Walking is the reason most people fall for the Lake District, and the happy truth is that you do not need to be a seasoned hill walker to share in it. The fells offer everything from level, pram-friendly loops beside the water to lung-bursting climbs up England’s highest ground, and a good trip often mixes the two. This guide runs from the gentlest strolls to the great mountain days, so you can pick a walk that matches your legs, your weather and your mood, with a few words at the end on doing it all safely.
Gentle walks and lakeshore strolls
If you want the views without the effort, start by the water. The circuit of Buttermere is the prize here, a path of around four and a half miles that stays almost completely flat, a real rarity in this landscape, and shows you one of the loveliest lakes in England from every angle. For something shorter, the well-made path around Tarn Hows runs to about a mile and a half, is smooth enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and serves up a postcard at every turn, which is part of why it is among the most photographed spots in the Lakes. Over near Ullswater, the woodland walk to the waterfalls at Aira Force is an easy, rewarding outing with only a gentle climb through the trees, and a history of inspiring poets that you will understand the moment you hear the water.
You do not have to walk far to feel the benefit, either. Many of the lakes have level shoreline sections that suit every pair of legs, where a half-hour amble still hands you mirror-still water and a wall of fells, with a bench to enjoy them from. These gentler outings are perfect for younger children, older walkers, or simply a slow morning when nobody fancies a climb, and they prove that the Lake District rewards effort of every size.
Your first proper hill
When you are ready to gain a little height, the Lakes are generous with hills that feel like a real achievement without demanding mountain experience. Orrest Head, reached on a short, gentle path from the middle of Windermere town, is the classic introduction: it was the first fell Alfred Wainwright ever climbed, and from the top a whole panorama opens up across Windermere towards the Old Man of Coniston, Scafell Pike and the Langdale Pikes. For your first taste of a pointed summit, Catbells above Derwentwater is hard to beat. It is short, but do not be fooled, because the climb is steep and rises in stages, and you may need a hand on the rock here and there. It rewards you with some of the finest all-round views in the district and slots neatly into a half-day, so save it for a clear evening and you will not forget it.
The big mountain days
For those with the fitness, the experience and a settled forecast, the Lake District keeps its greatest prizes. Scafell Pike, at 978 metres the highest mountain in England, draws walkers from across the world, and while it is a steep, stony haul, the popular route from Wasdale Head is the most straightforward way to the top. Helvellyn, the third highest at 950 metres, can be climbed on a steady path from Thirlmere in around three hours, or tackled by its famous front door, the knife-edge scramble of Striding Edge from Glenridding. That route is one of the most thrilling in the country, but it demands a good head for heights, sure feet and respect for the conditions, and it is no place to be in wind, ice or rain. The Old Man of Coniston sits somewhere in between, a proper mountain that is nonetheless within reach of most reasonably fit walkers, with the bonus of old mine workings on the way and a glittering view over Coniston Water from the top.
Walking the fells safely
Whichever walk you choose, the mountains deserve a little respect, because the same weather that makes the Lakes so beautiful can turn quickly and catch people out. Check the forecast before you set off, and be ready to change your plans if it sours, since a summit will always be there another day. Carry proper footwear with grip, take warm and waterproof layers even on a bright morning, and bring more food and water than you think you will need. On the higher and less obvious routes, know where you are going and be able to navigate without relying on a phone, whose battery and signal both tend to fade just when you need them. Tell someone where you are headed and when you expect to be back, keep an eye on the time so you are off the tops before the light goes, and remember that turning around is a sign of good judgement rather than defeat. Walk within yourself and the fells will give you days you remember for a lifetime.
The best base is the one nearest the path
Half the pleasure of a walking holiday is stepping straight from the door onto a trail, rather than driving to one. Whether you picture flat miles by the lake or an early start for a summit, it pays to stay close to the walking you want to do. Browse our places to stay and find a holiday home that puts your chosen fells and shorelines within easy reach, ready for whatever the day, and your legs, decide.