No trip to the Lake District is complete without a walk or two. Home to some of the finest mountain scenery in England, the hundreds of walking trails found in the Lake District offer a unique, adventurous experience for beginners and experts alike.
We’ve tracked down five Lake District walks that are suitable for visitors of all levels of ability. From quick and simple hill walks to half-day journeys, read on to discover the five best walks in the Lake District.
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Cat Bells
One of the Lake District’s most popular walks, Cat Bells is a fell located a few miles from the charming town of Keswick. The walk’s modest slopes and beautiful views have made it arguably the most popular walk in all of Cumbria.
Alfred Wainwright – one of the Lake District’s most popular writers – claimed that Cat Bells was one of the few walking trails in the Lake District where “grandmothers and infants can climb the hills together.”
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Friar’s Crag
Another great beginner walk can be found on Friar’s Crag. This small promontory juts into Derwentwater just outside the town of Keswick. While Friar’s Crag itself barely reached 500 metres into the lake, the views from the lakeside are amazing.
The walk to Friar’s Crag is typically combined with a quick jaunt around the shores of Derwentwater. While this walk lacks the altitude of many others, the views from the lakeside are some of the best in the Lake District.
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Aira Force
Aira Force is one of England’s most impressive waterfalls, and the walk to and from the site itself is one of the Lake District’s finest. Pass beautiful scenery, dense forest canopy, and rugged countryside on this journey into England’s wild forest.
The waterfall itself is particularly impressive on rainy days. William Wordsworth, a resident of the Lake District and acclaimed Romantic poet, used the falls as a source of creative inspiration.
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Coledale Horseshoe
This ten-mile walk is one of the most rewarding adventures in
the Lake District. It begins at the village of Braithwaite and takes adventurers through some of the Lake District’s most impressive scenery.
During the six-hour journey, visitors will climb almost 800 metres above the sea on some of the Lake District’s most remarkable peaks. During the trip, you’ll pass some of the top holiday parks and static caravans for sale in the Lake District.
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Orrest Head
The trip up and down Orrest Head is one of the most popular in the Lake District. A true beginner’s walk, this simple fell is particularly popular with families holidaying in the Lake District.
While its height is modest and the journey more of a warm-up than an adventure, a trip up Orrest Head is still a wonderful experience. Pack your camera – along with some snacks – and be sure to take a photo or two at the summit.