You’re bound to be keen to see some of the best Lake District views when you visit the National Park and World Heritage site.
So where are the best viewpoints in the Lake District? There are a lot to choose from with so many scenic summits and fells, picturesque lakeside villages, coves and inlets and a host of walking trails made famous by Alfred Wainwright.
Wainwright’s legendary first experience of spectacular Lake District views was the climb up to Orrest Head from Windermere. That’s a good start! How about the panoramic views from the Old Man of Coniston? Or scaling the heights of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike? Everyone has their own personal favourite Lake District view.
And if photography in the Lake District is your thing, you will no doubt be considering not only the best viewpoints, but also the time of day and the natural light. This is especially important for capturing those wonderful Lake District pictures at sunrise and sunset.
We asked a few of our team members to list their favourite Lake District views and explain why they mean so much to them. No surprise that some of the answers included the suggestions below as the best sunset spot in the Lake District, the best hike or most tranquil place to enjoy a scenic landscape view.
You might still need to put the hiking boots on as most of the best views in the Lake District are from at least halfway up one of our famous fells! But in many cases you don’t have to walk far. And the hikes we have selected here are to cater for all. So you can choose the one best suited to your own capabilities.
There are some amazingly beautiful views of Windermere from the shoreline to the heights up on the fells. Some of the best views in the Lake District are easily accessible from Windermere or Ambleside.
A hike up into the Langdale Pikes is a real gem, especially if you want to take in the classic summit view back down the Langdale Valley to Windermere. There are lots of different hikes and distances to do and it’s just a short drive from Low Wood Bay to the trailheads at The National Trust – The Langdales.
Gummer’s How, Windermere, is an easier, shorter hike and climb to be rewarded with another brilliant Lake District view. Located at the southern end of Windermere, you can start your hike from Fell Foot Park and the Windermere shoreline. That requires a bit more climbing, so another option is to park and start further up at the Gummer’s How car park.
Again just a short drive from Ambleside is the trailhead for the popular Loughrigg Fell hike. It offers some wonderful summit views overlooking Windermere, Grasmere and Rydal Water. You can start your hike from the White Moss car park, and perhaps the best route is the 5 mile anti-clockwise loop with a moderate ascent. The rewards along the way and at the top are plentiful. The Loughrigg Terrace views of Grasmere are superb, so too the southern side views of Windermere.
A little further afield from Windermere is the renowned hike up to Helvellyn. For the more adventurous, this can also include the hair-raising traverse along the infamous Striding Edge.
From Windermere or Ambleside, you can drive up the A591 to Thirlmere and the western flank of the mountain. Here there are hiking options to either take a longer circular route to the summit, down and round. Or you can just go up and down the same way.
Either way, on a clear day you will be rewarded at the summit with majestic Lake District views. Red Tarn and Striding Edge immediately below you and Ullswater and Thirlmere glistening in the distance. It’s a pretty special place to be at sunrise or sunset.
Photography in the Lake District is a major hobby for many of our visitors. They will seek out the best Lake District viewpoints and go the extra mile for that inspirational shot or moment.
Another favourite amongst the team is the views afforded on the drive up or down Kirkstone Pass. And you can capture some especially good Lake District landscape photographs from the ridge on Caudale Moor.
All in all, we can’t tell you which lake in the Lake District has the best views, or where is the best viewpoint in Windermere where Low Wood Bay is situated. What we can tell you is that whatever fell you choose to walk up, you will undoubtedly be in awe with what you see!
Both Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa and The Wild Boar Estate are perfectly placed for reaching some great fell walking routes and spectacular Lake District scenery. We've chosen a few of our of favourites to help you plan your route.
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