Places in the Lake District
72 place guides, each with how to get there and park, the walks near it, the fells above it and, where Lee has stayed or eaten, what he thought. First visit? Start with how to plan a trip, which is the long read on where to base yourself; this page is the list.
- Towns and villages 20
- Valleys and passes 11
- Lakes 17
- Tarns 8
- Waterfalls 15
- Forests 1
Towns and villages 20
The bases: where to stay, park, eat and start from.
TownAmbleside
Ambleside: the walks and fells, including the Fairfield Horseshoe, where to stay, what to do, parking, getting there, and Ambleside vs Windermere.
VillageBowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere, the lakeside village the cruises leave from: the walk up Brant Fell, the World of Beatrix Potter, where to stay and eat, and parking.
- Village
Braithwaite
Braithwaite, the walkers' village west of Keswick: the Coledale Horseshoe on the doorstep, Barrow, Force Crag Mine, Whinlatter Forest and the pubs.
VillageConiston
Coniston, the village under the Old Man: the walks and fells, Coniston Water and the Gondola, Donald Campbell, Brantwood, where to stay and parking.
- Village
Elterwater
Elterwater at the foot of Great Langdale — how to get there and park, the 516 bus, the Britannia Inn on the green, and the walks to the lake, Loughrigg, Silver How and Lingmoor.
VillageGlenridding
Glenridding on Ullswater: parking and how to pay, Helvellyn and Glenridding Dodd, the Ullswater steamers, where to stay and eat, and getting there.
- Village
Grange-in-Borrowdale
Grange-in-Borrowdale: the double packhorse bridge, Castle Crag, the Bowder Stone, swimming in the Derwent, where to stay, and the 78 bus or the launch.
VillageGrasmere
Walks from Grasmere village: Easedale Tarn, Helm Crag, Stone Arthur and the lake circuit, where each one starts and how to get back, plus parking.
- Village
Hawkshead
Hawkshead, the traffic-free village: Wordsworth's school, Beatrix Potter's old gallery (now a bookshop), the inns and the walks.
TownKeswick
Keswick: the walks and fells from the town, where to stay, what to do, parking, getting there, the weather, and Keswick vs Windermere.
VillagePatterdale
Patterdale at the head of Ullswater: Helvellyn and St Sunday Crag walks, Brothers Water and Hartsop, what became of the YHA hostel, and the 508 bus.
VillagePooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge at the foot of Ullswater: the steamers, the Ullswater Way to Howtown, the bridge rebuilt in 2020, the camping sites and where to stay.
VillagePortinscale
Portinscale, a mile west of Keswick on Derwentwater: walks and fells from the village, the launch and boat hire, Lingholm's garden, parking and where to stay.
- Village
Ravenglass
Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast — the only coastal village in the National Park, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway into Eskdale, Muncaster, the Roman bath house, how to get there, and the walks.
VillageRosthwaite
Rosthwaite, the central village of Borrowdale: the Royal Oak, the Flock-In tea-room, the riverside walk to Grange, Castle Crag and where to stay.
- Village
Seatoller
Seatoller at the foot of Honister Pass: the walkers' gateway to Great Gable, Glaramara and Scafell Pike, the Yew Tree pub, the car park and the buses.
- Village
Stonethwaite
Stonethwaite, the hamlet up its own valley off Borrowdale: a Coast-to-Coast halt, the Langstrath walk, Eagle Crag, Galleny Force and the Langstrath Inn.
- Village
Threlkeld
Threlkeld under Blencathra — how to get there and park, the X4/X5 and 509 buses, the two pubs, and the walks from the village onto Blencathra and Clough Head.
- Village
Troutbeck
Troutbeck above Windermere — the long village on the road to Kirkstone, how to get there and park, the 508 bus, and the walks to Wansfell, Troutbeck Tongue and Sallows.
TownWindermere
Windermere: the town, Bowness and the lake told apart, the walk up Orrest Head, cruises and the ferry, where to stay, parking and the trains.
