I often say that step for step – a walk to Loughrigg Fell is one of the best Lake District walks there is! I say this because it’s a modest fell in height – and when walking to it on my favourite route – you get loads of different views around evety corner – of Grasmere, Loughrigg Tarn, Langdale, Rydal Water and Windermere itself. If I was going to recommend one Lake District walk to a new visitor to the Lakes – this would be it, and it’s really near Ambleside & Windermere! It’s around 5 miles and will take you 3-4 hours.

The Stock Ghyll Force waterfall walk from Ambleside offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, tranquility, and accessibility. Just a short stroll from Ambleside center, the path winds through enchanting woodland alongside a tumbling stream, leading to the impressive Stock Ghyll Force — a dramatic 70-foot waterfall cascading through a narrow gorge. The route is ideal for families or solo explorers looking for a quick & easy escape into nature without venturing too far. With photo-worthy views, the calming sound of rushing water, and an easy circular trail, it’s a rewarding experience that captures the essence of the Lakes in an hour or so.

I’ve put in this list a relatively short walk to Cathedral Quarry Caves as it offers something a little different for the Lake District and is a great one for kids too. It remains one of my most popular blog posts on this website. The walk starts at Little Langdale, about 15 mins drive from Ambleside. The caves at Cathedral Quarry are a small network of interlinked quarries above Little Langdale that where mined hundreds of years ago, and although now disused, they are maintained and kept open for free by the National Trust. The impressive main chamber inside Cathedral Quarry is indeed ‘Cathedral like’ and you can understand how the place gets its name. They are a brilliant little destination for a short walk and kids will also love exploring the caves.

Tarn Hows is a lovely and very accessible walk not too far from Lake Windemere and is classic Lake District territory. It’s a short drive from Windermere and if you want an easy low level walk – then this is the one to do.

Grasmere was the home of the famous Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who described it as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.” So as you can imagine- it is well worth a visit and Grasmere is very near Ambleside. Grasmere village itself is renowned for its picturesque beauty and literary heritage and worth an amble around. Visitors should though explore Grasmere ‘lake’ itself and the area around it and there are 2 really good walks you can do. A shorter walk around Grasmere, and a longer walk that takes in Rydal Water too via the ‘old coffin route’ – which is one of the best walks in the area.