A five day Lake District break: Top tips for your visit

As England’s largest national park, and arguably one of the most beautiful places to visit in the country, the Lake District has a lot to offer. From the highest mountain in the country, rolling fells, mountain towns and of course the  lakes (we’ll get to that bit), it’s difficult to know where to start. We visited the Lake District for four nights in the autumn of 2020, and my lengthy research left me with an almost impossible task of choosing which areas to visit. You’d need a few weeks to explore the Lake District properly so cramming in as much as possible in five days was a challenge. A challenge I happily took on, mind you. Our trip was fantastic and varied, giving me the opportunity to put together some tips on how to make the most of a Lake District break.

For lovers of the outdoors, the Lake District is the ultimate English destination. Located in the North West of England in the county of Cumbria, the national park is over 2,300 square kilometres in size and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The scenery is quite simply outstanding. Breath taking, in fact. There are sixteen lakes that make up the Lake District, although there are several more smaller bodies of water. The largest, and most famous, is Windermere at ten miles long and a mile wide. Other notable lakes are Coniston Water, Buttermere, Derwentwater and Ullswater. The characteristics vary from lake to lake. Some have lakeside towns which have now become tourist hotspots, where others are remote and wild. There really is something for everyone.

My top tips to enjoy a Lake District break

Our four night trip would start at the north end of the Lake District with an overnight stay at Ullswater, a couple of nights located centrally in Grasmere, before moving on for a final night on the southern edges of Windermere. This provided us with the opportunity to get a feel for several locations around the area, and also meant that we had relatively short drives each day to get to certain places that were on my list.

Prior to visiting, I had drawn up a little map as part of my research and highlighted all the locations I *hoped we could get to during our stay. This really helped in choosing which areas to stay overnight. We had a packed and varied few days exploring along with plenty of time to relax too. The perfect balance. I’ve listed some things I learned along the way, and some tips I would encourage anyone to take on board when planning a Lake District break.

* We obviously didn’t visit everywhere I had highlighted on the map. There’s never enough time in reality is there, and we didn’t want to be racing from one spot to the next.

1. Be on the lookout for photo opportunities

If your travelling by car on your Lake District break, keep your eyes peeled for some great photo opportunities. As well as the dramatic mountain scenery, you might find some vista points that provide great views. The lakeside roads had plenty of lay-by’s where you could park up to get some shots, and there were larger car parks available near the more touristy spots.

Arriving from the north, we started driving around the perimeter of Ullswater and soon came across one of those points where I had to pull over and get the camera out. Luckily, I managed to squeeze my car into the last space in a small lay-by nearby. The Duke of Portland Boathouse located to the north edge of Ullswater is a beautiful building, in a stunning setting on the shore. Further research suggests that this is a holiday let which can be booked on Airbnb. The tranquil setting, with stunning reflections and the backdrop of the fells in the distance is magical.

There was one photo opportunity that I couldn’t miss during the trip – Bridge House in Ambleside. Standing over Stock Beck in the middle of the town, Bridge House is a 17th century building – the origins of which are an apple store by the then owners. Its served many purposes over the years, and is now operated by the National Trust as a tourist attraction. When I was young, my mother had a collection of Lilliput Lane ornaments (does anyone remember them?) which were huge in the 1980’s. The collectable ornaments were replicas of small cottages and stone buildings, along with some more famous buildings in the UK. I always remember the little bridge house, and wondered where it was located. When I found out it was in the Lake District, I couldn’t pass by without stopping to see it.

2. Walk to a waterfall

I always like to search out a waterfall. The still water of the lakes is wonderful, but in contrast, it’s fantastic to find a torrent of water cascading over a cliff edge.  One of the Lake District’s most popular waterfalls is Aira Force, which is located on the west shores of Ullswater. There’s a large National Trust car park located on the A592 road, with toilet facilities, a gift shop and tea room.

About two hours should be allowed to hike to Aira Force and back to the car park. The walk takes place through some beautiful woodland and along the bank of Aira Beck. There are some steep sections, but the pathway is well tended and in good condition. As the thundering sounds of the waterfall get nearer, the cascade of water appears through the trees. The falls are 70 feet high and can be seen from above, where a stone bridge crosses the falls or on a bridge below, offering great photo opportunities. During our visit, a one way system was in place as part of the Covid-19 restrictions – this made it much easier and safer to wander along the narrow pathways and steps.

3. Photograph a mirrored lake

Desperately checking the weather forecasts in the run up to our visit, it’s fair to say that it was a mixed bag of sunshine, showers and full on rain. Which, in all honesty, is expected in the UK during autumn. That didn’t stop me from hoping for some ideal conditions to photograph a calm lake on a sunny day. The second day of our trip provided us with the jackpot weather conditions I longed for. Sunny with very little wind. We set off from Ullswater in the morning and took a beautifully scenic drive, to arguably the most scenic lake in the Lake District – Buttermere.

