If you had one day in the Lake District, where would you spend it?

[CutShortHoliday]

We were supposed to be having a week in the lake district but unfortunately we have to cut it short due to a family emergency. If you had just one day to spend in the lakes, where would you go and why?

We want lovely scenery, nice walks and decent cafes. A bit of uphill is fine but no actual climbing.

All suggestions welcome!

Coniston. Mainly due to honeymoon memories but also a much later family holiday when we rented a boat and had lovely treats at the cafe.

Keswick. Derwentwater is beautiful.
You can walk around it. Or do something on the water. You can stop for food in keswick or on the way around the lake. Also lovely cafe in portinscale on the walk around.

Smaller scale: Coniston. I love the water there. Again water options for rowing etc or the launches. Smaller village feel. You can do shorter walks like up to the coppermines. Uphill a bit but not a full on climb. Cafe on the water or places in the village too.

Thank you. We are staying near Keswick and have had a day and a half to explore. It's lovely but hoping to have a charge to enjoy another of the lakes as well.

Will take a look at Coniston.

I once spent a day years back going around Sellafield. Very interesting, but surreal and not open publically any more.
However if you like industrial things I loved the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - nice scenery and lovely walk at the top.

https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/

I'd go to Ambleside, and get the boat across to Brockhole, get a nice lunch, and potter around the garden a bit. I'm far too lazy for walking.

If you're already in Keswick then you're in reach of Penrith / Ullswater (go on the steamer) and Glenridding, all of which are lovely. Coniston is nice but a long drive away. If you have younger children with you then Wray Castle is brilliant.

I’d focus on the northern lakes if I was based near Keswick - save the more southern Lakeland suggestions such as Conistone, Ambleside etc for another trip based that end.

Apart from Derwentwater itself, Buttermere isn’t too far and is very pretty. Depending how far you want to walk you can go all the way round it iirc.

Keswick is good for walks x

I would buy a day ticket for the hop-on, hop-off green open-top bus (Lakeland Connection?) that travel between Keswick and Kendal. I’d head straight for Grasmere to buy gingerbread, visit Dove Cottage, the home of William Wordsworth, seek out his grave in the church and have lunch in one of the many lovely cafes, plus a browse in the brilliant bookshop by the village green. The bus journey is amazing and passes right by the shores of Windermere. You could easily take in Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere in a day via the bus.

From Keswick there’s a lovely walk and cafe at Dodd wood. Or Grasmere is lovely for shops and pubs/cafes and walks. Depends how far you want to drive

I would park at the very end car park (left if you have the boating centre down on your right) and walk away from the lake, heading up to Monk Coniston and Tarn Hows. It’s a circular walk that brings you back down past the NT offices and you can continue into the town itself for refreshments. If you time it right you could even get the steam ferry back to the car park, or just walk along the lake most of the way.

Sat by the same stream I used to play in as a kid when I lived there.

I’d do a circuit of buttermere which is very pretty and drive back to Keswick, stopping off at Lingholm Kitchen for food and coffee.

coniston is a long way from Keswick.

Definitely a boat trip across Windermere.

Cake and fine wine.

Catbells is a lovely walk and very near Keswick or Buttermere.

Buttermere is lovely walk. Lunch at the trout when you get back. Not a long loop but a good walk.

Or Grasmere but then I like the walk along latrigg terrace to Rydal caves, stop at badger bar on the way back and come back through the woods. Gingerbread shopping a must from the real place. Accept no substitutes. Tweedys bar good for lunch.

From keswick if you already walked around derwentwater, why don't you walk to the Castlerigg stone circle? That's great. A bit uphill but worth it for views and seeing the circle.

I also like the old railway line path up to Threlkeld passing by the river greta. Some good spots to eat when you get there. You can hire bikes and do it that way too.

You could do the Bob Graham round in a day. Well you could, if you are a fell running world record holder. Just a touch of uphill required.😂

I'd get the bus from Keswick to Buttermere, no stress with parking and you get to enjoy the scenery on the drive there. Nice, easy walk around the lake and beautiful scenery.
You could get off the bus at Lodore on the way back and get the launch across Derwentwater back to Keswick for a bit of variety.

Borrowdale valley. Get a bus along Borrowdale Road, get off at Ashness Bridge, it’s a little walk up here to the bridge from where the bus drops you of. Just beyond that is Surprise View you overlooking Deewentwatwr. Carry on to Watendlath , a hamlet that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years and then over the top down to Rosthwaite. My favourite walk of all time

The bus leaves Keswick bus station and once you’ve had drinks in Rosthwaite, a bus then takes you back to Keswick.

The Lakes in summer can be busy - I’d go for one of the suggestions near where you are staying rather than risk spending part of your day in a traffic jam

If you are in Keswick I would go for Ullswater as it's nice and close. Get the steamer on the lake / have a walk round the banks, visit Aira Force and go to the fab bookshop in Pooley Bridge. You could also visit Lowther castle, which is fabulous but probably worthy of a day to itself.

I like Ullswater, do a boat trip and have lunch at Granny Dowbekins cafe by the river at Pooley Bridge and visit the falls ? Aria force. Agree with previous poster that Lowther castle and estate is lovely too with a great cafe.

Some great suggestions here - bookmarking!