportioned lake in England, its extraordinary shore walk of 4 miles giving continuous views to High Stile, Red Pike and Haystacks. The surrounding fells were the favourite of Alfred Wainwright, who chose Haystacks for the scattering of his ashes. The circuit walk is the finest low-level lake walk in the Lake District with no road walking for the entire circuit. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
HONISTER SLATE MINE AND THE VIA FERRATA
The Honister Slate Mine at the head of Honister Pass is the last working slate mine in England, its extraordinary via ferrata mountain climbing route on the cliff above the mine the finest in Britain outside the Alps. The underground mine tour gives an extraordinary insight into the Victorian industry that shaped the landscape of the Lake District. Entry to mine tour approx 15 pounds, via ferrata approx 35 pounds. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BORROWDALE AND THE FINEST VALLEY WALK IN CUMBRIA
Borrowdale is the most extraordinarily wooded and dramatic valley in the Lake District, its extraordinary Bowder Stone, a 2,000-tonne glacial erratic balanced on a single point, its famous Jaws of Borrowdale gorge and the extraordinary ancient oakwoods of Johnny Wood and Grange Fell giving it a character unlike any other valley in England. The walk from Grange-in-Borrowdale to Rosthwaite is exceptional. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Innominate Tarn on the summit ridge of Haystacks, 5 miles from Buttermere via the Red Pike route, is one of the most extraordinary and moving places in the Lake District. Alfred Wainwright chose this tiny moorland pool as the place for his ashes to be scattered and it has become an unofficial pilgrimage destination. The view from the tarn over Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater is the finest in the western Lakes. Allow 4 hours return from Buttermere.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bridge Hotel, Buttermere Outstanding full Cumbrian breakfast before the lake circuit. The black pudding is from the village butcher. | Lunch: Flock In, Stonethwaite The finest tearoom in Borrowdale. Outstanding local sandwiches and extraordinary fell-view terrace. | Dinner: The Swinside Inn, Newlands Outstanding country inn dinner in the most extraordinary hidden valley in the Lakes.
DAY 3
ULLSWATER
MORNING
ULLSWATER STEAMERS AND THE FINEST LAKE CRUISE IN ENGLAND
Ullswater is the most beautiful lake in England, its extraordinary sinuous shape and the surrounding Helvellyn range making it the finest view from any steamer in Britain. The Ullswater Steamers, some of the oldest working passenger vessels in the world, connect Pooley Bridge, Howtown and Glenridding in a journey of extraordinary beauty. The Howtown to Patterdale walk along the eastern shore is 9 miles of the finest lake path in England. Steamer from approx 12 pounds. Drive/Travel: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
HELVELLYN VIA STRIDING EDGE, THE MOST DRAMATIC RIDGE WALK IN ENGLAND
Striding Edge on Helvellyn at 3,117 feet is the most famous and dramatic ridge walk in England, a narrow arrete of ancient rock requiring hands and feet in several places with extraordinary drops on both sides. The summit of Helvellyn is the finest viewpoint in the Lake District, looking over 14 lakes simultaneously on clear days. The return via Swirral Edge is a complete horseshoe of extraordinary quality. Allow 5 to 6 hours. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
PENRITH AND BROUGHAM CASTLE, THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE LAKE DISTRICT
Brougham Castle near Penrith is the finest ruined castle on the northern edge of the Lake District, its extraordinary red sandstone keep above the River Eamont in a completely undiscovered location. The adjacent Mayburgh Henge, a Neolithic circular earthwork nearly 100 metres across with a single standing stone, is one of the most extraordinary prehistoric monuments in northern England and almost entirely free of visitors. Entry to castle approx 6 pounds, henge free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Aira Force waterfall in the National Trust's Gowbarrow Park above Ullswater is the finest accessible waterfall in the Lake District, a 65-foot cascade through an extraordinary gorge of ancient oaks that inspired Wordsworth to write Daffodils. The upper falls above Aira Force are almost entirely unknown to visitors and are reached by a further 20 minutes of upstream walking through extraordinary oak woodland. Entirely free from the National Trust car park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: The Inn on the Lake, Glenridding Outstanding lakeside breakfast with extraordinary Ullswater views. | Lunch: Sharrow Bay, Ullswater The finest country house lunch in the Lake District. Book ahead. The lake view is extraordinary. | Dinner: George and Dragon, Clifton Outstanding local food and Cumbrian ales at the finest inn on the northern edge of the Lakes.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Ambleside, All 3 Nights Best central base. Rothay Manor or The Salutation. Approx 100 to 250 GBP per night. Keswick option Excellent for northern Lakes access. The Lodore Falls Hotel on Derwentwater. Approx 120 to 220 GBP. Budget Option YHA Ambleside or YHA Borrowdale. Approx 25 to 50 GBP per night. Both extraordinary locations.
Top Tips
1. Langdale at dawn: the valley car parks fill by 9am in summer. Arrive early for the extraordinary light on the Pikes.
2. Striding Edge: only attempt in dry conditions with good boots. The exposure is considerable in poor weather.
3. Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread, Grasmere: join the queue before it opens at 9.15am. Worth every minute of the wait.
4. Ullswater Steamer to Howtown then walk back to Glenridding: the finest day out in the Lake District. 9 miles.
5. Buttermere circuit walk (4 miles): entirely flat, no road walking, finest lake views in England. Car park fills by 10am.
6. The Drunken Duck: book dinner weeks ahead in summer. The finest pub in England requires forward planning.
Total Budget
95 to 250 GBP/day