Finding opportunities for quiet enjoyment in the Lake District

A place to slow down and engage all your senses

The tranquillity of the Lake District affords people a unique sense of space and freedom. Its upland landscapes provide many personal challenges such as rock-climbing for some; and impressive, awe-inspiring views across lakes, valleys and woodlands for everyone.

What’s so good about ‘quiet’?

The Lake District’s provision of opportunities for quiet enjoyment, one of its special qualities as a National Park, contributes to its designation as a World Heritage Site.  Read more about the Lake District’s special qualities.

Considered wild and dangerous before the 19th century, it wasn’t until Romantic writers began to express their passion for its beauty and peace that the Lake District landscape started to be seen as an antidote to the bustle of industrial life.

The Lake District retains this identity today — open to all who seek to enjoy its unique character and peaceful atmosphere, and to leave feeling restored and inspired. If you’re planning on visiting the National Park to enjoy an opportunity for quiet enjoyment, please be #LakeDistrictKind by planning ahead, taking home any litter and using sustainable transport wherever possible.

Quiet activities

Take a wander

You don’t have to climb a fell to experience the quiet landscape of the National Park (though if you’d like to, there are over 350 to try!). A sense of quiet enjoyment can be found in many places across the whole of the National Park. Our Miles without Stiles walking routes are for everyone, with varying difficulties to suit you whether you’re looking for a more relaxing route or a proper challenge.

It can take an extra amount of planning to find walks that are suitable to bring kids, with enough to see and do to keep them occupied along the way. Luckily, we caught up with the people who have been there and done it many times – the mums and dads of the Lake District National Park Authority, who told us more about where to go.

Park yourself on a bench and take in the view

We’ve put together some of the best benches in the Lake District (in our opinion) to stop and take a quiet moment to reflect while out and about. These views are hard to beat…

1. Head up to Orrest Head and take your pick of benches. ///blues.impaled.narrates

2. Fancy a woodland walk? Visit Low Wood overlooking Wastwater. ///texts.retained.simmer

3. Take a seat at Friar’s Crag and enjoy the stunning sights over Derwentwater. ///imparts.confining.landings

4. Enjoy a slow walk from Grasmere to Loughrigg Terrace and choose your spot to channel your inner William Wordsworth. ///frock.visitors.clustered

5. Searching for breathtaking views to spend all day admiring? Head up Gowbarrow Fell and rest on a bench overlooking Ullswater. ///hopping.storming.forgot

Bring a sketchbook and try out some painting

The Lake District National Park has inspired artists throughout history, including Turner, Ruskin and Burne-Jones. Here are some recommendations of great views to sketch or paint, from our former ranger, Sue Thompson, including some sketches and pictures of her own.

1. Ravenglass, Town End. Ravenglass has lots of potential for sketching of boats, the estuary and the village. Nearby Eskdale has the picturesque steam railway La’al Ratty. Location: ///victor.sculpting.stale

2. St Catherine’s Church, Boot. There is also a very scenic river and Stanley Ghyll waterfall close by. Location: ///draining.teach.spearing

3. Yew Tree Tarn, near Coniston. Nearby Tarn Hows is also a great place to sketch. Locations: ///cuddled.securing.bins

4. Packhorse Bridge, Wasdale Head. There are also classic views of Gable, Scafell and Yewbarrow on the road to Wasdale Head. Location: ///rather.disarmed.sweat

5. High Street from Gatescarth Pass, Mardale side. Location: ///sheds.observer.slate

6. Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick. Location: ///phones.captions.overlaps

Tune into the rhythms of water

The Lake District is named for its bodies of water. With 16 lakes, there are plenty to explore. Don’t forget our numerous tarns (almost 200!), which are also great spots to sit with a book and a flask of tea, or to take a plunge if you’re feeling up to it.

When going for a dip, remember this advice on how to stay safe when swimming. You can also help look after the environment by cleaning yourself, your swimming costume and any paddleboards or flotation equipment between visits to different bodies of water to avoid contaminating them with micro-organisms. Find out more about why it’s so important to Clean, Check, Dry.

Try a spot of bird-watching

The Lake District is a haven for birds. Here are some of the best spots to look for them:

• Foulshaw Moss Reserve 
• Rusland Moss National Nature Reserve
• Aira Force – great for wagtails and woodland birds (as well as red squirrels!)
• Eycott Hill Cumbria Wildlife Trust, especially for spring birds
• Anywhere else in the Lake District!

Common bird species (good for kids to identify): blue tits, blackbirds, house sparrows, starlings, chaffinches

Small birds for the keen eye: Nuthatches, treecreepers, marsh tits, willow tits, bramblings, hawfinches, reed buntings

Signs of spring: Meadow pipits, lapwings, curlews, skylarks

Often found near water: Pied wagtails, grey herons, great crested grebes, tufted ducks, wigeons

Interested to discover more of the special qualities of the National Park? Plan your visit to the Lake District National Park.

Keen to brush up on your knowledge first? Here are 20 must-know facts about the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site.