Walking routes

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Welcome to our walking routes page

Here you can find routes for some classic walks in the best loved areas of the Lake District along with detailed descriptions including distance, time, ascent and grade. The Lake District is a wonderful place to enjoy biking as well with climbs to challenge even the most experienced cyclist and, believe it or not, plenty of nice flat routes for all the family. We’ve put together some of our favourites below. We also link across to our guided walks which run across the summer.

List of walks

Plan your walk using our walking routes feed. Filter by duration, accessibility, facilities and more.

Walks and routes

women walking alongside a man in a wheelchair bike going along a gravelled path with mighty fells in the distance

Miles without Stiles

Our series of 50 Miles without Stiles routes for all take you along lake shores, river sides and tarns, across woods, historic remains, and fell summits, with amazing views.

Accessible routes

adult male and female in outdoor gear walking across large wooden foot bridge smiling

West Windermere Way

This route takes you between Newby Bridge to Lakeside YMCA via Lakeside Ferry Terminal and Finsthwaite, OS Explorer Map OL7. Some sections of the route (4.5km) are suitable for many. Some sections of the route (1.5km) are suitable for some.

See the route

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

Ullswater Way

The Ullswater Way is a 20 mile walking route that goes around the whole of Ullswater lake. You can do the walk in one go, or smaller sections combined with a boat trip or bus ride. There are villages and eating places along this fairly low-level, easy to walk route.

Route details

Eskdale Trail

The Eskdale Trail is a fun day out for the whole family to explore this western valley. You can catch the La’al Ratty from Ravenglass to Dalegarth and follow the new metal fingerposts that are unique to the Eskdale Trail.

Discover the Eskdale Trail

elterwater on a sunny day green grass lake shore, green woodland fells in backdrop

3 part audio walking trails series

3 audio walking trails exploring industrial archaeology of Windermere catchment, looking at how humans shape landscape. Each trail has mp3 audio, downloadable guide, route instructions and map:

Dig Dig Dig Audio Trail 5km, Grasmere-Greenhead
Feel the Force Audio Trail 5km, Grasmere-Easedale
Hearts of Oak Audio Trail 2.3km, Elterwater Common

aerial view of rusland moss wetland landscape with bog wetland, shrubs, woodland and fields

The 8 Greenwood Trails

A collection of walks in Rusland, an area that stretches between Windermere and Coniston Water to the south of Grizedale forest. Greenwood Trails. Check out the trails on the Ruslands Horizon website via the below links.

A collection of walks in Rusland, an area that stretches between Windermere and Coniston Water to the south of Grizedale forest.

Trail 1: Old Hall Farm to Rusland Moss and Hay Bridge – 2.5 km / 6.7 km / 8.7 km
Trail 2: Haverthwaite Heights to Abbots Reading – 3.5 km / 4.8 km
Trail 3: The Bobbin Mill to High Dam, Yewbarrow and Finsthwaite – 4.3 km / 10 km
Trail 4: Oxen Park to Bethecar Moor – 6 km / 9.5 km / 11.5 km
Trail 5: Rusland valley and Yewbarrow – 7.5 km / 13.7 km
Trail 6: Grizedale West multi-user accessible trail – 10.5 km with optional extra loops
Trail 7: Finsthwaite Tower and The Knott – 5.6 km
Trail 8: Satterthwaite and Rusland – 7.5 km / 9.5 km

coniston copper mines old engine house. Stone walls and turret situated on green grass fellside, brown fells in background

Coniston Copper Mine Trails

Here you can download and print a series of self-guided trails to help you find your way around the Coniston Copper sites and identify what you are looking at.

Trails and resources

Scafell Pike (challenging)

Scafell Pike is a popular, but challenging hike. Visitors to Scafell Pike must be prepared and have significant mountaineering experience. Our volunteer mountain rescue teams attend some preventable rescue call-outs to the Scafell range, particularly Piers Gill from the corridor route to Scafell Pike.

Scafell Pike

People walking through woodland on a path on a Lake District National Park guided walk

Guided walks

We have a range of easier to more challenging walks, in groups of up to 20 people, all led by our wonderfully cheery and knowledgeable volunteers. All our walks are free to book, with an optionable donation to give back to the National Park.

Find a guided walk