The English Lake District Guidebook
Great places for dogs and children
This selection includes easily accessible places I’ve routinely and easily taken myself and my dog for good times swimming and walking.
This spot has great views and great swimming in Lake Windermere. Take a flask and some sandwiches and enjoy a couple of hours down there. Walk along the lake and choose a spot that suits! There are a few free car parking places and paid for parking at Rayrigg Meadow.
15 locals recommend
Miller Ground
This spot has great views and great swimming in Lake Windermere. Take a flask and some sandwiches and enjoy a couple of hours down there. Walk along the lake and choose a spot that suits! There are a few free car parking places and paid for parking at Rayrigg Meadow.
It’s easy to get to and the views are unbeatable. It’s where Alfred Wainwright became inspired prior to writing his guides.
29 locals recommend
Orrest Head Viewpoint
Glebe RoadIt’s easy to get to and the views are unbeatable. It’s where Alfred Wainwright became inspired prior to writing his guides.
A good place for dog walking. You could park near Castle Stores... with the Stores on the left, carry on driving and you will come to free parking on the left in less than a minute
59 locals recommend
Kendal Castle
SunnysideA good place for dog walking. You could park near Castle Stores... with the Stores on the left, carry on driving and you will come to free parking on the left in less than a minute
A great place with free parking... this is what you see from the living room window
41 locals recommend
Scout Scar Mushroom
Underbarrow RoadA great place with free parking... this is what you see from the living room window
Park up near Chesters-by-the-River and eat and shop. There is a takeaway option for coffee and cake! Then walk to Elterwater along the Cumbrian Way. The view opens out and it is simply beautiful. It's easy underfoot and flat (!) so you can just enjoy the views.
21 locals recommend
Elterwater
Park up near Chesters-by-the-River and eat and shop. There is a takeaway option for coffee and cake! Then walk to Elterwater along the Cumbrian Way. The view opens out and it is simply beautiful. It's easy underfoot and flat (!) so you can just enjoy the views.
Good for Tree Top adventures for children. Cafe onsite and other activities.
67 locals recommend
Brockhole on Windermere
Good for Tree Top adventures for children. Cafe onsite and other activities.
Places to eat and drink
These recommendations are organised by 'place'
Zefferelli's pizza and pasta, also a cinema
Fellini's Restaurant, also a cinema
Both places might have a deal for a meal and cinema deal
Ghandi's Cafe - good homemade food
The White Lion Inn pub is a nice location to sit outside and watch the world go by
Waterhead Inn - have a beer outside at the top of Lake Windermere
Royal Oak pub - quite traditional... in the heart of Ambleside
145 locals recommend
Ambleside
Zefferelli's pizza and pasta, also a cinema
Fellini's Restaurant, also a cinema
Both places might have a deal for a meal and cinema deal
Ghandi's Cafe - good homemade food
The White Lion Inn pub is a nice location to sit outside and watch the world go by
Waterhead Inn - have a beer outside at the top of Lake Windermere
Royal Oak pub - quite traditional... in the heart of Ambleside
Windermere
Homeground Coffee and Kitchen, Windermere
The Brewery Arts Centre for culture… and there is food too!! Meal deal maybe??
About Time Espresso Bar
The Factory Tap Bar - Ronnie and his team will see you right
Fell Bar
The New Union Pub - say Hi to Phil the Landlord from Julia - he's a bit eccentric in a very youthful way and has won awards for his brewing
Brew Brothers coffee bar
Farmhouse Kitchen - day time cafe
The Moon - a nice place for an evening meal
Garden Cafe - homemade plant-based food; Nicky and Brian cook great food...
Curry is very British and the best of the bunch is Jheels
Best for Fish and Chips is Fish Express on the High Street
Booths - a very British supermarket… there is a car park there…
126 locals recommend
Kendal
The Brewery Arts Centre for culture… and there is food too!! Meal deal maybe??
About Time Espresso Bar
The Factory Tap Bar - Ronnie and his team will see you right
Fell Bar
The New Union Pub - say Hi to Phil the Landlord from Julia - he's a bit eccentric in a very youthful way and has won awards for his brewing
Brew Brothers coffee bar
Farmhouse Kitchen - day time cafe
The Moon - a nice place for an evening meal
Garden Cafe - homemade plant-based food; Nicky and Brian cook great food...
Curry is very British and the best of the bunch is Jheels
Best for Fish and Chips is Fish Express on the High Street
Booths - a very British supermarket… there is a car park there…
Chesters by the River
There is a nice flat walk along the river to the Britannia pub in Elterwater from there too! Along the Cumbria Way walk.
Skelwith is pronounced SKELITH!
7 locals recommend
Skelwith Bridge
Chesters by the River
There is a nice flat walk along the river to the Britannia pub in Elterwater from there too! Along the Cumbria Way walk.
Skelwith is pronounced SKELITH!
