The 10 Best Lakes in the Lake District

Windermere is probably the most popular of the lakes in the Lake District, and it’s certainly the most easily accessible, thanks to its train station. It’s also England’s largest natural lake. Windermere is a bustling little town that sees its population swell in summer as tourists flock to make the most of the weather and waterside lifestyle. You can try myriad water activities here from sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding to sedate cruises, rowing and wind-surfing. There’s plenty to do shoreside too, like lake-side yoga, visiting the Windermere Jetty Museum, or ever-popular Beatrix Potter World to get an insight into her charming stories. It’s also surrounded by lots of walks, from sculpted gardens to wild hillside hikes.

Nearby Windermere, Coniston Water's tree-lined banks are more sedate than its famous neighbour, frequented by anglers and interrupted only by the quaint, white-walled village of the same name. If you don’t fancy an afternoon’s fishing, head out on the National Trust steam yacht or hire a rowing boat, paddleboard, canoe, kayak or motor boat for the afternoon. If you make it all the way to Wild Cat Island, you’ll feel like the protagonist in your own novel, with a tiny isle all to yourself. Stay on dry land and hire a mountain bike to explore the surrounding hillsides or don your walking boots and trek to the Old Man of Coniston. Artist John Ruskin used to live here, and his house and gardens, as well as the small heritage museum, are worth a peek.

Further north from Coniston and Windermere, you’ll find petite lake Grasmere and its eponymous village. The quaint village is well-worth a look, with its characteristic grey-stoned houses, art galleries, and Wordsworth’s grave and daffodil garden. If you’re just passing through, you must stop at the one-and-only Grasmere gingerbread shop. This slightly spicy and delicious local delicacy is a must-try and there’s often a queue to sample it winding round the village. Visit the Wordsworth museum, hire a rowing boat and head out onto the glassy lake at Faeryland Grasmere, or nip into the Grasmere brewery to try a local beer or two. Nearby walks include Rydal Cave, Loughrigg Fell, the beautiful Grasmere Waterfall Walkways and Grey Crag. The best view of the picturesque water is from River Rothay foot bridge.

Standing on the banks of the second-longest lake in the Lake District, you’re treated to a spectacularly wild view of the mountains beyond. In the rugged north-east of the National Park, this lake is popular with hikers, since it offers direct access to the famous Helvellyn Peak. Besides the 950m–high mountain, you can also walk to the epic Aira Force Waterfall, Gowbarrow Fell, Place Fell or gentler Heughscar Hill. Avid walkers who’ve already scaled the big names like Helvellyn might prefer rugged St Sunday Crag or Fairfield Peak. Glenridding is a tiny and utterly picturesque village at the foot of the mountains. From here you can glide across the water on one of the Ulswater steamers or hire sailing boats, Canadian canoes, rafts and kayaks in summer.

Just outside of Keswick, which is a popular base for walkers in the area, Derwent Water is one of the most-frequented and best lakes in the Lake District. It has myriad activities to try, like sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddleboarding, and also runs a ferry from one end to the other. You can take boat trips around the little islands on the lake, watch outdoor theatre at the water’s edge in summer, and even book a bushcraft day. There are nearly endless opportunities for nearby walks but a few top hits are Lodore Falls, Walla Crag, Grisedale Pike and popular-yet-challenging Skiddaw. For an unusual walk that’s not too challenging, check out the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail, Castlerigg Stone Circle or Friars Crag (for a picturesque picnic bench with a view).

While you’re around Keswick, it would be remiss not to stop at Bassenthwaite lake and wetland nature reserve. For something the other lakes don’t offer, spend an afternoon at the Lake District Wildlife Park and Safari, meeting some magnificent creatures you wouldn’t usually run into in the Cumbrian hills. The Lakes Distillery also offers tours of its premises, where they distil gin, vodka and whisky – plus the grounds are home to pet-able alpacas. You’ll find hidden beaches and coves as you explore the lake’s shore, some of which are suitable for launching a kayak or paddleboard if you’ve procured a permit first. You could tackle Skiddaw or Grisedale Pike or head into the vast Whinlatter Forest, which is home to a Go Ape activity course.

Buttermere is often cited as the prettiest of the lakes in the Lake District. It’s best known for being crystal-clear and still, so the rapturous mountains that surround it are reflected perfectly double in the waters. This easily accessible lake makes for a peaceful afternoon, perhaps following the footpath that hugs the shoreline – peppered with picnic spots and secret coves for skimming stones and paddling. Or you could settle in and fish. It’s so peaceful because no motorised crafted are allowed on the lake, but you can bring a paddleboard or kayak to explore its glassy expanse. Nearby walks include Scale Force and Moss Force waterfalls, as well as Red Pike and High Style peaks for epic views of the lake.

Few people have heard Ennerdale Water and even fewer visit. It’s one of the quietest lakes in the Lake District but also a very beautiful one; perfect if you’re hunting for off-the-beaten-track tranquillity in this popular national park. It’s hugged by mountains, giving it a wild and abandoned feel and its southern shore is completely free from roads – just a winding path traverses the fern-covered shoreline. It’s a walker’s paradise, allowing access to trails up to epic Pillar Rock or Haystacks hiking area. Keen and experienced climbers will be dying to try out some of the many climbs that Pillar has to offer. Wild Ennerdale also offers activities such as mountain biking and canoeing, orienteering and horse riding.

Wastwater is England's deepest lake at 260 feet. There’s only the little village of Nether Wasdale and the smattering of houses that make up Wasdale Head nearby, giving it a remote and wild atmosphere. Here you can snap a shot of the Lake District’s most memorable and enchanting vista; a narrow valley, framed by Red Pike, Kirk Fell and Great Gable peak, as well as England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike. The lake is owned by the national trust and gets very popular with climbers and hikers on a fine day in summer. Besides stopping for one of the most breath-taking photos in Cumbria, you could ascend one of the famous peaks or the less challenging Ritson's Force waterfall, Yew Barrow or nearby Stanley Ghyll Waterfall. You could even book an alpaca trek at the foot of the peaks, hire mountain bikes, or go kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding.

Pack your walking boots – Loweswater is one of the best lakes in the Lake District to escape the tourist trail and find a truly peaceful corner of the national park. It’s quiet and wild, with undisturbed banks and plenty of great walks for dogs too. There are numerous paths around the lake and little winding tracks leading to the peaceful lake’s shore, where you could paddle, picnic and sunbathe virtually alone. You could also hike into the surrounding hills for a great view at Brackenthwaite Hows or take in Holme Force Waterfall. You’ll need a permit to fish or launch your kayak or boat here (motorised craft are not permitted), so it’s much quieter for rowing, paddling or SUPing than some of the other lakes. You can also get a permit to fish for brown trout here.