The walks: Ambleside (28) · Bowness-on-Windermere (6) · Braithwaite (18) · Coniston (14) · Elterwater (33) · Glenridding (21) · Grange-in-Borrowdale (19) · Grasmere (24) · Hawkshead (10) · Keswick (19) · Patterdale (19) · Pooley Bridge (3) · Portinscale (22) · Rosthwaite (17) · Seatoller (15) · Stonethwaite (15) · Threlkeld (7) · Troutbeck (16) · Windermere (6)
Valleys and passes 11
The dales and the roads over them, with the walks near each.
ValleyBorrowdale
Borrowdale from Derwentwater to Honister — how to get there and park, what to see, where to stay, and the walks that start from its four villages.
- Valley
Duddon Valley
The Duddon Valley, or Dunnerdale, from Broughton to Cockley Beck — how to get there and park, Seathwaite and Ulpha, and the walks onto Harter Fell and Caw.
- Valley
Eskdale
Eskdale from Ravenglass to Hardknott Pass — the narrow-gauge railway, Boot, where to park and stay, and the walks onto Harter Fell and Scafell.
- Valley
Great Langdale
Great Langdale from Skelwith Bridge to the Dungeon Ghyll — how to get there and park, where to stay, what to see and the walks onto the Pikes and Bowfell.
- Pass
Hardknott Pass
Hardknott Pass between Eskdale and the Duddon valley — how steep it really is, whether it is open, parking at the top, the Roman fort and the fells above.
PassHonister Pass
Honister Pass between Borrowdale and Buttermere — how steep the road is, where to park at the top and what it costs, the bus over it, the slate mine, and the fells that start from the summit.
ValleyKentmere
Kentmere in the eastern Lake District — the Kentmere Horseshoe and its eight Wainwrights, the honest answer on parking at the church, the reservoir walk, and how to get there.
- Pass
Kirkstone Pass
Kirkstone Pass between Ambleside and Patterdale — how steep the A592 and The Struggle are, parking at the top, the 508 bus, the inn and the fells above.
- Valley
Little Langdale
Little Langdale in the Lake District — Slater Bridge, Cathedral Cave and the tarn, the honest answer on parking, the Three Shires Inn, and the walks onto Lingmoor Fell and Wetherlam.
ValleyWasdale
Wasdale in the far west — getting there and parking, the summer bus from Ravenglass, where to stay, and the walks onto Scafell Pike and Great Gable.
- Pass
Wrynose Pass
Wrynose Pass between Little Langdale and the Duddon valley — how steep it is, the Three Shire Stone, parking at the top and the fells from the summit.
The walks: Borrowdale (16) · Duddon Valley (2) · Eskdale (5) · Great Langdale (25) · Hardknott Pass (5) · Honister Pass (16) · Kentmere (7) · Kirkstone Pass (19) · Little Langdale (29) · Wasdale (8) · Wrynose Pass (14)
Lakes 17
The big waters, each with its shore walks and the fells above it.
LakeBassenthwaite Lake
Bassenthwaite Lake, the only Lake District water called a lake: ospreys, swimming and access, the Skiddaw and Sale Fell walks, parking.
LakeBrothers Water
Brothers Water below Kirkstone Pass: the easy Hartsop circuit past Hartsop Hall, the name legend, swimming, parking at Cow Bridge and the fells of Dovedale.
LakeButtermere
Buttermere — the valley, the village and the 4.5-mile lake walk: how to get there and park, the Honister Rambler bus, where to stay, and the fells above.
- Lake
Coniston Water
Coniston Water below the Old Man: Donald Campbell and Bluebird K7, Peel Island and Swallows and Amazons, the Steam Yacht Gondola, and swimming.
LakeCrummock Water
Crummock Water, the quiet National Trust lake in the Buttermere valley: the wild swim from the boat-house beach, Scale Force, the shore circuit and parking.
LakeDerwentwater
Derwentwater beside Keswick: Friar's Crag and Ruskin's view, the islands, the Keswick Launch, and the ~9-mile shore walk round the Queen of the Lakes.
