Outdoor adventures in the English Lake District

The Lake District National Park features a landscape shaped by glacial activity, characterized by deep ribbon lakes like Windermere and Ullswater. This selection highlights the region's technical terrain, including the steep volcanic rock of Dow Crag and the historic climbing routes of Pillar Rock and Great Napes. For hikers, the list includes remote mountain bothies such as Warnscale Head and Great Lingy Hut, which provide basic shelter in the high fells of Cumbria.

John Holmes / CC BY-SA 2.0

Lake District National Park

The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region and national park in Cumbria, North West England.

Abbasi1111 / CC BY 3.0

Windermere

Windermere is a ribbon lake in Cumbria, England, and part of the Lake District.

George Gastin / CC BY-SA 3.0

Derwent Water

Derwentwater, or Derwent Water, is a lake in the Lake District in North West England, immediately south of Keswick.

Jenkinsp / Public domain

Ullswater

Ullswater is a glacial lake in Cumbria, England and part of the Lake District National Park.

Dow Crag

Dow Crag is a fell in the English Lake District near Coniston, Cumbria.

Great Lingy Hut

A small, corrugated iron mountain bothy located on the northern fells. It provides basic emergency shelter for hikers on the route between Carrock Fell and High Pike.

Dubs Hut

A stone-built mountain bothy situated at the top of Fleetwith Pike. Originally used by slate miners, it now serves as a basic shelter near the Honister Slate Mine.

Warnscale Head

A traditional stone bothy tucked into the crags overlooking Buttermere. Formerly a miner's cottage, it offers basic refuge with views across the valley.

Glenridding Activity Centre

A water sports facility on the shores of Ullswater offering boat hire, sailing lessons, and kayaking with access to the lake’s eastern reaches.

Pillar Rock

A prominent rock outcrop on the northern face of Pillar mountain. It is a historic site for English rock climbing, featuring numerous multi-pitch traditional routes.

Gable Crag

A large north-facing precipice on Great Gable known for its challenging traditional climbing routes and steep, technical rock faces.

Great Napes

A collection of crags on the southern slopes of Great Gable. It is home to Napes Needle, the pinnacle widely credited as the birthplace of British rock climbing.

Armboth Hall Summerhouse

A small stone structure on the western shore of Thirlmere. It stands as a remnant of the former Armboth Hall estate, which was largely submerged to create the reservoir.