Lake District Advice

[PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears]

I'm planning a week in the Lake District in October half term, so the last week. We've got accommodation sorted and we'll be happy driving around to explore as we've got eight days.

So! What do we want to see? Kids are teens and early 20s.

We're not experienced hikers. We're comfortable with about five miles usually, but happy to stretch ourselves for a view and we'll have time. We won't want a long hike every day. Are there any amazing spots with a short walk?!

I fancy a canoe on the water but would love to go off (clinging to the shore line) for the day and not be restricted to one hour hire. I'm thinking of buying an inflatable kayak. What would we wear? Regular clothes? Gym gear type stuff? Should we wear life vests? (We're good swimmers, but accidents happen) Will it be too cold to spend long on the water in late October?

Any tips gratefully received. Thank you!

You will need life jackets and wetsuits. It’ll be cold. Really cold In October. You can probably hire most stuff quite easily. Are you north or south Lakes?

OK thanks. We're central in Ambleside and happy to drive around.

Catbells is a pretty easy hike and should only take a couple of hours. Fantastic views. Could grab lunch in Keswick or at Lodore Falls hotel.

I'd recommend the walk to Rydal cave, easy path, not too far. A couple of places to park for it.
There's plenty of easy family walks. Depends how far you want to drive? Some of the small Wainwright's might work well.

Honister is good fun, you can also hire all manner of boats, kayaks and canoes on Windermere and I’m sure you’ll be able to find somewhere which will do an afternoon hire. There’s a walk round Rydal and Grasmere which starts and ends at Grasmere village, absolutely beautiful and a not too tricky 5-6 miles with a cave to look at as well. Be prepared for it to be quite wet. Enjoy, it’s my favourite time of the year in Cumbria

Thank you all. Yes, I'm hoping it won't be too busy end Oct and some lovely autumn colours will make up for any (all the) wet days we have!

Happy to lots of driving. I'm sure they'll all be spectacular. I hope we get lots into eight days and thought I'd do some prep so we don't miss the best bits.

Following as I am planning Lake District!!

Ditto Catbells. Get the Derwentwater ferry from Keswick. Beautiful views and not arduous. Wainwright said it was fine for granny’s and toddlers alike.

Grannies…shocking greengrocer’s apostrophe. Apols.

Here right now! Just north of Ambleside. It's busy. Like, REAL busy. Any activities, paddle boards, cruise or self drive boats please please book in advance! Ok it restricts you to X time on Y day but even in Oct I'd say it's worth it!

Ok will do! Thanks!

Via Ferrata Extreme at Honister.

Visit Rydal Mount (Wordsworth's last house), then swim out to the islands in Rydal Water and claim them, and then warm up with a meal in the Badger Bar.

Allen Bank in Grasmere is lovely if it is too wet! Ullswater way is a good walk and you can stop off at Howtown or Glenridding for food and visit Aira Force. Borrow dale is beautiful, Newlands Valley for walks. Amazing little tea rooms there too.

(North Lakes will be less busy)

We’re going September with young adults.
Not fixed but itinerary includes longer and shorter walks. Round lake when weather prevents fells. Over higher fells weather permitting. Good footwear essential if going uphill. Waterproofs, jumpers, map, whistle also essential if going to stretch yourself.Easier walks include Catbells, up from Rossthwaite to Watendlath, round of Buttermere. Castle Cragg.
More here www.thelakedistrict.org/things-to-do/walks/

We will swim in lakes and tarns - no wetsuits but swim shoes.
We hire boards/kayaks for the week as house has lake frontage. Definitely crewsavers/lifejackets. We do costumes with rash vests but many do use wetsuits.

If you don’t sail, Nichol End offer lessons and the cafe does incredible scones.

Good days out when too yucky include Honister slate mine, the Spa at Lodore, apparently the puzzle place in Keswick is better than you imagine. Theatre can be good too.

Launch isn’t stopping everywhere at the moment.

Dilbertian Sounds good. Do you have a specific entry point and what is distance (roughly)?

Tarn Hows is fairly close by and is an easy walk round.
Grizedale forest has some sculptures and things like go ape and probably mountain biking.
Castle crag is a pretty short walk but v dramatic!

Tarn Hows - popular but go either early or later - incredibly pretty, especially in autumn and a really easy walk.

Circuit of Buttermere.

Circuit of Ennerdale - a bit longer, but should be quieter.

There is a lovely walk from the western end of Loweswater, from the Fangs Brow Road - you get views of Loweswater and Crummock in one direction, Criffel and the Scottish coast in another, and the Isle of Man (if it's a clear day, obviously!)

You can go sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking etc on Bassenthwaite - again probably a bit quieter than the central lakes.

Nice cafe at Portinscale (Lingholm), and you can walk round the west side of Derwentwater from there.

We are definitely not walkers and LOVED Buttermere. Scary drive over a pass to get there though!

Orrest Head is a easy, short walk, marvellous 360 views from the top on a fine day. Starts in Windermere near the signature Lakeland shop with cafe if you are a fan of their products.

I second Rydal Caves. Easy walk with some nice views and the cave is a good end point. Brant Fell if you enjoy bouldering. Also has great views.

I think Buttermere is one of the most beautiful walks in the lakes. If you park at thr bottom of thr pass at Gategarth Farm you can then walk to the village for lunch in a pub or cafe.
We also really enjoyed Easedale Tarn from Grasmere. It was about 5 miles and uphill at the end but amazing views and we did it with 5 and 6 year olds and they managed fine. I love Grasmere for some food afterwards x

Catbells
Loweswater
Tarn Hows
Buttermere

The slate mine tour at Honister was really good (absolutely freezing year round so wrap up). Via Ferrata if you're braver than us!

Whinlatter Forest is beautiful and has various walking and bike trails. You can hire bikes there.

For canoeing or swimming I'd definitely want a wetsuit that time of year. For hiking etc I tend to wear gym gear as it's lightweight, easy to move and quick drying.

Puzzling Place in Keswick is surprisingly good, as are the Pencil Museum and the Keswick Museum. Latrigg is an easy yomp up from Keswick, with lovely views from the top, but probably not worth a special trip. Though if you do two of the Keswick museum before lunch, followed by Latrigg, you will have earned your a Half A Cow Pie at the George afterwards.