- Lake
Elterwater, the lake
Elterwater, the smallest of the lakes, with the Langdale Pikes reflected in it: the stile-free walk to Skelwith Force, parking, the Britannia Inn and where to stay.
- Lake
Ennerdale Water
Ennerdale Water, the western lake with no road along its shore: why you can't swim but can kayak, the walk in from Bowness Knott, and Black Sail.
- Lake
Esthwaite Water
Esthwaite Water near Hawkshead, a private trout-and-pike fishery: no public swimming and no full shoreline path, but fishing, boat hire, wildlife and parking.
- Lake
Grasmere (the lake)
Grasmere lake, not the village: the island, rowing boats at Faeryland, the lake circuit, the loop with Rydal Water, the swimming caveat and parking.
LakeHaweswater
Haweswater, the reservoir that drowned Mardale Green: why you can't swim in it, the RSPB rewilding, the Mardale Horseshoe, parking and where to stay.
LakeLake Windermere
Lake Windermere, England's largest natural lake: lake or mere, Bowness and the town, cruises and the 10-knot rule, shore walks, swimming.
- Lake
Loweswater
Loweswater, the quiet National Trust lake west of Crummock: the ~4-mile circuit through Holme Wood, swimming, the Kirkstile Inn and Loweswater Gold.
LakeRydal Water
Rydal Water in Wordsworth country: Rydal Cave, Rydal Mount and Dora's Field, the Coffin Route, the loop with Grasmere, and parking at Pelter Bridge.
LakeThirlmere
Thirlmere, the reservoir between Keswick and Grasmere where swimming is banned, and the gentler way up Helvellyn without Striding Edge. Parking, walks.
LakeUllswater
Ullswater: the Steamers, the 20-mile Ullswater Way, the 10 mph limit, Aira Force, and a parking warning.
LakeWast Water
Wastwater, England's deepest lake at 74 m: the Screes, Britain's Favourite View, Wasdale Head, Scafell Pike and Great Gable, and the long drive in.
The walks: Bassenthwaite Lake (8) · Brothers Water (16) · Buttermere (20) · Coniston Water (10) · Crummock Water (23) · Derwentwater (20) · Elterwater, the lake (37) · Ennerdale Water (3) · Esthwaite Water (8) · Haweswater (8) · Lake Windermere (5) · Loweswater (11) · Rydal Water (27) · Thirlmere (10) · Ullswater (12) · Wast Water (9)
Tarns 8
The small waters on the fells and in the valleys.
TarnAngle Tarn (Patterdale)
Angle Tarn above Patterdale: the walk in via Boredale Hause, wild swimming among the islets, parking, and the fells above, Angletarn Pikes and High Street.
TarnBlea Tarn (Langdale)
Blea Tarn in Langdale — the small National Trust tarn with the classic view of the Langdale Pikes, the easy circular walk, wild swimming, parking, when to go, and its Wordsworth connection.
TarnEasedale Tarn
Easedale Tarn above Grasmere: the walk past Sourmilk Gill, the corrie tarn below Tarn Crag and Sergeant Man, wild swimming, when to go, and parking.
TarnHarrop Tarn
Harrop Tarn above Thirlmere, the reedy forest tarn: the short climb from Dob Gill, the woodland walk, the way on to Ullscarf, and parking.
- Tarn
High Dam
High Dam above Finsthwaite near Newby Bridge, a woodland tarn that was a bobbin-mill reservoir: the easy family walk, swimming and parking.
- Tarn
Loughrigg Tarn
Loughrigg Tarn near Grasmere, the small reedy tarn Wordsworth loved: its Langdale Pikes view, the gentle walk, Loughrigg Fell above, and parking.
TarnStickle Tarn
Stickle Tarn in Langdale: the steep walk up beside Stickle Ghyll, Pavey Ark and Jack's Rake above, wild swimming, and parking at the New Dungeon Ghyll.
