Spellbinding hikes in the Southern Lake District
Hiking Collection by Alex Foxfield
14
Tours
64:16 h
109 mi
30,150 ft
The Southern Lake District is one of Britain’s most scenic and awe-inspiring regions. It’s home to England’s highest mountain, the rugged Scafell Pike; its longest lake, gorgeous Windermere; and its deepest too, the breathlessly spectacular and remote Wast Water.
Here, idyllic pastures and chocolate box villages give way to sumptuous woodland and glistening lakes and tarns, before the land slopes upwards and away to lofty crags, ridges and mountain summits. It’s easy to see why this land was the cradle of English Romanticism around the turn of the 19th century, when the likes of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Keats would extoll the region’s beauty in their poems and their accounts of derring-do among the fells.
The far south of the national park is dominated by Windermere’s long blue ribbon, thronged with sailing vessels and surrounded by exquisite scenery. Here, the honeypot towns of Bowness and Ambleside have been welcoming hikers, writers, artists and tourists for generations. To the north and west rise some of the national park’s finest mountains, including the lofty Kentmere fells; the fine summits of the Fairfield Horseshoe, the visually arresting Langdale Pikes, the mountainous giants of Pillar, Great Gable and Bowfell; the peerless Scafells; and the grand Coniston group.
In this Collection, I seek out panoramic summits on many of the aforementioned fells, as well as exploring a few gentler ambles through the heart of Romantic Lakeland across 14 majestic Tours. This is not a ‘best of’, but rather a mixed bag of delectable treats, with flavours to suit every palate.
Whether you’re hankering after a challenging fell walk or seeking easygoing ambles among staggering scenery, there’s a hike for you here. Objectives like the outlying Black Combe allow you to escape the crowds, while the ascent of Scafell Pike rewards you with the ultimate bragging rights. I have roughly ordered the Tours in terms of difficulty, with the less challenging itineraries first.
For the longer hill walks, you will have to be self-sufficient and carry plenty of food and drink, as there’s nowhere to restock once you are on the fells. The number of hikers that use the region means that refilling from mountain streams is not recommended. Waterproof layers and sturdy hiking footwear are a must too.
Many of these routes take place on some of Lakeland’s busiest trails. Yet it is still possible to achieve solitude by setting out early or late in the day, or by avoiding weekends and public holidays. It’s also wise to book accommodation well in advance, though in Southern Lakeland you are spoilt for choice. There’s a superb range of places to stay, from campsites and hostels to luxury spa hotels and holiday cottages.
Windermere can be reached by rail from the town of Kendal and its Oxenholme train station, which is on the West Coast Mainline. Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside can also be accessed by bus and are all blessed with facilities, gear shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. You’ll also find plenty of accommodation and things to do in the villages of Coniston, Grasmere, Hawkeshead and Newby Bridge.
See you in the fells.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- Easy01:042.13 mi2.0 mph425 ft425 ftEasy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The great thing about this easygoing route is that you escape the crowds with such little effort, it almost feels too good to be true.
As a tourist honeypot, Bowness-on-Windermere can get very busy indeed. Upon setting off you might find it hard to imagine that, within just a few miles, the crowds melt…
- Intermediate01:534.29 mi2.3 mph325 ft325 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Great for any fitness level. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
If you enjoy mountain scenery without having to climb into the clouds, then this route is perfect for you. With the majority of the hike at lake level, and lots of things to keep you interested, it is a delightful outing that most will find easy enough.
Strolling along the glassy River Braythay, breathing…
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- Expert02:143.83 mi1.7 mph950 ft950 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The trails around Rydal make for some of the most popular low levels walks in the Lake District, while an ascent of Loughrigg Fell treats you to superb views of this, the heart of romantic Lakeland.
