One day in The Lake District

If you only have one day in the Lake District what should you do? Where should you go? What should you see? How can you enjoy a Lake District experience in just one day?

The Lake District covers an extensive area, 2362 square kilometres in fact! It has some of the highest mountains in the UK and 16 of the largest lakes, not to mention a myriad of tarns and a beautiful coastline. There is an incredible amount to see and do, but it is possible experience some of the attractions of the Lake District on a day visit and to understand why people love this area.

I have offered below three one-day itineraries starting in Bowness-on-Windermere. One itinerary can be followed using public transport. One requires a car. The third itinerary is a suggestion for how to spend one day in the Lake District with children. The suggestions within the itineraries can be mixed and matched, of course.  Finally, there are a few ideas of places to eat and some traditional Lake District pubs to sample!

Why visit the Lake District?

The Lake District in Cumbria in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is also a National Park and a World Heritage Site. Since tourism became popular in the nineteenth century, visitors have flocked to the The Lake District for the magnificent, breathtaking beauty of the mountains and the lakes. Nowadays, some people come to walk the fells, some to cycle the trails and some to simply admire the views and explore the wonderful lakeland villages. The Lake District has been the inspiration for poets, writers and artists since time began.

 

Our starting point for one-day in the Lake District

Lake Windermere is England’s largest lake. It is approximately 11 miles long and 1.5 miles wide at its widest. Along its shores numerous villages and communities nestle. The largest and best known of these is Bowness-on-Windermere. This shall be the starting point for our one-day itineraries. Later you may wish to explore different parts of the Lake District such as Keswick or Coniston – but those are for different one day trips.

 

The Lake District – A One Day Itinerary: using public transport

This first itinerary assumes visitors arrive by train into Windermere station and that they will use public transport all day. This is very easy to do.

The train station is at the top of Windermere village and trains run frequently from Oxenholm in Kendal. Oxenholm is on the main train line so connects to all parts of the UK – London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow are all connected to this route without having to change.

Top Tip: A note for cyclists coming into Windermere station: it is possible to hire bikes here so if you prefer to explore by bicycle, this is very straightforward.

A walk up Orrest Head

This is a short, uphill walk along a clearly marked trail. The views from the top are amongst the finest in the Lake District, even on a hazy day. It takes approximately half an hour to reach the top. Flat shoes are required, but boots are not needed for this walk. Simply cross the main road from the railway station and you will see the sign for Orrest Head pointing up the hill.

It is possible to extend this walk by going down the back of the hill and making a loop, but if you want to complete the itinerary in one day, you will not have time to do this. Save for another day!

A trip on a Windermere Steamer

From Orrest Head, return to the railway station and catch an open-top bus to Bowness Pier. Purchase a ticket for the Red Route combined with the Boat Cruise. You will use this ticket for all your bus and boat journeys through the day. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or ahead of time by downloading the Stagecoach app. Details for the bus and steamer tickets and timetables are available online.

Once in Bowness, catch the next available steamer to Ambleside. This is the Red Cruise and again details about Windermere Lake Cruises can be found online. The views from the lake, especially on a clear day, are fabulous. Some of the steamers are vintage and very characterful! The trip to Ambleside takes approximately 30 minutes.

Amble around Ambleside

Ambleside is a beautiful Lake District village with plenty of small cafes and outdoor equipment shops. It is a 15 minute walk from Waterhead where the steamer docks to the centre of the village.  Don’t miss the picturesque and historic Bridge House! There are lots of places to eat in Ambleside if you are hungry, or you may wish to wait until Grasmere.

Visit Rydal Mount, home of William Wordsworth

Hop on the Red Route bus from the centre of Ambleside and continue out towards Grasmere. Leave the bus at the church in Rydal and head up to Rydal Mount. Many people only think of Dove Cottage, a little further down the road in Grasmere, as being the home of William Wordsworth, but actually, he spent many more years in Rydal Mount than he did in Dove Cottage. It is a beautiful old house and definitely worth looking around. St Mary’s Church is close by and is also very pretty. Wordsworth was church warden there in 1833. Adjacent to the church is Dora’s Field, purchased by Wordsworth and named for his daughter. The field is very beautiful in spring with the hundreds of daffodils planted by Wordsworth and his family. After the daffodils come the bluebells!