A stunning spot in Cumbria, Buttermere is a relatively small lake at approximately 1.25 miles long by 0.35 miles wide. There is a beautiful mountain backdrop to the south and west edges of the lake, which are perfect for reflective photography. Arriving mid to late morning in Buttermere, we found the area really busy with no parking available in the village of Buttermere or the car park to the south of the lake. We drove further afield – about a mile from the lake to a safe and sensible parking spot before walking back.

There is a path that leads around the perimeter of Buttermere, providing a simple and flat hike which would take a couple of hours. We walked along a section of the south west edge of the lake, to a perfect vantage point for photography, looking back towards the south shore of Buttermere and a row of trees that perfectly reflect in the water. Buttermere was my favourite spot for scenery during our Lake District break. I’d like to revisit at a different time of day, with different weather conditions, to see the impact this has on the scenery. Hopefully it will be easier to park then too!

4. Plan for a rainy day on your Lake District break

Unless you hit the weather jackpot when you take a holiday in the UK, you’re unlikely to have wall to wall sunshine for your entire trip. On that basis (and if you are fair weather hiker like me), you’ll want to consider some things to do on a rainy day.  Blessed with the perfect mirrored lake conditions of a Tuesday on our Lake District break, our Wednesday couldn’t have been more different. We awoke to cloud covered mountains and rain. Rain which would last for most of the day. Torrential rain at times. Are you getting the message?

We were staying in Grasmere at the time – a beautiful village with a collection of shops, cafes and restaurants. As a tourist, the main thing you’ll learn about Grasmere is that it was home to William Wordsworth. Wordsworth had many homes in the village over his adult life, the most famous of these being Dove Cottage.

Wordsworth Grasmere is a visitor attraction that includes a self guided tour of Dove Cottage and the tiered garden which provides fantastic views. The tour includes access to the museum, an introductory video and a guide within Dove Cottage, to provide any additional information. A fascinating and enjoyable way to spend an hour or two out of the rain, with a cosy on-site cafe serving snacks and lunches. The museum is being extended for the 2021 season.

5. Hike into the wilderness

There’s only so much time you can spend indoors when you have limited time to explore, so with the weather not looking to ease, we donned our waterproofs and decided to take a hike into the wilderness. The scenery in the Lake District is beautiful, with many relatively easy walks and hikes. We were hoping to climb some of the smaller fells during our trip, but given the conditions it wouldn’t have been ideal for the photography I had planned. We spoke with the receptionist at our hotel who recommended some local walks, one of which was a hike to Easedale Tarn.

The walk was easily accessible from the centre of Grasmere, which meant we had a full day without driving during our stay. Heading out of the centre of the village on Easedale Road, after half a mile or so a footbridge crosses the River Rothay and heads out into the country side. A well tended footpath follows the river and as the landscape opens up in front of you, the main focus is a large cascading waterfall tumbling down the side of the hill.

There are some steep sections of the walk, with a stone steps built into the hillside, but whatever the weather the scenery is beautiful. As mist shrouded the landscape and the rain poured down, we caught glimpses of distant landscapes as the cloud cover cleared, and then just as quickly enveloped the hills again. A heron flew overhead and landed near the cascade of water, no doubt on the hunt for a snack.

We reached the top of the waterfall and the landscape levelled out before us. No sign of Easedale Tarn yet. A long stretch of pathway lay ahead, with a further incline to reach our destination. With no sign in the weather letting up, we walked a little while longer admiring the scenery before turning around and heading back to Grasmere. We arrived back, sodden, but just in time to grab a coffee and cake before the tea room closed for the day.

6. Hire a motor boat and get out onto the water

Time to get out onto the water! With so many lakes, there’s no excuse not to get out onto the water during your Lake District break. The main hubs for hiring boats are focused on Lake Windermere and Coniston Water. Whether your looking for a kayak, canoe, rowing boat or motor boat, there are options available at these locations. Because we hadn’t done so before, we chose to hire a motor boat as we figured we could cover maximum distance with minimum effort. We were on holiday after all!

A quick lunch in the The Bluebird Cafe at the Coniston Boating Centre and we were good to go. The Motor Boats could be hired for one hour with varying pricing depending on the number of people. We were provided with brief instructions on how to ‘drive’ the boat and then we set off. With a top speed of ‘slow’, the motor boats are not really suited to the adrenalin junkies out there, but to get out on the water for an hour was a fantastic experience.

