Hiking in the Lake District

The Lake District is well known for its fantastic walks, trails and mountains you can hike - even Scafell Pike, which stands at 978 metres tall.

With a start point at Glendenning, just 10 minutes’ drive from the hotel, Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England, can also be hiked in a day. Its landscape includes two deep glacial coves and the well-known spiky ridges, Striding Edge and Swirral Edge. There are various routes to check before you start, some more challenging than others, but Helvellyn has been hugely popular with walkers since the late 18^th century and is well worth the effort.

Little Mell Fell and Great Mell Fell, meanwhile, offering breathtaking views without the daunting challenge of tackling Helvellyn's rugged terrain. These gentler climbs provide a more accessible yet equally inspiring experience, perfect for adventurers seeking panoramic vistas and a sense of achievement without all of the exertion.

With so much to see, explore and experience, you’ll need to do some proper research and luckily, the Lake District National Park has its own extremely informative and helpful website which is packed with information. Whether you’re looking for a car park or a map of a lake, want some useful tips for choosing a walk, or simply need ideas for family day out, it’s incredibly handy for reference.

Whatever your plans but especially if you are hiking or climbing, it’s wise to check the weather, which is famously volatile in the Lake District and can change dramatically within the same day. The Lake District’s website offers an up-to-date forecast via its Weatherline.

If you’d like slightly less altitude in your activity, check out the Ullswater Way, a 22-mile walking route that circumnavigates the lake through its spectacular landscape. Although the ‘Way` can be done in a day, it is helpfully divided into four sections, each served by the famous Ullswater Steamers. Many prefer to walk the sections separately, beginning or ending the day with a cruise. You’ll find Steamer piers at Glenridding, Pooley Bridge, Howtown and Aira Force.

You might also enjoy the Ullswater Heritage Trail, which consists of 12 installations along the 4 main sections of the Ullswater Way. Each installation, created by a local artist, celebrates an aspect of the valley’s heritage and has been designed to sit in harmony with its natural surroundings.