10 of the best walks in the Lake District this Spring
England‘s Lake District is home to a number of breathtaking walks just waiting to be explored. And sometimes it can be a little daunting, particularly for first time visitors who are less familiar with the area, as there are so many to choose from. From leisurely lakeside strolls to more challenging fell walks, there’s so much natural beauty to explore in this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thankfully, the outdoor experts at GO Outdoors have compiled a list of their 10 favourite walks in the Lake District, with a mixture of difficulty, across a variety of terrains and over different distances. Here are their suggestions:
Gruffalo’s Child Trail, Whinlatter Forest – suitable for all abilities
The Gruffalo’s Child Trail is a delightful and family-friendly walk nestled within the enchanting Whinlatter Forest Park in the Lake District. This gentle trail, inspired by Julia Donaldson’s beloved children’s book, winds its way through ancient woodlands, offering a magical experience for visitors of all ages.
Tarn Hows, near Hawkshead
The Tarn Hows walk in the Lake District offers a serene and accessible trek through some of the region’s most stunning scenery. This “Miles without stiles” route caters to walkers of all abilities, including those with mobility challenges or strollers. The circular path loops around the picturesque Tarn Hows, a pristine body of water surrounded by lush woodlands and rolling hills. Along the way, walkers are treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including the iconic Langdale Pikes.
- Grade: Easy
- Terrain: Woodland, Open, Lake
- Distance: 2.85 km | Approx. Time: 0:50 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Derwentwater Lakeshore Route, near Keswick
The Derwentwater Lakeshore Route in the Lake District offers a scenic and accessible stroll along the tranquil shores of Derwentwater, one of the most beloved lakes in the region. This “Miles without stiles” route is specially designed to accommodate walkers of all abilities, including those with mobility impairments or pushing strollers. Along the route, walkers can pause to admire iconic landmarks such as Friar’s Crag and Ashness Jetty.
- Grade: Easy
- Terrain: Woodland, Open, Lake
- Distance: 8.35 km | Approx. Time: 2:20 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Broughton Railway, Broughton
With its level terrain and well-maintained surface, the Broughton Railway walk offers a peaceful and accessible outdoor experience for everyone to enjoy. It’s a delightful stroll along a former railway track, now repurposed into a picturesque walking trail, and another “Miles without stiles” route.
- Grade: Easy
- Terrain: Open
- Distance: 4.75 km | Approx. Time: 1:20 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Coniston Hall on The Lake, Coniston
This captivating route, which can also be experienced by bike, combines historical intrigue with stunning natural beauty. Beginning at Coniston Water, the walk takes hikers along the shores of the lake, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding fells and woodland. One of the highlights of the route is the grounds of Coniston Hall, a majestic 16th-century mansion steeped in history.
- Grade: Easy
- Terrain: Open, Woodland, Lake
- Distance: 5.05 km | Approx. Time: 1:20 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head, near Braithwaite
For walkers with some winter skills training, GO Outdoors recommend exploring Grisedale Pike and Hopegill head. The whole route will take you a minimum of four hours so be sure to take a picnic along with you for en-route – they’ve found that hungry walkers are not always happy walkers. Look out for the cascades and waterfalls which look stunning during the winter months.
- Grade: Difficult
- Terrain: Open, Mountain
- Distance: 12.70 km | Approx. Time: 4:40 hours
You can downlaod the route for this walk here.
Walla Crag and the Great Wood, near Derwentwater
For walking newbies, Walla Crag and the Great Wood offers the perfect combination of stunning views and manageable routes. Considerably shorter than the Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head route, this walk should only take around an hour and a half to complete, leaving you with plenty of time to discover more of the beautiful Lake District. Similarly to the route above, the terrain is very rough and will require basic map reading skills to navigate.
- Grade: Easy
- Terrain: Woodland, Open
- Distance: 4.65 km | Approx. Time: 1:40 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Helvellyn Gill Path, near Thirlmere
Wind your way around the Helvellyn Gill Path right to the top of the mountain to experience breath taking views of the Lake District. We found this moderately difficult walk to be popular with dog owners – be warned though; it will take between five and six hours to complete so be sure your dog is in peak fitness.
- Grade: Difficult
- Terrain: Mountain, Open
- Distance: 7.15 km | Approx. Time: 3:00 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Latrigg Walk via Keswick
Journey the six miles over Keswick’s personal fell, Latrigg to experience some truly stunning scenery. With steep inclines along the way, we recommend this route for more experienced walkers. Starting from Moot Hall, Keswick and climbing 1,000 feet, it should take you around three hours to complete – any less and we salute you as champion fell walker.
- Grade: Moderate
- Terrain: Mountain, Open
- Distance: 8.95 km | Approx. Time: 2:55 hours
You can download the route for this walk here.
Ullock Pike, Skiddaw and Little Man, near Keswick
Starting at Ravenstone Hotel and finishing at Latrigg Car Park, this difficult walk is a must for adventure seekers, combining steep climbs with sharp descents as you make your way up and down England’s fourth highest mountain and across six of the Lake District’s infamous fells.
- Grade: Difficult
- Terrain: Mountain, Open
- Distance: 10.35 km | Approx. Time: 4:15 hours (one-way)
You can download the route for this walk here.
Becky Johnson
Becky Johnson is a Director of Kendal Holiday Cottages Ltd.. Kendal Holiday Cottages Ltd. offers luxury riverside holiday accommodation that is perfectly positioned between two of the UK’s most beautiful National Parks – the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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The great thing about the Broughton Railway walk is that you can keep your eyes focused on the landscape as the path is smooth and level. You’re not always gazing at the ground to work out where your next step goes like you are on tougher terrain.
Shrewd marketing from GO. If you’re going to walk in the Lakes – and why shouldn’t you – you’re going to need all the gear, boots an’all.
The Gruffalo Trail is a nice way of getting children to go walking. My personal tip would be to do it on a dry day which isn’t too hot or too cold.
We took our children to Skye for a wet week and it was such a traumatic experience that they now see walking as punishment rather than pleasure. They’ve never been walking since.
Let’s hope that these grading of difficulty and timings are realistic. I certainly won’t be trying the Ullock Pike trek, difficult and 4.5 hours would be beyond me. Luckily there are plenty of more reasonable options for those of us who are less fit.
These 10 walks show how much diversity of landscape you get in the Lakes. There’s a lot more to the region than just lakes and hills,
Why is it called 10 walks for Spring? I get that you get different views everyday. Surely these walks are for all seasons? Or are GO planning to follow up with 10 walks for Summer? 10 walks for Autumn etc?
And remember that the walks are only one strand of the Lake District’s attractions.
As there are so many visiting, the Lakes have become a superb destination for foodies.
On top of that, there are plenty of things that have sprung up to do on a wet day as well.
We all see the world differently but I wonder which walk is usually thought the most scenic?
We hope to be heading towards The Lakes this summer. I’ll make a note of this post to sort out some walks for when we get there.
Reading this on my dreary Monday morning commute cheered me up a little. I could do with a green escape from the concrete jungle.
You may have even inspired me to head for the Lakes for a couple of days over the long Easter weekend.