hikes.guideLake District

Curated, data-backed walking lists — each one live and conditions-aware.

Collections

Walks, hand-picked by theme.

Not sure where to start? These are curated sets — gentle first fells, car-free days, waterfall wanders and big Birkett hauls — each a shortlist you can trust, generated from live data and kept fresh.

The collections marked Live say which of their fells are good to climb today; the rest are shortlists by who you are, how you travel and where you are staying.

By who it's for

Walks grouped by who they suit: easy & family walks that keep the climbing gentle and the ground kind, walks that welcome a dog, walks that are kind on the knees, and the few that take a pushchair. Harder days live under difficulty & terrain — the scrambles, and every walk graded on navigation, exposure, length, steepness and underfoot. Pick the band that matches the least confident person in your group, not the strongest.

New to the gentle end? Three guides we rate: Lake District Short Walks Made Easy (Ordnance Survey), 15 Short Walks: Windermere, Ambleside & Grasmere and Lake District Walks: Windermere & Grasmere (Cicerone).

  • Dog-friendly walks

    Walks where our gate-by-gate census found no stiles blocking a dog's way round — honest verdicts, lead advice included.

    76 walks
  • Easy & family walks

    Low-level lakeshores, waterfalls, tarns and gentle viewpoints under 500 m of climb — with honest pushchair, young-kids, view and underfoot flags.

    62 walks
  • Walks that are kind on the knees

    No sustained steep descent anywhere on the route — measured from the GPS track, because going down is the part that hurts.

    38 walks
  • Pushchair-friendly walks

    The walks you can genuinely push a pushchair round — a deliberately short, honest list with a clear yes/partly split.

    8 walks

By how you travel

  • Lake District fells you can reach by bus Live conditions

    You don't need a car to climb a Lakeland fell. These are the summits with a bus stop close enough to the start to make a car-free day genuinely workable — serve

    174 fells

By the day

Walks chosen for the conditions and the calendar — what’s good to climb today on the mountain-weather model, lower-risk options for poor visibility, and rounds that suit the season.

  • Classic horseshoes & rounds

    The great Lakeland ridge rounds — skyline loops that link four or more summits around a valley or tarn in a single horseshoe.

    92 walks
  • Good walks in poor weather & low cloud Live conditions

    Lower-risk routes for low cloud — gentle navigation, low exposure, walked-and-confirmed. Not 'safe' — carry a map and compass.

    49 walks
  • Quick fells — under 3 hours Live conditions

    Summits you can climb and be back down in about three hours or less — ideal for a half-day, a late start or an iffy forecast, each with live conditions.

    510 fells
  • Fells to save for a bad day Live conditions

    Low fells (all under 400 m) that stay below the cloud — the ones to save for a poor-weather day.

    13 fells & walks

By difficulty & terrain

Walks grouped by how hard the ground is, not just how high. We rate each route across the things that actually catch people out — navigation, exposure, length, steepness and underfoot terrain — and group them from gentle to serious. At the top sit the scrambles and edges, where you use your hands and a slip has consequences: treat these as mountaineering days and choose your weather.

Heading for the scrambles? The two standard guides: Scrambles in the Lake District – North (Buttermere, Borrowdale, Patterdale, Blencathra) and Scrambles in the Lake District – South (Langdale and the south), Cicerone.

  • Scrambles & the edges

    A hand-picked set of routes with real scrambling or serious exposure — for experienced walkers only.

    4 walks
  • Lake District walks by difficulty

    Every route grouped by the size of the day — Easy to Severe — with the walked exposure grade alongside.

    183 walks

By area

Every walk grouped by the seven Lakeland areas — Northern, North-Western, Western, Southern, Central, Eastern and Far-Eastern Fells — so you can focus on one corner of the District.

  • Walking the Northern Fells Live conditions

    The Northern Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    24 fells & walks
  • Walking the North Western Fells Live conditions

    The North Western Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    29 fells & walks
  • Walking the Western Fells Live conditions

    The Western Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    33 fells & walks
  • Walking the Central Fells Live conditions

    The Central Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    27 fells & walks
  • Walking the Eastern Fells Live conditions

    The Eastern Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    35 fells & walks
  • Walking the Far Eastern Fells Live conditions

    The Far Eastern Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    36 fells & walks
  • Walking the Southern Fells Live conditions

    The Southern Wainwrights & Outlying fells, with height, round time, bus and live conditions.

    30 fells & walks

By place

Walks grouped by the town or village you’re based in — every route and fell within reach of each hub, ranked nearest first, with the bus where there is one. Use the filter to narrow to your area.

  • Walks from Aira Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Aira Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    24 fells & walks
  • Walks from Ambleside Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Ambleside, ranked, with live conditions.

    29 fells & walks
  • Walks from Angle Tarn (Patterdale) Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Angle Tarn (Patterdale), ranked, with live conditions.

    34 fells & walks
  • Walks by Bassenthwaite Lake Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Bassenthwaite Lake, ranked, with live conditions.

    21 fells & walks
  • Walks from Blea Tarn (Langdale) Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Blea Tarn (Langdale), ranked, with live conditions.

    30 fells & walks
  • Walks from Borrowdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Borrowdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    32 fells & walks
  • Walks from Bowness-on-Windermere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Bowness-on-Windermere, ranked, with live conditions.

    10 fells & walks
  • Walks from Braithwaite Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Braithwaite, ranked, with live conditions.

    31 fells & walks
  • Walks by Brothers Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Brothers Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    37 fells & walks
  • Walks by Buttermere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Buttermere, ranked, with live conditions.

