Lake District Easter weekend tips

[Moirarosesgarden]

We are staying for Easter weekend in the northern lakes (near Ullswater/Derwentwater)

First time trip and I know it will be busy but we are early risers so hoping if we drive to any places we want to visit before 9ish we will get parking etc?!

Any tips for easy walks up that way? OH had knee issue so happy to stay on flat walks rather than hiking. Just the two of us and two dogs so no kids to keep entertained.

A v nice easy flat walk in that area is the old railway line walk between Threlkeld and Keswick
https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/mileswithoutstiles/mws37

We normally go in June outside of the school holidays, and parking in places like Ambleside can still be full by 9am on a weekday. Some car parks (the one at the old man of coniston) were full by 7:30am. I’d suggest getting to places earlier than 9.

It will be a bit more than busy I’m afraid - Easter weekend will be absolutely heaving! If you want guaranteed parking I’d say you need to aim to be at places before 8am, or ideally 7.30, especially if you get nice weather.

I live just outside the Lakes and purposely avoid it over Easter, it’s manic 🙈

Snacks and drinks in the car, water for dogs incase you are stuck in traffic. Easter weekend will be very, very busy.

Thanks all point taken it will be heaving ;) but sadly no choice over annual leave. We will get up early and be out the door by 7:30/8 and then enjoy the local pub in the afternoon!

If you stick to north and west lakes I really don’t find it as bad as people make out, it’s south and east that are far worse.
Yes Keswick will be busy, but there’s plenty of parking.
I live here, on NW coast and even in Aug can get in and out to NW areas no problem.

Pubs etc. will be rammed too - not to put you off but just so you’re prepared - especially with dogs as they can find it all quite overwhelming.

Depending on where exactly you're staying there are good bus links which also run on Easter Sunday. We've found we prefer to do that on busy weekends than take the car around but obviously depends on where you want to be

If you can get to Glenridding or Pooley Bridge (on bus route but Glenridding better for parking) you can get the Ullswater steamer which is great for a day out).

The walk around Derwent Water is one of my favourites and if you don't want to do the whole thing, you can get the launch for part of it.

My usual policy in the Lakes is to park the car on arrival and leave it there. The buses are surprisingly good.

I'd also second using buses - some are open topped and you get fabulous views. We were last there in August last year and whilst it was busy in some places, it really wasn't 'heaving' or 'rammed' anywhere.

Plenty of parking if you fancy a lovely trip to Loweswater! I have been there 3 times and never saw another person.

I guess everyone has a different interpretation of what “heaving” means - but I remember last summer driving to see my parents in Ambleside on the weekend - and it took me 40 minutes in the car to travel about a mile and a half as the roads were so busy.

I’d also say that Easter generally seems much busier than August - probably because people tend to go abroad or to the coast in the summer.

August is always quieter than Easter in my experience. I think people tend to go abroad in the summer but over Easter etc. they stick to England because of the weather.

Yes, Easter is a completely different experience to August in terms of the number of people.

https://www.keswick.org/what-to-do/walking-routes/derwentwaterwalk. Walk around the lake is lovely. There are boat stops along the way if you don’t want to do the whole walk. Plenty of parking in Keswick near the theatre especially at the time you are arriving. Lingholm estate is a nice stop on this walk with a cafe or portinscale

Hot tub afternoons it is then back at the lodge! 🤣

Sounds like a much better idea! Also if you’re wanting to book meals etc. I would do that now.

Easter is one of the busiest times but if you stick to the north Lakes and avoid Keswick then it won’t be too bad. There’s a nice flat walk that takes you from Pooley Bridge through fields up to Dalemain - stop off in the cafe and buy some Marmalade! You’d need to be early to park in Pooley Bridge though.

You are probably right - if the weather is good Easter seems to be the time when people like get out and about after the winter, making the most of the sunshine and a change of scene.

Spring is usually much nicer for walking, especially up hills, than in high summer IME.

May is the best time to go IMO

There are loads of quiet places to go in the Lakes, even over Easter and the May bank holidays. Most people are very unimaginative and stick to the main tourist hotspots (like most of the ones mentioned upthread) but if you get out of the main villages you'll be fine.
Why anyone would even try to go to Ambleside or Grasmere at peak times I have no idea.

Again, depending on where you're staying there's a bus that runs through Keswick and over to buttermere area. We've camped at buttermere at Easter and yes it's busy but it's definitely quieter than other areas and there are flat walks around buttermere. There are two pubs at the village that were good for food and right near the bus stop and there's cafe and ice cream shop too.

We spent Easter in Keswick last year with a dog. And it wasn't too bad. We walked round derwentwater with her and it was a lovely walk - ended up getting the launch back from Lodore Falls after having lunch in one of the hotels there.

We also did the railway line walk and there's a lovely cafe at the end and a bus back which took the dog too.

What we did find was that we either had to queue to eat in Keswick or book. There are lots of dog friendly places. But honestly that end of the lakes is nowhere near as bad as Ambleside or Windermere.

Binsey is a great hill walk (just.short of 2 miles)and absolutely fantastic views at the top, it's north of Bassenthwaite village, on the way towards Bothel. Parking is a layby opposite near Keswick Reach Caravan Park. Its.at the outer edge of the National Park so its often quiet there. At the.top, head to the right for amazing views.over Bassenthwaite. After your walk call into The Sun Inn at Bassenthwaite Village, extremely dog friendly for an amazing lunch.
Or
Carry on towards Caldbeck to the Oddfellows Inn for an amazing lunch, massive menu all cooked to order, dog friendly and Emma & James are really friendly. There's also Caldbeck moor, if you need to walk the meal off!!