There is a trail above Rydal Mount along which people used to take their dead from Rydal to the church in Grasmere. It is called, aptly, the Coffin Route. One is not likely to encounter coffin-carrying walkers these days, but it is a wonderful walk with great views. You can read about it in my article Three Easy Walks in the Lake District. 

If you wish to carry on with this main itinerary for one day in the Lake District, however, you may wish to save this walk for another day.

Explore Grasmere and sample the gingerbread

From Rydal Mount, hop back on the bus and head to Grasmere. Don’t miss Rydal Water as you drive along this road. It is very scenic and there are some lovely, low-level walks here. Leave the bus at Grasmere. Grasmere is a very picturesque village with lot of galleries and interesting shops to see. There are also plenty of places to grab a bit of lunch! Wordsworth’s grave is in the church yard here. Grasmere is also famous for its gingerbread. You will see the tiny shop as you wander around. It is definitely worth sampling!

Dove Cottage, Wordsworth’s other home and the associated museum, are also in Grasmere. It was here that poet William Taylor Coleridge came to stay with Wordsworth and where he wrote some of his most famous verse. Dove Cottage would definitely be an option if you are a Wordsworth fan.

 

Wander around Bowness-on-Windermere

When you have finished exploring Grasmere, catch the bus back to Bowness. Leave the bus at the church in the village and take time to have a look around. St Martin’s Church is the centre of the village and there are some lovely little streets round about. Can you find the grave of Rasselas Belfield in the churchyard? Rasselas, “a native of Abyssinia”, was a slave brought to this country to work in one of the local houses.  As soon as he landed on British soil, however, he was technically a free man. When he died he was buried here.

Finally, take a walk along the Glebe and round to Cockshott Point. This is a gentle stroll but with lovely views over this part of the lake.

Evening

Perhaps you are heading back up the the train station now for the journey home, but if you are staying for the evening, you may wish to check out some of the dining options below. In summer there is also the option of an evening cruise on the lake.

The Lake District one day itinerary: with a car

Arrive Bowness-on Windermere

Parking is limited in Bowness, but you will find a carpark close to the ferry. The ferry is clearly signposted as you come into Bowness so this should be your starting point.

Let’s start the day with a walk along Cockshott Point from the Ferry to The Glebe and the centre of Bowness. This easy path goes along the lake shore where numerous sailing boats are moored. When the weather is good, this is a delightful morning stroll and there are beautiful views over the lake. This walk takes approximately 15 minutes.

Alternatively, there is a car park further along the main road towards the village at Braithwaite Fold. It is walking distance to the village, but in the summer months it is possible to catch the “Noddy Train” from the car park into the village.

A trip on a Windermere steamer

The next item on our itinerary is to board one of the steamers at the Bowness jetties. The steamers run up and down the lake frequently and this is an opportunity to admire the fells from the water. We suggest taking the “Red Cruise” from Bowness to Ambleside. Hopefully the weather is clear and there will be fabulous views over to the Langdales.

A walk around the village of Ambleside

Ambleside is a very pretty, traditional village and most visitors enjoy wandering around, perhaps taking coffee at one of the many coffee shops. It is a fifteen minute walk from the steamer jetty at Waterhead into the centre of Ambleside, but there are also places for refreshments close to where the steamers dock.

After exploring Ambleside, take the steamer back to Bowness, collect your car and head to the ferry. (If you prefer, you can just take the steamer one way and catch the open top bus back to Bowness.)

Take the car ferry over the lake to Sawrey for lunch

The ferry ride is only about 10 minutes and it runs back and forth all day, about 3 return trips an hour. It is worth noting, however, that there may be a wait for the ferry at busy times in the summer months.

My suggestion is then to have lunch in the Cuckoo Brow pub. It is a very traditional pub and they serve excellent, locally sourced food (and lake district ales for those not designated drivers!). If the weather is good, sit outside, but make sure you pop into the pub itself to see what a traditional lake district hostelry looks like. If it is cold, you will want a seat by the logburner!