Despite being short, this is a mildly challenging route. However, there are plenty of opportunities to…
- Intermediate03:196.50 mi2.0 mph1,300 ft1,300 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Lingmoor Fell is a charming little hill above beautiful Langdale. It is a relatively straightforward hiking objective and a glorious viewpoint for the craggy architecture of the Langdale Pikes. Combining the summit with a visit to subsidiary Side Pike and the glistening Blea Tarn makes for a fine outing…
- Expert05:5111.7 mi2.0 mph2,150 ft2,150 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Tucked away in the far southwestern corner of the Lake District, this route is a hidden gem for visitors wanting beauty without the crowds. While the honeypots of Ambleside and Windermere flood with tourists, you can experience solitude and peace while gazing back towards the distant centre of the Lakeland…
- Intermediate04:478.28 mi1.7 mph2,275 ft2,275 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Sometimes, the closer you are to grand natural architecture, the harder it is to take it all in and properly appreciate the scale of what you’re looking at.
Both Harter Fell and Hard Knott are worthy summits in their own right but what really sets them apart is the views they present of Upper Eskdale…
- Intermediate04:428.23 mi1.8 mph2,450 ft2,450 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
It is hard to imagine visiting Coniston without tackling the ‘Old Man’. Standing at 2,634 feet (803 meters) high, the Old Man of Coniston dominates the landscape from the village and simply begs to be climbed.
This wonderful route takes you through the remains of the copper mines that thrived in the area…
- Expert06:0011.1 mi1.8 mph2,850 ft2,850 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The Fairfield Horseshoe is a much-loved hill walk that takes you high above the Romantic heart of Lakeland. It’s a long outing but its accessibility from Ambleside, Rydal and Grasmere village and its relatively gentle gradients make it a very popular expedition. Peak baggers will be in their element…
- Expert06:3812.2 mi1.8 mph3,075 ft3,050 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The Kentmere Horseshoe is one of the longest and most spectacular horseshoe routes in the Lakes, rivalling the likes of Mosedale, Coledale, Newlands and Fairfield. Traversing the fells bounding the upper Kentmere valley, it is a grueling yet rewarding hike with lots of interest.
Starting from the village…
- Expert05:146.48 mi1.2 mph3,100 ft3,100 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Two contrasting giants, Great Gable and Kirk Fell dominate the head of Wasdale, arguably England’s most spectacular valley. Great Gable is a shapely peak, beautiful and bold, while Kirk Fell is a huge flat-topped fell with two broad summits. Linking them together makes a lot of sense on what is a great…
- Expert05:358.61 mi1.5 mph3,025 ft3,025 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
England's highest mountain is suitably rugged and remote, making for a marvellous adventure regardless of your route to the summit.
Most who ascend from Wasdale Head take the direct route to Scafell Pike via Brown Tongue. While a superb hike, it misses out on exploring the Pike's surroundings in more…
- Expert06:029.57 mi1.6 mph2,850 ft2,850 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Bowfell is one of the Lake District’s highest and greatest mountains. An ascent via the Climbers’ Traverse is one of the most thrilling ways to any Lakeland summit for hikers, taking you to the impressive Great Slab and rewarding with magnificent views towards the Scafells. This route continues to Esk…
- Expert07:2111.0 mi1.5 mph3,400 ft3,400 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Mosedale is a beautiful side valley of Wasdale and is ringed by some of England’s highest and most impressive peaks. The valley’s skyline just begs to be hiked and this route has garnered a reputation as something of a classic. It’s a strenuous day out, taking in five Wainwrights, and should be saved…
- Expert03:365.46 mi1.5 mph2,025 ft2,025 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The Langdale Pikes are a familiar sight on the skyline from many places in the Southern Lake District.
They may not be as high as the nearby Scafells, or as Bowfell and Crinkle Crags on the opposite side of the valley, but what the Langdales lack in height they make up for with their breathlessly craggy…
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Collection Stats
- Tours14
- Distance109 mi
- Duration64:16 h
- Elevation30,150 ft
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