At five miles long, we had no chance of navigating the whole length of Coniston Water (and back) in the allotted time slot, so we casually meandered along the lake taking the views. We avoided the occasional yacht and larger cruise vessel, and quickly learned how to efficiently steer when something large was heading our way. The scenery from the lake was spectacular, as you would expect, with views to the Old Man of Coniston as well as other notable peaks. We took turns to ‘drive’ – Pete took the first shift, and I took over for the return journey once we reached the half hour mark. A great experience and one I would recommend.

7. Drive across a mountain pass on your Lake District break

There are some wild and wonderful roads in the Lake District and I was keen to experience at least one of these. Conveniently, our planned trip to Buttermere had a couple of options when it came to directions. The sensible option, or the option of navigating Honister Pass.  Honister Pass connects Buttermere with the Borrowdale Valley. The narrow and winding road reaches over 1100 feet at it peak and provides a spectacular driving experience, with spectacular views to boot.

A steep valley of heathland and stone walls, with a stream cascading down the mountain side, the Honister Pass was beautiful in autumn. The winding road leading up from Borrowdale reaches its peak at the Honister Slate Mine, where the views towards Buttermere are fantastic. The Slate Mine and visitor centre offer mine tours, as well as some fantastic outdoor adrenalin adventures.

Leaving Honister Slate Mine, the section of road heading towards Buttermere is a dream for drivers and cyclists alike with it’s steep twists and turns. We made several stops along this stretch of road to take in the scenery.

8. Embrace the ‘atmospheric’ British weather

As much as I’d love to have sunshine for all my trips away, when mother nature has other ideas, there’s nothing else to do but embrace it. Whilst the traveller in me wants the sunshine, the photographer in me does like a bit of a mix. Clear blue skies can leave landscape photos a little flat, whereas a few clouds definitely add atmosphere. Even in the bleakest weather, the Lake District was beautiful.

We visited the small town of Glenridding on the southern shores of Ullswater. Taking a stroll down to the edge of the lake, the panoramic scene of mountains was everchanging with low cloud hanging over the slopes. The dark forest silhouettes at low level contrasted beautifully with the mountains beyond, especially when there were glimpses of the sun desperately trying to burn though the cloud cover.

While staying in Grasmere, we took a morning stroll to the edges of the lake. The clouds hung low, enveloping the woodland above the pretty lakeside homes. It was a beautiful scene and felt so quintessentially British. Dew hung on cobwebs that spiders had built into the ramshackle stone walls, and the air felt damp. But the scene was still beautiful. The leaves on the trees were turning their autumnal shades of orange and brown, and I questioned whether I would enjoy this view as much on a clear and sunny day. Probably not.

9. Be a tourist

While I always try and search out lesser known or quieter spots when I visit a destination, it’s also good to get a feel for the area by being a real tourist and visiting the more popular locations. Lake Windermere is by far the most tourist focused lake within the Lake district. The towns of Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere are the bustling hubs of outdoor shops, hotels and cafes. We briefly stopped into Ambleside, but on the final full day of our Lake District break, we decided to spend some time in Bowness-on-Windermere. On my first visit to the Lakes, we had taken a walk around Bowness, and although busy, the lakeside setting was beautiful.

Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the main hubs in the Lake District for boat trips and hires. There are rowing boats and motor boats available to hire from the jetties, but embracing our inner tourists we decided that we should head out on a Lake Cruise. Windermere Lake Cruises offer a selection of cruises, where you can choose from one way or round trips. We opted for the Red Cruise round trip – a sailing from Bowness to Ambleside and back, which took about 90 minutes in total.

We had pre-booked the cruise (a necessity during the 2020 pandemic) and opted for outdoor seating, praying to the weather gods to be kind. Our vessel, the MV Swan was a large steamer dating back to 1938 with indoor and outdoor decks for seating. In normal times, there is a licensed bar and cafe on board, but this was closed on our visit. The 90 minute cruise was enjoyable and informative, and the scenery was absolutely stunning from the lake. Of course the heavens opened on our return journey, so we headed for cover indoors – thankfully the cruise wasn’t too busy.

10. Find somewhere to watch the sunset over water

I’ve sat outside a hotel and taken in the view across many a lake on my travels. From Lake Misurina in the Dolomites and Lake Gosau in Austria, to Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, there’s no better setting than a lakeside setting for sitting out of an evening and watching the sunset. Late September in the Lake District doesn’t always offer sitting out weather, but the views can still be spectacular.

For the final night of our Lake District break, we stayed on the eastern shores of Lake Windermere at The Beech Hill Hotel & Spa. As we arrived, the weather cleared up so we had the opportunity to explore the grounds and enjoy the views. Evening arrived and as we were enjoying our pre dinner drinks, we were treated to a beautiful sunset with pastel skies in shades of pink and peach. A beautiful end to a wonderful trip exploring this wonderful part of the English countryside.

AD | Read my review on our overnight stay at The Beech Hill Hotel & Spa

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Have you enjoyed a Lake District break and do you have any tips to share?

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