TarnTarn Hows
Tarn Hows — the landscaped tarn above Coniston, its near-level accessible loop, the National Trust car park, the Coniston-fells reflection, autumn colour, red squirrels, and how it was made from three tarns.
The walks: Angle Tarn (Patterdale) (15) · Blea Tarn (Langdale) (18) · Easedale Tarn (23) · Harrop Tarn (7) · High Dam (1) · Stickle Tarn (11) · Tarn Hows (17)
Waterfalls 15
The falls, and the walks to them, best after rain. See every waterfall on the map, and which are running today.
WaterfallAira Force
Aira Force, the National Trust waterfall above Ullswater: the walk from the car park, the ~65 ft fall, what it costs, and how to get there by bus.
- Waterfall
Colwith Force
Colwith Force, the two-tier woodland waterfall on the River Brathay: the Cumbria Way walk in, parking, and how it pairs with Skelwith Force.
- Waterfall
Dungeon Ghyll Force
Dungeon Ghyll Force, the waterfall in a ravine below the Langdale Pikes, not the hotels that share its name: the short walk in, and what you can safely see.
WaterfallGalleny Force
Galleny Force near Stonethwaite, the pools and small falls known locally as the Fairy Glen: the easy walk in, where to park, and wild-swimming safety.
WaterfallLodore Falls
Lodore Falls at the head of Derwentwater, the cascade in Southey's poem: the way in from the Borrowdale road or Surprise View, and why it needs rain.
- Waterfall
Moss Force
Moss Force beside the Newlands Hause road: magnificent in spate, modest when dry, minutes from the car, and a warning about the scramble beside it.
- Waterfall
Ritson's Force
Ritson's Force, the small falls on Mosedale Beck behind the Wasdale Head Inn: the short walk in, the Will Ritson story, and why the setting outdoes the drop.
WaterfallRydal Hall Waterfalls
The Rydal Hall waterfalls: the Lower Falls seen from The Grot, the Upper Falls, the café and gardens, parking, and the Wordsworth connection at Rydal.
WaterfallScale Force
Scale Force, often called the Lake District's highest waterfall at about 170 ft — the boggy walk in from Buttermere, where to park, whether you can swim, and when to catch it in full spate.
WaterfallSkelwith Force
Skelwith Force, a low but powerful fall on the Brathay: the near-level walk from Skelwith Bridge, where to park, whether you can swim, and the Colwith loop.
WaterfallSour Milk Gill (Easedale)
Sour Milk Gill above Grasmere: the white ribbon of cascades below Easedale Tarn on the tarn walk, and which of Lakeland's three Sour Milk Gills this one is.
WaterfallStanley Ghyll Force
Stanley Ghyll Force in Eskdale — the waterfall in a deep wooded gorge crossed by footbridges, the walk from Dalegarth and the little railway, where to park, and a safety note about the top viewpoint.
WaterfallStock Ghyll Force
Stock Ghyll Force, the ~70 ft waterfall above Ambleside: the woodland walk from the town, where to park, how long it takes, and dogs and pushchairs.
- Waterfall
Taylor Gill Force
Taylor Gill Force above Seathwaite in Borrowdale: a fall often cited at ~140 ft, and a genuinely rough approach that this guide doesn't pretend is a stroll.
- Waterfall
Tom Gill waterfalls (Glen Mary)
The Tom Gill waterfalls, Ruskin's Glen Mary, on the woodland climb from the A593 to Tarn Hows: parking, the path's rough sections and the family reality.
The walks: Aira Force (21) · Galleny Force (18) · Lodore Falls (18) · Moss Force (23) · Ritson's Force (6) · Scale Force (25) · Stanley Ghyll Force (5) · Stock Ghyll Force (17) · Taylor Gill Force (16) · Tom Gill waterfalls (Glen Mary) (18)
Forests 1
The plantations with paths and car parks of their own.
The walks: Whinlatter Forest (10)
A place is listed here once its own page is published. Photographs are ours unless a card says otherwise; where a card carries no picture we have not photographed it yet.