Visit Beatrix Potter’s House in Sawrey

Beatrix Potter, author of The Tales of Benjamin Bunny, Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck…., lived here at Hill Top in Sawrey. Her house and garden were the inspiration for the stories which have entertained children for generations. Touring her house is like stepping back in time. The garden is free to explore but there is a fee for the house.

After touring the house and garden, catch the ferry back to Bowness.

And now there are options: 

Either

Visit Blackwell House

Blackwell House is a beautiful Grade 1 listed building about a mile and a half up the hill from the ferry and there is plenty of parking. The views from the grounds across the lake are wonderful and the house itself, decorated by leading Arts and Crafts designers, is well worth exploring. The house has had a very interesting history over the years.

Or

Visit Windermere Jetty

Windermere Jetty is a relatively new museum which tells the story of boats and industry on the lake.  Windermere Jetty is about a mile from the jetties where the current day steamers operate and there is a large carpark there. This  museum is an interesting piece of architecture in its own right and serves as a beautiful gallery for the collection of boats on display. There is also a lovely cafe in the Jetty with wonderful views over the lake.

And in the evening….

After a busy day exploring you are perhaps now ready for the journey home, but if you are staying for the evening, you may wish to check out some of the dining options below. In summer there is also the option of an evening cruise on the lake.

One Day in the Lake District with Children

If you are spending a day in the Lake District with children, depending on their age and interests you may like to consider

Morning: Sail on the lake and ride in a steam train

Take lake cruise as above, but rather than going to Ambleside, go in the other direction to Lakeside. This is the “Yelllow Cruise”. When you disembark, walk across the car park to the small train station. The steam train runs to Haverthwaite just a few miles away and is very scenic. The young ones can let off some steam there in the woodland play area and there is a tea room for the adults! More information can be found at Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. 

Afternoon: take the boat (or the open top bus) to Brockhole

In the afternoon take the Red Lake Cruise or the open top bus (see details above) to the Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole. If you take the cruise option, note that only the smaller boats, not the big steamers, call at Brockhole. Brockhole is a huge park area on the shores of the lake operated by the Lake District National Park. There is a range of activities available here including kayaks to hire, an adventure playground, archery, mini golf and a tree top adventure course. Look out for special themed experiences, such as the Hallowe’en event! These are really popular and pre-booking is essential.

If you do visit Brockhole, look out for my son, Ben, who works there. Say hi!

You can, of course, swap the order of these activities.

 

Places to eat or enjoy a glass

There are lots of places to eat and drink in the area, from cafes and fast food outlets, to very up-market, Michelin starred restaurants. I shall, however, restrict my comments here to just a few that you might like to try in order to experience the flavour of the Lake District.

• A visit to the Lake District is not complete without calling in to a traditional Lakeland Pub! One of my favourites is The Brown Horse at Winster, a 6 or 7 minute drive from Bowness. It is a very traditional pub and they serve wonderful, locally sourced food.
• Another favourite is the Cuckoo Brow Inn across the lake in Sawrey. It is worth calling here for lunch if visiting Beatrix Potter’s House. Again, they serve great local food and a variety of local ales. If the weather is good, this is a great place to sit outside.
• If you visit Grassmere on your one day visit to the Lake District, the Jumble Room is a very quirky restaurant decorated with eclectic “jumble”! The food is imaginative and again, locally sourced.

 

One Day in the Lake District: what next?

The Lake District is not just about Bowness and Lake Windermere of course: it is a vast area and this article is just a sample, an introductory taster of what is here. Perhaps you would like to explore other areas such as Keswick or Coniston or Buttermere? Visit the Derwent Pencil Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle – or the wonderful Lakes Distillery? If so, check out my post One Day in Keswick. Perhaps you would like to walk the fells or be adventurous and climb Helvellyn or Sharp Edge on Blencathra? Or England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike? There are also some wonderful low level, accessible hikes in the Lake District and I have written about some of them in Easy walks in the Lake District.

Some of these activities can be undertaken in one day; others may take longer. However, there is so much to see and do in the Lake District, you will never be bored. Watch this space for other articles about how to enjoy the Lake District!

 

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