    35 fells & walks
  • Walks from Colwith Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Colwith Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    32 fells & walks
  • Walks by Coniston Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Coniston Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    15 fells & walks
  • Walks from Coniston Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Coniston, ranked, with live conditions.

    17 fells & walks
  • Walks by Crummock Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Crummock Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    35 fells & walks
  • Walks by Derwentwater Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Derwentwater, ranked, with live conditions.

    27 fells & walks
  • Walks from Duddon Valley Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Duddon Valley, ranked, with live conditions.

    16 fells & walks
  • Walks from Dungeon Ghyll Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Dungeon Ghyll Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    33 fells & walks
  • Walks from Easedale Tarn Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Easedale Tarn, ranked, with live conditions.

    40 fells & walks
  • Walks by Elter Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Elter Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    38 fells & walks
  • Walks by Ennerdale Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Ennerdale Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    11 fells & walks
  • Walks from Eskdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Eskdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    14 fells & walks
  • Walks by Esthwaite Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Esthwaite Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    9 fells & walks
  • Walks from Galleny Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Galleny Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    30 fells & walks
  • Walks from Glenridding Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Glenridding, ranked, with live conditions.

    33 fells & walks
  • Walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Grange-in-Borrowdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    29 fells & walks
  • Walks by Grasmere (the lake) Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Grasmere (the lake), ranked, with live conditions.

    41 fells & walks
  • Walks from Grasmere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Grasmere, ranked, with live conditions.

    39 fells & walks
  • Walks from Great Langdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Great Langdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    37 fells & walks
  • Walks from Hardknott Pass Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Hardknott Pass, ranked, with live conditions.

    17 fells & walks
  • Walks from Harrop Tarn Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Harrop Tarn, ranked, with live conditions.

    24 fells & walks
  • Walks by Haweswater Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Haweswater, ranked, with live conditions.

    29 fells & walks
  • Walks from Hawkshead Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Hawkshead, ranked, with live conditions.

    11 fells & walks
  • Walks from High Dam Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of High Dam, ranked, with live conditions.

    5 fells & walks
  • Walks from Honister Pass Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Honister Pass, ranked, with live conditions.

    32 fells & walks
  • Walks from Kentmere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Kentmere, ranked, with live conditions.

    20 fells & walks
  • Walks from Keswick Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Keswick, ranked, with live conditions.

    27 fells & walks
  • Walks from Kirkstone Pass Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Kirkstone Pass, ranked, with live conditions.

    36 fells & walks
  • Walks by Lake Windermere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Lake Windermere, ranked, with live conditions.

    9 fells & walks
  • Walks from Little Langdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Little Langdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    37 fells & walks
  • Walks from Lodore Falls Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Lodore Falls, ranked, with live conditions.

    27 fells & walks
  • Walks from Loughrigg Tarn Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Loughrigg Tarn, ranked, with live conditions.

    33 fells & walks
  • Walks by Loweswater Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Loweswater, ranked, with live conditions.

    20 fells & walks
  • Walks from Moss Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Moss Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    37 fells & walks
  • Walks from Patterdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Patterdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    36 fells & walks
  • Walks from Pooley Bridge Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Pooley Bridge, ranked, with live conditions.

    7 fells & walks
  • Walks from Portinscale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Portinscale, ranked, with live conditions.

    30 fells & walks
  • Walks from Ritson's Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Ritson's Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    28 fells & walks
  • Walks from Rosthwaite Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Rosthwaite, ranked, with live conditions.

    30 fells & walks
  • Walks from Rydal Hall Waterfalls Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Rydal Hall Waterfalls, ranked, with live conditions.

    36 fells & walks
  • Walks by Rydal Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Rydal Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    36 fells & walks
  • Walks from Scale Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Scale Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    29 fells & walks
  • Walks from Seatoller Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Seatoller, ranked, with live conditions.

    31 fells & walks
  • Walks from Skelwith Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Skelwith Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    32 fells & walks
  • Walks from Sour Milk Gill (Easedale) Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Sour Milk Gill (Easedale), ranked, with live conditions.

    40 fells & walks
  • Walks from Stanley Ghyll Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Stanley Ghyll Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    17 fells & walks
  • Walks from Stickle Tarn Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Stickle Tarn, ranked, with live conditions.

    32 fells & walks
  • Walks from Stock Ghyll Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Stock Ghyll Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    27 fells & walks
  • Walks from Stonethwaite Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Stonethwaite, ranked, with live conditions.

    31 fells & walks
  • Walks from Tarn Hows Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Tarn Hows, ranked, with live conditions.

    16 fells & walks
  • Walks from Taylor Gill Force Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Taylor Gill Force, ranked, with live conditions.

    33 fells & walks
  • Walks by Thirlmere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Thirlmere, ranked, with live conditions.

    28 fells & walks
  • Walks from Tom Gill waterfalls (Glen Mary) Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Tom Gill waterfalls (Glen Mary), ranked, with live conditions.

    17 fells & walks
  • Walks by Ullswater Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Ullswater, ranked, with live conditions.

    20 fells & walks
  • Walks from Wasdale Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Wasdale, ranked, with live conditions.

    25 fells & walks
  • Walks by Wast Water Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Wast Water, ranked, with live conditions.

    17 fells & walks
  • Walks from Whinlatter Forest Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Whinlatter Forest, ranked, with live conditions.

    26 fells & walks
  • Walks from Windermere Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Windermere, ranked, with live conditions.

    13 fells & walks
  • Walks from Wrynose Pass Live conditions

    Routes and fells within about 5 km of Wrynose Pass, ranked, with live conditions.

    25 fells & walks