Green Travel Guide to the Lake District
Words by Florence Fortnam.
Artwork for Green Traveller's Guides by Tina Smith and Mark Edwards.
Foreword by Richard Leafe, Chief Executive, Lake District National Park Authority
The Lake District is world-renowned for its breath-taking scenery – mountains, lakes, moorland, coastline, a dazzling choice of unforgettable landscapes - captured by artists and writers for centuries.
The national park home to over 2225 miles of public footpaths, 18 lakes (including the largest and the deepest in England – Windermere and Wastwater), the five tallest mountains in England and no less than 13 Nature Reserves.
And there is more to complement those stunning views – luxury accommodation, award-winning dining experiences, a wealth of delicious local produce, inspiring cultural events and exciting adventures.
It is no surprise that roughly 16 million visitors explore the Lake District each year. Our diverse landscape of the national park happily welcomes and accommodates these visitors, but not without an impact.
Most visitors use their own cars to travel around the area, but thanks to a new GoLakes Travel programme funded by the Department for Transport there are many ways to explore the national park car-free. And every time you do, believe me, you’ll come across something new.
This Green Traveller Guide allows you to head off the beaten track and see more of our beautiful region in a sustainable manner; knowing you are helping to keep it one of the most stunning places in the UK.
What Green Traveller's writers discovered in the Lake District
With towering mountains, expansive lakes and wide open hillsides, food festivals, museums and mountain bike trails, the Lake District is a fantastic year-round destination. England’s largest National Park, the area is also home to both the largest and deepest lakes in the country – Lake Windemere and Lake Wastwater – as well as the five tallest mountains. Superb footpaths run across the region, ranging from gentle strolls to demanding hikes. Beautiful market towns such as Kendal, Keswick and Ambleside provide bases for those wishing to explore the dramatic scenery, offering a range of wonderful places to stay and traditional inns serving local food.
Stay, Eat, See & Do
Our pick of places across the Lake District
Google Map Key:
Click on the coloured icons for more information about each listing
Green = Places to stay; Blue = Places to eat; Yellow = Attractions; Purple = Activities
Click on the square brackets top right of map to reveal expanded map
-
The Lake District is England's biggest National Park, covering some 885 square miles
-
The Lake District is home to some 23 separate Conservation Areas, covering historic towns and villages
-
The National Park is also home to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England at 3,210ft
-
William Wordsworth is buried in St Oswald´s Churchyard in Grasmere, along with his wife and sister
-
The 14 main lakes in the region (including Windermere and Wastwater), cover 5,669 hectares in total
-
The only official lake is Bassenthwaite Lake, as all the others are 'meres' or 'waters'