The Lake District: England’s Most Beautiful National Park
The Lake District is the crown jewel of English natural beauty — a landscape of dramatic fells (mountains), deep glacial lakes, ancient forests, and stone-built villages that inspired the Romantic poets. William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Beatrix Potter all found their creative home here. Today, the Lake District National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) offers some of the best hiking in Britain, from gentle lakeside walks to the summit of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain at 978 metres.
Top Attractions in the Lake District
1. Windermere & Bowness
Windermere is England’s largest natural lake, stretching 18 kilometres through the heart of the national park. The lakeside towns of Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere are the Lake District’s main hubs, with boat hire, lake cruises, and excellent cafés. A cruise on Windermere is the classic Lake District experience — the steamers have been operating since the 19th century. For a quieter experience, walk the western shore path from Ferry Nab to Wray Castle.
2. Scafell Pike & Great Langdale
Scafell Pike, at 978 metres, is the highest mountain in England. The most popular route starts from Wasdale Head, ascending via the Brown Tongue and Lingmell Gill path — a challenging 4-hour hike with spectacular summit views across to Scotland, Wales, and Ireland on clear days. For a less extreme option, the Langdale Pikes (7-mile circular, moderate) offer equally dramatic scenery with half the effort.
3. Grasmere & Dove Cottage
Grasmere is the most Wordsworthian of the Lake District villages — the poet called it “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.” His former home, Dove Cottage, is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. The village is also famous for Grasmere Gingerbread, sold from a tiny 17th-century building next to the churchyard where Wordsworth is buried. The surrounding walks — including the circular walk around Grasmere Lake — are gentle and beautiful.
4. Catbells Lakeland Walk
Catbells is the Lake District’s most popular fell walk — and for good reason. The 3-hour circular route from Keswick (starting at Hawes End) climbs to 451 metres, offering spectacular views of Derwentwater, the Borrowdale Valley, and Bassenthwaite Lake. The walk is moderate in difficulty with a few steep sections, but the views are disproportionately rewarding for the effort. The path continues along the ridge before descending into the Newlands Valley.
5. Keswick & Derwentwater
Keswick is the Lake District’s adventure capital — a market town on the shores of Derwentwater surrounded by dramatic fells. It’s the base for hiking Skiddaw and Blencathra, the Theatre by the Lake (the UK’s most scenically situated theatre), and the Keswick Pencil Museum (yes, it’s surprisingly interesting). Derwentwater is perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, and the 5-mile circular shore path. Friday is market day in Keswick’s pedestrianised centre.
6. Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is one of England’s most scenic narrow-gauge railways, running 7 miles from the coastal village of Ravenglass deep into the Eskdale Valley. The little steam trains (dating from 1913) chug through ancient woodland, past the dramatic Muncaster Castle, and up to Dalegarth station, where you can hike up to the 1,000-foot ancient Roman fort at Hardknott Pass. The journey takes 40 minutes each way.
Budget Breakdown: The Lake District
Budget per person per day (excluding accommodation):
- Budget Traveller: £25–40
- Mid-Range: £55–90
- Comfort: £100–170
Sample Costs:
- Lake cruise: £10–15
- Pub lunch: £10–15
- B&B double: £70–130
- Hostel dorm: £18–30
- Car parking: £5–8/day
- Bus fare (local): £3–5
Disclaimer: Mountain weather in the Lake District changes rapidly. Always check forecasts, carry proper equipment, and tell someone your route for fell walks. Prices and opening hours vary by season.