Forest Side has a Michelin star… modern bright and lovely
Tweedies Bar pub is an enduring favourite
97 locals recommend
Grasmere
Forest Side has a Michelin star… modern bright and lovely
Tweedies Bar pub is an enduring favourite
Rydal
The Badger Bar is a nice place for a beer if you're walking around this area
Some great walks
There is so really good information online... just Google the places below, consult the maps on the dining room table and use Wainwrights Guides which are organised in areas...
Helvellyn - there are various ascents up this fell from differing directions. Striding Edge and Swirral Edge are only recommended for experienced people in good weather, you can also book a local mountain guide to help with a great day out.
39 locals recommend
Helvellyn
Helvellyn - there are various ascents up this fell from differing directions. Striding Edge and Swirral Edge are only recommended for experienced people in good weather, you can also book a local mountain guide to help with a great day out.
Park up opposite Tweedies Bar in Grasmere for an easy access point for this beautiful walk up to Easedale Tarn. You will see Sourmilk Ghyll falls. Great place for a dip and you could carry on up to the Seargent Man and cross over into the Langdale Valley.
10 locals recommend
Easedale Tarn
Park up opposite Tweedies Bar in Grasmere for an easy access point for this beautiful walk up to Easedale Tarn. You will see Sourmilk Ghyll falls. Great place for a dip and you could carry on up to the Seargent Man and cross over into the Langdale Valley.
You could park at the National Trust car park at Elterwater and ascend Lingmoor from there. It's a cracking walk with amazing views of the higher Langdale hills. Or drive to the National Trust car park near Blea Tarn and go up that way! Blea Tarn is a good swim spot.
Lingmoor Fell
You could park at the National Trust car park at Elterwater and ascend Lingmoor from there. It's a cracking walk with amazing views of the higher Langdale hills. Or drive to the National Trust car park near Blea Tarn and go up that way! Blea Tarn is a good swim spot.
A good access point for ascending the Langdale Pikes. There are various routes to access Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle and Pike O Stickle
Dungeon Ghyll
A good access point for ascending the Langdale Pikes. There are various routes to access Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle and Pike O Stickle
Crinkle Crags
Crinkle Crags - a ridge walk, a big day, memorable...
An easy walk up from a car park at Pelter Bridge at Rydal... a cool and tranquil space
25 locals recommend
Rydal Cave
An easy walk up from a car park at Pelter Bridge at Rydal... a cool and tranquil space
There is a circular walking route called The Coffin Route, from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere and back, taking in some beautiful scenery, and the wonderful bodies of water Rydal Water and Grasmere (lots of swimming spots). If you search the net for 'The Coffin Route' you will find map info and the history of this 'corpse road'. There are various places to eat and drink along the way... I'd head from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere, then maybe stop in Grasmere village for refreshments, before heading up the road and dropping down to the edge of Grasmere (small lake) and then up and over a little way to Rydal Water. I'd be swimming in both bodies of water. I'd have a food and drink in my bag so I could stop wherever I fancied and simply enjoy being. I used to live in Rydal and it is a wonderful beautiful place. William Wordsworth lived there and was inspired by the scenery. You can visit his home, Rydal Mount.
22 locals recommend
Rydal Water
There is a circular walking route called The Coffin Route, from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere and back, taking in some beautiful scenery, and the wonderful bodies of water Rydal Water and Grasmere (lots of swimming spots). If you search the net for 'The Coffin Route' you will find map info and the history of this 'corpse road'. There are various places to eat and drink along the way... I'd head from Ambleside to Rydal to Grasmere, then maybe stop in Grasmere village for refreshments, before heading up the road and dropping down to the edge of Grasmere (small lake) and then up and over a little way to Rydal Water. I'd be swimming in both bodies of water. I'd have a food and drink in my bag so I could stop wherever I fancied and simply enjoy being. I used to live in Rydal and it is a wonderful beautiful place. William Wordsworth lived there and was inspired by the scenery. You can visit his home, Rydal Mount.
Swim spots
A dip in Rydal is a wonderful thing... At any time of day. Park at Pelter Bridge or at Rydal or dip as part of a longer walk...
22 locals recommend
Rydal Water
A dip in Rydal is a wonderful thing... At any time of day. Park at Pelter Bridge or at Rydal or dip as part of a longer walk...
You could park at White Moss and walk to Grasmere along a flat footpath and through some woods. Take a picnic so you can stay as long as you want.
97 locals recommend
Grasmere
You could park at White Moss and walk to Grasmere along a flat footpath and through some woods. Take a picnic so you can stay as long as you want.
Search the net, find the spot, drive up in 20 minutes from Kendal, walk up the hill to get nice and warm, then jump in and enjoy. A local firm favourite!
9 locals recommend
Gurnal Dubs
Search the net, find the spot, drive up in 20 minutes from Kendal, walk up the hill to get nice and warm, then jump in and enjoy. A local firm favourite!
Buckstone Jum
Buckstone jumA fab place for a wild dip.