One thing that 2020 has taught us is jut how much natural beauty there is to be found in the UK
Maybe because most of our previous trips have been spent discovering new countries, but this year we've had to search a little closer to home for our adventures - and we've definitely discovered a new love for this little island as a result.
In September this year, we only had to drive for 4 hours before arriving in the absolutely beautiful part of England called the Lake District. And considering last year our autumn adventure was an eventful 50 hour drive up to Lofoten in Northern Norway, a few hours on the M6 was an absolute breeze. In no particular order, here's some of our favourite spots in the Lakes...
1. Striding Edge, Helvellyn
On the mountain of Helvellyn, Striding Edge is a rocky ridge that leads to the peak at 950m. It's a spectacular place, with steep drops on either side, and not for the faint hearted...
The path starts by leading through the valley and is a well defined uphill hike, all the way to a beautiful lake and the perfect spot for some coffee before exploring the higher areas. We definitely recommend getting a good guide book, or doing some research before you set off. If you're heading up to Striding Edge, there is some great information on the UK Scrambles website.
Extra Tip: If you hike up for the sunrise, you'll be rewarded by having the whole place to yourself! But make sure you have experience hiking in the dark, the mountains can be a dangerous place so make sure to be well prepared ⚡️
2. Ullswater
At the foot of Helvellyn (see above), Ullswater is the perfect lake to explore whilst resting your legs after a big day hiking up in the mountains. If you're not up for another walk, then you can take a steam boat ride across the lake to see it from a new angle. If you're feeling brave, there's plenty of places to jump in and join the other open-water swimmers who are making their way around the lake. We had a quick dip, but didn't manage to stay in the water for longer than a minute or two because it was so cold!
But there's no denying that the cold dip was refreshing, and a lot more fun than we expected...
3. Honister Pass
If you're looking for a scenic drive after hours on the M6, then there's no better choice than to wind your way through the mountains at a 25% degree gradient over Honister Pass. If you're heading towards Buttermere from Keswick, then this is a route that's not to be missed! At the top of the pass, you'll find Honister Slate Mine, the last working Slate mine in England. It's also a great spot to start the hike to Great Gable, or just to enjoy a coffee and watch cars struggling to make it to the top (including us)
Carving it's way between the mountains, the weather on Honister Pass can be a bit unpredictable, but luckily the views are still incredible whether it's sunny or it's pouring with rain...
4. Great Gable
If you're thinking of hiking up Scafell Pike but want to avoid the crowds, then we'd recommend heading up Great Gable instead! There's a few different routes to choose from, and although the summit of Great Gable is at 899 metres (80 metres shorter than Scafell Pike), it's just as rewarding and the views are incredible!
We started the hike from the Honister Slate Mine, which meant we had views towards Buttermere, Crummock Water, and Haystacks at the start, then over Kirk Fell, Wast Water, and towards Scafell Pike once we reached the summit. Rather than going back the same way, we then hiked over Great Gable's smaller sibling, Green Gable which led us back towards Honister Pass.
The other option would have been to start the hike from Wasdale Head, although this would have started at 82metres above sea-level, rather than 362metres from Honister Pass. We'd hiked up Helvellyn the day before, which is why we took the route with less climbing!
5. Buttermere
Once you've finished the scenic drive over Honister Pass, you'll find yourself on the shores of Buttermere. If you keep heading along the road, you'll find the little village of Buttermere (named after the lake), and a handful of small cafes serving hot cakes, sandwiches and of course, freshly brewed coffee. When the sun is shining, they'll be packed with cyclists in lycra enjoying a well earned rest, but when it's pouring with rain then Buttermere turns into a perfect spot to find a warm fire and dry off after a soggy hike.
Unsurprisingly, Buttermere is surrounded by hills, which means there are lots of options if you're looking for some walks. There's a leisurely stroll around the lake itself, or if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, then you can head up and discover Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike, famously known as some of Wainwright's favourite walks in the Lake District.
6. Wasdale Head Inn
This cute little hotel is situated in the tiny village of Wasdale, at the foot of Englands tallest mountain. It does not get better than this completely untouched little corner of the world, surrounded by peaks to spend your days exploring. And we honestly can't name a better place to come down for pint and the best post-walking grub you can imagine...
If you're planning on heading up Scafell Pike, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, or any of the other peaks nearby, then it's worth popping next door to the Barn Door Shop and picking up a guide book and a map. They also sell plenty of camping essentials, and just about every brand and size of socks you can imagine. Perfect if yours are still wet from the previous hike!
There's so much to do in this area, you could easily spend a few days exploring the fells and mountains. There's a small campsite for tents, (check out their website for more information) or if you're in a camper van, then there's a National Trust campsite just down the road too!
7. Kirk Fell
Kirk Fell is the closest peak to Wasdale Head, and although it's shorter than it's siblings (Scafell Pike and Great Gable), it still offers great views across Wast Water and the surrounding hills. There's a couple of different routes to the summit, but we stuck to the most direct (and steepest) route on the way up. It's pretty much a straight line from the Wasdale Inn to the summit, following a faint track that climbs through a herd of uninterested sheep. Closer to the summit, there's a couple of cairns to help you stay on track.
Once you're at the summit, you can see how Great Gable got its name as it looms over you, and in the distance you can tick off Scafell Pike, Green Gable, as well as Red Pike, Haystacks, and Illgill Head. Although it is literally (and figuratively) overlooked, by taller peaks and other hikers, Kirk Fell is not to be missed if you're looking for the best view of Wasdale.
8. Wast Water
If you've just come down from Scafell Pike and you're staying in the area, then we can't recommend an afternoon on the shores of Wast Water enough. There’s no denying this was our favourite lake in the whole of the Lake District National Park, at the foot of Englands tallest mountain, with dramatic cliffs in every direction, Wast Water is a lake that just begs to be explored.
Although it is the deepest lake in England, don't let that put you off going for a swim. Because of it's depth and how clear the water is, it's really popular with scuba divers, so watch out for them if you're going for a dip! If you've brought a canoe or kayak with you, then this is also a perfect opportunity to go for a paddle, with some of the best views in the Lake District in every direction.
If you want to see what we got up to during our trip to the Lake District, then check out our short video below! 👇
Have you visited any of these places?
Or are there any spots that you think we should know about?
Let us know in the comments below...
November 15, 2020
I have recently started a blog, the info you offer on this site has helped me tremendously with my trip to the Lake District. Thank you for all of your time & work.
November 16, 2020
Thank you so much! We’re so glad to hear that 🙂