Walking in the Lake District

Anyone looking for some serious walking in Britain will head for one of four places: the Lake District, the Derbyshire Peaks (both in England), the mountains of Snowdonia (Wales) and the Scottish Highlands. Click here for an overview of walking in these regions.

Ullswater

© Copyright Chris Heaton

This post focuses on the Lake District, a mecca for walkers and holidays makers at any time of the year.

With its 16 lakes and scores of smaller areas of water, all surrounded by hills (or fells) of varying altitudes, the Lake District offers endless possibilities for exploring this beautiful part of the country on foot. And despite the millions of visitors it attracts every year, you don't have to climb far from the lake shores and towns to get away from the crowds and enjoy some satisfying fellwalking through breathtaking scenery.

There are literally hundreds of books on walks in the Lake District, so finding suitable routes won't be a problem. Look out for anything by the famous British fellwalker and guide book author Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991). His famous Pictorial Guides To The Lakeland Fells, which he compiled between 1952 and 1966, are not only beautifully written, but they also have delightful illustrations, all drawn by Wainwright himself.

To give you an idea of what walking in the Lakes is actually like, take a look at the short video from Walks Around Britain at the end of this post. It's a good example of how even in the space of an hour or two you can be lost in the hills (although not literally I hope!) with nothing but beautiful vistas whichever way you turn.

Helvellyn - Striding Edge
© Copyright James Hearton

If getting to the tops of mountains is your main aim, the Lake District has plenty on offer, the four highest being Scafell Pike (978m), Scafell (965m), Helvellyn (951) and Skiddaw (931m). Scaling two Lakeland peaks in the same day is not uncommon among seasoned fell walkers, especially if they're doing it to raise money for charity. And for a bit of 'danger' you can't beat climbing to the summit of Helvellyn via Striding Edge, one of the best ridge walks in the Lake District. It isn't for the faint hearted, however, so you should only attempt it on a clear day (the picture should tell you why!). But there are plenty of other routes to the summit - you can even get there on a mountain bike!

Whichever level of walking you go for, something you'll definitely need before setting out, is a good pair of walking boots. Oh, and an important thing to remember; the weather can change very quickly in this part of the country, so a waterproof jacket is a must!

The Lake District covers an area of 2,292 km2 in the North West of England. It was designated a National Park in 1951 and attracts 15.8 million visitors each year.

A walk from Patterdale (Ullswater)

The photographs in this post are licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence