Lake District

Things to do in the Lake District

Whether you're gazing up at – or down from – England's highest mountains, photographing the country's deepest lake or visiting the homes of famous romantic poets, you're bound to be drawn into the unparalleled natural beauty of England's iconic national park.

Whatever Lake District itinerary you have in mind, we'll have a hostel to match it. From remote shepherd's bothies to secluded lakeside retreats, you're sure to find unique Lake District accommodation for the best prices with YHA.

Exploring Keswick

Join Hannah Outside in the latest of her series exploring Britain from YHA hostels, this time in the Lake District!

Hannah and friends tackle parts of the Cumbrian Way and Catbells, with stunning, snowy views of Derwentwater and Keswick.

Top Lake District attractions

Best things to do in the Lake District

Pikes and fells

Large blue lake surrounded by green rolling hills

Scafell Pike

As the highest mountain in England at 978m, Scafell Pike offers three routes to the summit with various degrees of difficulty. The Hollowstones route is most popular, rewarding properly equipped hikers with unrivalled views to the west coast - and Scotland, Wales and Ireland on clear days.

Stay at YHA Wasdale Hall

View over countryside from the top of a mountain

Helvellyn

Situated north of Ambleside, the high point on the Helvellyn range is the third most lofty summit in all of England. Access is easier here than to the two higher peaks, offering amazing views over surrounding fells and down into Red Tarn. Experienced hikers may be tempted by the thrilling adjoining knife-edge ridges and scree slopes.

Stay at YHA Helvellyn

Pink skies over a countryside town surrounded by mountains and trees

Skiddaw

Skiddaw may only be the Lakes' fourth highest peak, but it is the oldest, dating back over 400 million years. Lured by inviting views of the pyramid peak from Keswick below, there is a relatively easy six mile walk ascending over 600m to the 931m peak. However, there are tougher routes for experienced walkers.

Stay at YHA Skiddaw Bunkhouse

Rocky track in the countryside with rolling hills and trees

Castle Crag

Your ascent to Castle Crag begins in the nestling village of Rosthwaite. First following the River Derwent then rising above beautiful Borrowdale amid neighbouring fells, the route eventually passes through green slate quarries to the wooded crag, a one-time Iron Age hillfort.

Stay at YHA Borrowdale

Transport in the Lake District

Train tracks surrounded by green leafy trees

By train

Given the wild, mountainous nature of the terrain, the Lake District is surprisingly well served by rail. Stations at Penrith and Oxenholme are on the London to Glasgow mainline, with a journey time of around three hours from London. Windermere, Kendal and Staveley are the stops on one of England's most spectacular branch lines.

Two adults sat in the front of a car with one looking back at children in the back seats

By car

The main arterial M6 motorway passes close by the Lake District, west of Kendal, so initial travel access is easy. However, the National Parks authorities do underline the stress-free possibility of doing the Lakes by bus, train, boat, bike - and ultimately on foot - relieving traffic on steep single-track roads and busy peak-season car parks.

Young woman standing on a bus holding a mobile phone

By bus

All of the major towns in the Lake District, as well as many more inaccessible villages and visitor attractions, are linked by reliable bus services. Stagecoachs Explorer day tickets can make great sense if you're travelling on a budget, enabling you to travel throughout Cumbria on most services.

Woman riding a bike in the countryside

By bike

Take your bike by train or car or take advantage of the many hire firms in the Lake District. The unspoiled high terrain offers fantastic challenges for adrenaline-fuelled off-road cyclists looking for a Tour de Lake challenge, while the lowland valleys, lakeside and river routes are far easier going and every bit as spectacular.

Find your perfect Lake District accommodation

Adults (18 and over)
Under 18s

Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over to stay at YHA.

Booking for more than 15 people?

Groups of more than 15 people are only able to book YHA Exclusive Hire properties through this website.

Alternatively, let YHA take care of your stay through our serviced group stay package.

Find out more

Walking in the Lake District

Explore outdoors

Two mountain bikers riding down a hill

Mountain biking

Whether you're cycling country lanes in the lowlands, taking on established cross-country routes or cruising the purpose-built off-road trails at Whinlatter or Grizedale Forest, a day's mountain biking offers a completely different way to enjoy the Lake District whatever your cycling ability.

Group of four adults standing on paddle boards on an open lake

Watersports

With countless square miles of fabulous open water fed by thundering river torrents, there's nowhere better than the Lake District to indulge your passion for watersports. Sailing, canoeing and windsurfing are available at most lakes, while kayaking and rafting are mostly river based.

Hostels that are great for watersports

Man climbing a large boulder surrounded by moutains

Climbing

Walking in the Lake District is open to everybody with a stout pair of boots and a map, but higher-adrenaline activities such as mountain climbing, scrambling and canyoning in this natural wonderland are best taken on in expertly supervised groups. All levels of experience are welcome at the area's many specialist centres.

Hostels that are great for climbers

Swimmer wearing a wetsuit wading into a lake

Swimming

The Great North Swim(Opens in a new tab) takes place annually in June in Lake Windermere, with events running from half a mile to 10,000m. Its popularity has led to a rise in open water swimming in the lakes that allow it, but remember you'll need to seek instruction and safety support from a local provider.

Local weather

Average monthly sunshine and temperature charts reflect the expected summer highs for the Lake District. However, average rainfall is not hugely lower during peak season than at other times of the year. Lakeland scenery changes dramatically as the seasons spin by, and springtime and autumn breaks are now becoming popular.

Top photography spots

Large open lake surrounded by mountains and countryside

Wasdale Head

A far-flung hamlet strewn across the head of the Wasdale Valley, Wasdale Head is usually considered to be the starting point for some of the Lake District’s most picturesque walks. Snap the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike, and Wastwater, its deepest lake and don’t miss St Olaf's, allegedly the smallest church in England.

Stay at YHA Wasdale Hall

Rolling hills surrounding a lake at sunrise

Loughrigg Fell

It may not be the highest fell in the Lakes, but from Loughrigg the views in every direction have an uncanny ability to catch the light and transform a photo into a work of art. Whether you’re shooting Loughrigg Tarn, Grasmere or Windermere down below, you'll always grab some impressive snaps whatever the weather.

Stay at YHA Langdale

Countryside cottage surrounded by trees

Grasmere

Grasmere village has been resolutely unspoiled by progress since Wordsworth's time and offers dozens of vantage points for breathtaking photos. Encircled by the central fells and containing Wordsworth’s "most loveliest" lake, the area is a must for any serious photographer.

Stay at YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe

Aerial view of a castle surrounded by a large circular boundary wall

Kendal Castle

A 12th century castle that was already a ruin by the 16th, it's almost as if the people of Kendal have deliberately preserved the old tower and great hall's decay, nurturing this irresistibly photogenic pile on its mound-like hill outside town.

Stay at YHA Windermere

Popular blog posts about the Lake District

Rolling hills and open water in the countryside

Our favourite day walks in the Lake District

It can take a lifetime of commitment to cover every fell in the Lakes, and not all of us are blessed with the time. So for those saving their epic multi-day expeditions for a later...

Ruby Higton - author

Ruby Higton

30th May 2025 · 7 min read

YHA Ambleside view

Low-cost breaks in the Lakes: best cheap accommodation

Thanks to its stunning scenery and easy accessibility, the Lake District in Cumbria, in the north of England, is the UK's most-visited National Park. Because of its popularity, it often isn't cheap...

Ruby Higton - author

Ruby Higton

4th Mar 2025 · 14 min read

A morning shot of Lake Windermere showing the stone walling and the stile providing passage over the wall

Easy fell walks in the Lake District

The Lake District National Park is a walker’s paradise. With mighty mountains, glistening lakes, rolling fells and picturesque villages, it’s no wonder people visit this place on a...

Ruby Higton - author

Ruby Higton

19th Dec 2024 · 6 min read