Where are the guided walks?
Calendar of walks
The walks calendar below shows the dates of all walks through the season. Full details for each walk can be found on Eventbrite, where you can also book your place in advance.
What should I pack for a guided walk?
You can experience all seasons in one day on a walk in the Lake District so make sure you’re prepared. Wear sturdy boots or shoes, bring extra layers, waterproof jacket and trousers, plenty snacks and your lunch, water, sun cream, hat and your phone or camera to capture all the amazing views.
Watch this video of one of our volunteers sharing her tips on what to pack.
How challenging are the guided walks?
All our walks are graded from 1 to 5, to ensure you can choose the walk that’s right for you. But what does each number mean? The grades are based on a combination of factors including: terrain, accessibility (gates, stiles, path width), gradient, length, duration, total ascent and highest point.
Families are welcome on all of our walks, but not all are pushchair friendly so please read the route descriptions.
Walk grades
Walk length: 3 – 7 km (1.8 – 4.5 miles)
Approximate duration: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Grade 1 walks are easy and accessible walks that go at a leisurely pace and follow generally flat or rolling paths with gentle hills. The paths are wide, firm and have no barriers to access such as steep sections, steps or stiles. The walks are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Walk length: 3 – 6 km (1.8 – 3.7 miles)
Approximate duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
Grade 2 walks are around villages and are focussed on a tour of historical and other points of interest. They may include some short ascents and descents. The path surface might be pavements, earth, grass or stone and – while generally firm – it may have some loose or uneven sections, or be soft underfoot after rain. You may also encounter steps, gates and narrow sections. Most of our grade 2 walks are very suitable for families, and some are pushchair friendly (please check route descriptions).
Walk length: 4 – 8.7 km (2.5 – 5.5 miles)
Approximate duration: 2.5 to 5 hours
Grade 3 walks may include some moderate ascents and descents. The path surface might be earth, grass or stone and – while generally firm – it will have some loose or uneven sections, or be soft underfoot after rain. You will also encounter steps, gates or stiles and narrow sections. Most of our grade 3 walks are suitable for families.
Walk length: 6 – 12.5 km (3.7 – 7.8 miles)
Approximate duration: 4 to 6 hours
Grade 4 walks are generally full day walks that include hilly ground and require a reasonable level of fitness. You might encounter climbs up some steeper sections. The surfaces may be rough and uneven, with rocky or muddy sections, and you may also find yourself walking up irregular steps, over stiles or through narrow gates and gaps.
Walk length: 7 – 13 km (4 – 8 miles)
Approximate duration: 4 to 6 hours
Grade 5 walks are our most challenging full day walks which involve going onto the fell summits. These walks require a good level of fitness and full walking kit appropriate for the weather conditions. Some people may find walking poles useful. You may encounter sustained climbs up some steeper sections. The surfaces can be rough and uneven, with rocky or muddy sections, irregular steps, stiles or narrow gates and gaps.
Mountain walks and skills with the BMC
If you’re planning to venture into high, technical terrain and want to sharpen your advanced mountain skills—such as route finding, efficient movement, and navigating challenging landscapes—consider connecting with the British Mountaineering Council (BMC).
The BMC is the representative body for hill walkers, climbers and mountaineers across England and Wales. Each year, they offer free guided walks, some of which explore the most remote and dramatic landscapes in the Lake District.
Learn more and explore upcoming opportunities here: BMC Lakes Area Walks
FAQs
Well behaved dogs are welcome but must remain on a short lead throughout and be respectful of other walkers.
Please note there are four walks without dogs this year. Dogs will not be allowed on these dates:
19th April 2026 – Lowther Loop
29th June 2026 – Two Hilltop Tarns and a Craggy Wood
4th August 2026 – Helsington Church from Sizergh
20th September 2026 – Borrowdale River and Caves
We aim to make the guided walks as accessible as possible by public transport. Many of the walk start points can be reached using public transport (bus and train).
The walk listings on Eventbrite provide details and this is also given in the booking emails.
We recommend using Traveline to plan your journey. Please also see the Stagecoach bus summer timetable.
All our walks are free to book and are run by volunteers. If you wish to make a donation to give back to the National Park, you can do so via the Lake District Foundation. Thank you!
Lake District weather can be notoriously changeable, so please ensure you are well prepared for the walk.
To make your experience as safe and enjoyable as possible, we recommend bringing the following clothes and kit:
- Sturdy walking shoes or boots (please don’t wear flip-flops or sandals)
- Clothes for walking (please note jeans are not suitable)
- Waterproof jacket (even if rain isn’t forecast as conditions can change quickly)
- Extra warm layer (even in summer)
- Waterproof trousers
- Sun hat and sun protection
- Warm hat and gloves
- Snacks and/or packed lunch (enough food for the duration of the walk)
- Water bottle
- Thermos flask (optional)
- Any personal medication
In exceptional circumstances our leaders may turn people away from a walk if their clothing or footwear aren’t suitable, or if the leaders have concerns about a participant’s suitability for the walk.
All walks can be booked in advance through Eventbrite. For this year to help the bookings process we will be staggering the bookings through the season rather than opening all the walks for bookings at once.
Bookings will open in early February for March, April and May walks; on 1st May for June, July and August walks; and on 1st August for September and October walks.
If you would like to know when new walks are available to book, please follow us on Eventbrite.
We have a Trip Advisor page with reviews from previous guided walk participants.
