Hiking in the Lake District (3 Days)

Hiking in the Lake District (3 Days)

The Lake District is without a doubt one of my favourite parts of the UK and is the perfect place for a staycation.

With its stunning landscapes, long history, and an array of great country pubs. What’s not to like? Other than perhaps the unreliability of British weather, that’s just something you have to embrace!

The Lakes provide a great place for all ages to enjoy the outdoors. With countless trails ranging from easy walks through to more challenging scrambles. In this post, I will help you figure out the best way to enjoy three days of hiking in the Lake District!

When to visit the Lake District? 

The best weather in the UK for hiking in the Lake District is in the summer months of June through to August. However, nothing is stopping you from wrapping up warm and heading out in some of the cooler months. In recent years, British summer has often shifted forward with good weather hitting in April and May, but it’s tough to predict. 

I have been hiking in the Lake District in June and October, and enjoyed two very different (though similarly wet) stays! No chance of getting burnt, I got to photograph some really moody clouds and it meant that going into a cosy pub at the end of the day felt EVEN better having braved the cold. 

How many days to spend hiking in the Lake District?

There are so many things to see in the Lake District that you will never be able to do everything in one trip! If you’re looking for a taster of the area, I would suggest around 3 or 4 days would suffice. Ideal for a long weekend, but also not so long that your legs are exhausted by the end!

You can always return if you love it (and I’m sure you will)!

Top 3 Hikes in the Lake District

Scafell Pike

The most well-known hike in the Lake District and also the tallest mountain in England is Scafell Pike, standing at 978 meters tall. Whilst it may not be the most scenic or quiet path, it’s certainly a bucket-lister for anyone wanting to reach the top of England’s highest mountain.

From where you park your car at the bottom (Wasdale Head Car Park) it takes around 3 hours to reach the summit depending on your pace and number of stops. 

Along the way, you will find a gentle incline along a country path until you reach a stream. From there, you will climb some relentless steps which will start to taper off as you get nearer the peak.

Be particularly careful in the wet as they can become quite slippery!

Your final ascent has no distinct pathway, instead, there is just a rocky walk to the highest point in England!

The top doesn’t always host the clearest of views due to the clouds, but the sense of achievement is great, making it well worth the hike!

The best part of the hike has got to be the way back down! You get to appreciate all the amazing views you initially had your back turned to as you make your way down again towards Wast Water. 

Depending on how late you are still up the mountain, the sun sets in this direction so you can get some beautiful views!

However, be aware that if you get down to the bottom and want an evening meal, some of the pubs and eateries can get quite busy. So it is worth weighing up if you want to see the sunset or get a table!

Helvellyn (via Striding Edge)

There are several routes up to the top of Helvellyn, England’s third-highest peak standing at 950 meters. I opted for the most adventurous route – the one via Striding Edge. 

With steep drops down either side, this exposed ridge isn’t for the fainthearted. Unfortunately for me, this left my legs rather shaky! 

I’d recommend parking down in the town of Glenridding. After driving around for a short while we managed to find some free parking which was ideal! The ascent takes you up an initial steep slope which then evens off. From there you can see the beginning of the ridge. 

In the valley, to your right as you are ascending, is a small freshwater lake called Red Tarn. With the protection of the surrounding ridges, it looks beautifully calm.

What is great about Helvellyn is that there are multiple routes up and down (not all as tough and scramble-based as Striding Edge). To get back to the car, we looped back on ourselves via Swirral Edge. Once you rejoin the path you took up, it’s a long walk back down to the car!

Give yourself around 3 hours to the top and 3 hours, including breaks, to the bottom.

Catbells Walk

With the approximate time of this walk being roughly 3 hours in total, this walk is ideal for a bad weather day when you want to spend more time in a country pub or if your legs are feeling a bit tired.

When I went, both of these were the case!

There is a relatively steep incline towards the beginning of the walk, but it’s worth it for the views over Derwent Water! Beyond this, it is a very pleasant, meandering walk! I recommend ascending the steeper section as descending can be tricky, especially in wetter conditions. 

I would recommend completing an anticlockwise loop, heading up towards the summit.  Strolling along and then taking a downward path off to the left surrounded by ferns and back towards the car.

Bonus Hike in the Lake District

Tarn Hows

If you arrive early afternoon in the Lakes and want to make the most of your time there. Tarn Hows provides the perfect little warm-up for your trip. The circular walk around the tarn takes approximately an hour. This beautiful location is surrounded by grassy moors and tall trees.

Transport and Accommodation

Having a car is the best method of transport if you want to explore different areas of the National Park.

If you don’t have access to a car, there are a number of trains that you can catch into the area. From London, you can get the West Coast Mainline towards Oxenholme. From Manchester, you can head directly to Windermere. Once you have arrived, there are several local trains.

Accommodation is primarily hotels and Airbnbs, of which there are plenty within the Lake District National Park as well as a number on the outskirts in places such as Ulverstone or Kendal.

Lake Windermere is the largest lake and home to the largest and most developed town with plenty of dining facilities. However, you should choose a location depending on what matters the most to you. For example, I chose to stay nearer Coniston as there are lots of good walking trails in the area. Ambleside, Grasmere, and Keswick are also popular towns.

Final words on hiking in the Lake District

These three hikes together form a fun, well-rounded, and surprisingly exhausting trip to the lakes. A special mention also has to go to the Old Man Coniston hike which narrowly missed out on the top three.

Whatever hikes and activities you end up doing, please make sure to check the mountain forecast and prepare accordingly. Ensure you have plenty of water, suitable clothing and appropriate gear (that you how to use)!

Knee supports, deep heat and walking sticks are also pretty handy if you’re aging at double speed like me and need to protect your joints!

Before you go

Thank you for reading my guide on hiking in the Lake District. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy hiking!