Lake District Walking Holidays

Lake District Walking Holidays

With its breathtaking glacial ribbon lakes, craggy hilltops and fascinating literary connections, the enchanting Lake District has a lot to offer. This storybook realm of rolling hills and natural, glistening waters cover around 1% of all the land area in Great Britain, which means there’s plenty of opportunities to explore off the beaten track on a Lake District walking holiday. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, the region’s enchanting waters and quaint English countryside have inspired some of the nation’s most famous authors, from Arthur Ransome and William Wordsworth to Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Beatrix Potter, who wrote the magical tales of Peter Rabbit. Aside from the lakes, this area is also home to more than 6,000 historical monuments and archaeological sites that date back to prehistoric times, from old roman roads to ancient stone circles and classic country estates.

With over 200 fell tops in the lakes district alone, this varying terrain makes the region a great place to explore on foot. So, why not join the locals in one of their favourite pastimes by tackling some of England’s tallest peaks, like Scafell Pike (978m) on our High Fells and Summits of the Lake District trip. Discover the Lake District’s best hiking trails, you’ll climb up Catbells and make the long-distance walk-up Skiddaw before making the beautiful ascent to Helvellyn, known as England’s greatest walk. You’ll end this Lake District walking holiday with an exhilarating hike to the summit plateau of Scafell Pike.

If you’re looking to explore the Lake District with literary eyes, our Literary Self-Guided Walking in the Lake District trip takes you to the Hammerscar Plantation before heading south along the Cumbria Way to complete the idyllic Coniston Circular Walk. Here, you’ll get to admire the serene Coniston Water, which served as the main inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s much-loved classic, Swallows and Amazons. With visits to the renowned National Trust's Beatrix Potter Gallery, the peaceful Grizedale Forest and the neo-gothic Wray Castle, you don’t have to be a wordsmith to find this Lake District walking holiday utterly charming.