Geography resources

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Explore the geography of the Lake District’s landscapes and communities

Deepen your understanding of the Lake District with inspiring geography resources for the classroom and beyond.

Discover a range of educational Geography resources, designed to bring the Lake District to life for your students. From dramatic mountain landscapes and traditional hill farming to wildlife conservation, climate patterns, and tourism impacts, these materials provide real-world examples to support your teaching. Whether you’re planning a visit or enhancing lessons in the classroom, our resources offer valuable insights into one of the UK’s most iconic National Parks.

Arial view of Ullswater, large light blue lake body surrounded by green woodland, fields and brown fells

Mountain Landscape

Learn about a typically dramatic Western Lake District landscape with a flat valley bottom - such as Wasdale Fell which looks down towards the small hamlet of Wasdale Head which has a pub, a few B&Bs, a hotel and a couple of farms.

Farming

The upland climate of the Lake District is harsh with low temperatures, high rainfall, thin soils and exposed steep gradients. This limits the type of farming that can be practised here, the most common being hill sheep farming but cattle are grazed in lowland areas.

Red squirrel amongst woodland bluebells looking at the camera

Wildlife

Learn about protected species such as the red squirrel in the Lake District National Park. For example - the red squirrel (sciurus vulgaris), which is native to the woodlands of the Lake District and one of the few remaining areas of the country where this animal can still be found in the wild.

A cornice of snow on the approach to Helvellyn Summit with Swirral Edge and Catstyecam in the background. Lake District Climate

Weather and climate

General figures for average weather in the Lake District are 200 wet days per year and 145 dry days per year and 20 snowy days per year. However the weather on the fell tops will never be predictable and will always be ‘worse’ due to the relief rainfall caused by the height of the fells and the chill factor caused by the wind.

Water

The Industrial Revolution in Manchester created demand for more water in the city suburbs and factories. This led to a search for water sources which ended in Thirlmere. Following an Act of Parliament, work begun on a dam at the north end.

Tourism

Current surveys show that about 18 million visitors come to the Lake District each year. Most come to enjoy the scenery, peace and quiet and walking but many others visit specific attractions or take part in an outdoor activity.

picture of Bassenthwaite Lake reflecting green and orange fells at sunset, leafless shadowed tree on lakeshore in foreground

Facts and figures

Visit our facts and figures page to grab quick information about the Lake District National Park.

Facts and figures