The Lake District in four days

Where

The Lake District

Pace

Relaxed. Four bases close together, lake boats and short walks; no long drives.

Best season

Any season works for the lakes and the Wordsworth houses; check boat timetables and opening days before you travel, especially in winter.

Suits

Walkers, Couples, Literary travellers

• No step-free information for these 17 stops
• No stops marked family-friendly in our guides

Step-free and family flags come only from data we hold (OpenStreetMap contributors or the venue's own access page) and are not a full access check. Contact each venue before you go.

1. Day 1 · The Lake District

   Windermere and Bowness

   Overnight: Bowness-on-Windermere

   1. 1

      Windermere railway station

      Railway station · Windermere & Bowness

      

      End of the branch line from Oxenholme.

      Show on map Our guide to Windermere & Bowness
   2. 2

      Orrest Head

      Viewpoint · Windermere & Bowness

      

      The first fell Wainwright climbed, above Windermere village.

      Show on map Our guide to Windermere & Bowness
   3. 3

      Windermere Lake Cruises

      Boat trips · Windermere & Bowness

      

      Boats from Bowness piers.

      Show on map Our guide to Windermere & Bowness
   4. 4

      Windermere Jetty Museum

      Museum · Windermere & Bowness

      

      Boats and steam on the shore.

      Show on map Our guide to Windermere & Bowness

2. Day 2 · The Lake District

   Wordsworth country

   Overnight: Grasmere or Ambleside

   1. 5

      Rydal Mount

      Writer's house · Ambleside & Grasmere

      

      Wordsworth's home from 1813 to 1850.

      Show on map Our guide to Ambleside & Grasmere
   2. 6

      Dora's Field

      Garden · Ambleside & Grasmere

      

      Beside Rydal church; daffodils in spring.

      Show on map Our guide to Ambleside & Grasmere
   3. 7

      Rydal Water

      Lake · Ambleside & Grasmere

      

      A gentle lakeside walk.

      Show on map Our guide to Ambleside & Grasmere
   4. 8

      Dove Cottage

      Writer's house · Ambleside & Grasmere

      

      The Wordsworths' home from 1799 to 1808.

      Show on map Our guide to Ambleside & Grasmere
   5. 9

      St Oswald's Church

      Church · Ambleside & Grasmere

      

      Where the Wordsworths are buried.

      Show on map Our guide to Ambleside & Grasmere

3. Day 3 · The Lake District

   Keswick and Derwentwater

   Overnight: Keswick

   1. 10

      Castlerigg Stone Circle

      Stone circle · Keswick & Derwentwater

      

      On a hill east of Keswick.

      Show on map Our guide to Keswick & Derwentwater
   2. 11

      Keswick Launch

      Boat trips · Keswick & Derwentwater

      

      Cruises from the Lake Road landing stage.

      Show on map Our guide to Keswick & Derwentwater
   3. 12

      Friar's Crag

      Viewpoint · Keswick & Derwentwater

      

      Promontory over the lake.

      Show on map Our guide to Keswick & Derwentwater
   4. 13

      Keswick Museum

      Museum · Keswick & Derwentwater

      

      Local landscape and history.

      Show on map Our guide to Keswick & Derwentwater

4. Day 4 · The Lake District

   Ullswater

   Overnight: Keswick

   1. 14

      Aira Force

      Waterfall · Ullswater & Pooley Bridge

      

      A 21-metre waterfall with viewing bridges.

      Show on map Our guide to Ullswater & Pooley Bridge
   2. 15

      Ullswater 'Steamers'

      Boat trips · Ullswater & Pooley Bridge

      

      Boats from Glenridding.

      Show on map Our guide to Ullswater & Pooley Bridge
   3. 16

      Howtown

      Steamer stop · Ullswater & Pooley Bridge

      

      Steamer stop on the eastern shore.

      Show on map Our guide to Ullswater & Pooley Bridge
   4. 17

      Pooley Bridge

      Village · Ullswater & Pooley Bridge

      

      Village at the north-east end of the lake.

      Show on map Our guide to Ullswater & Pooley Bridge

Rail times vary by day and operator, so only times from an official page are shown. Opening hours, prices and tickets change: check each official site. This route is independent and unofficial.