There is no better way to explore the Lakes than on foot, especially when there’s a warm, country pub promised at the end of it. Whether you’re looking for a formidable hike or an easy afternoon walk, we’ve got the best Lake District pub walks for you to try! The routes are beautiful, climbing Wainwrights, and exploring the area. The pubs are quirky and filled with character, like most things here in the Lakes, and luckily, most of them are close to our highly rated holiday cottages dotted around the Lake District.
Ambleside – Loughrigg Fell – Rydal Cave Circular
10.6km – 4-5 hours – Circular
For our first walk, you start in Ambleside – from the bustling centre, or from the bus stop, or maybe, even, from the doorstep of one of our cosy cottages tucked away in the lovely town. You can do this trail either way around, but we recommend starting with the climb up to Loughrigg Fell to take in the breathtaking views and tick off a Wainwright from your list – from there you can take the descent down past the glittering water of Grasmere Lake, stop for a cool down at Rydal Cave and have a go at crossing the stepping stones.
Following on, you’ll walk through Rydal, where you’ll find your first pub, The Badger Bar, a quirky old building filled with history, log fires, good food, and great atmosphere, the perfect place to stop and refuel before you begin the last stretch of the walk. The final few miles are on pavement, and it’s a straightforward stroll from Rydal back into the centre of Ambleside, where the streets are lined with quaint restaurants and comfortable pubs, so if you find yourself still thirsty, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Elterwater – Skelwith Force – Colwith Force Circular
8.5km – 3-4 hours – Circular
You can start or end this one at the pub, or both, if you’d like, because The Britannia Inn is right in the middle of the village of Elterwater – where this walk starts. You’ll make your way out of the village on the footpath, following it along the Great Langdale Beck until you get to the iconic Skelwith Force, where you can stop and take in the natural beauty on the little bridge at the base of the falls – if conditions permit it! You can continue on from there, crossing the Trevor Woodburn Bridge and following the lovely woodland path around to Colwith Force, another powerful, stunning waterfall in the area.
The next pub you’ll reach is The Three Shires, a warm pub with original features and charm, tucked away in the countryside with a beer garden and an extensive menu. You can stop to rest your feet for a while before finishing the circuit back in the centre of Elterwater.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Ambleside – Wansfell Pike – Troutbeck Circular
12.4km – 4-5 hours – Circular
This is a bit of a longer one with some steeper inclines for the hikers amongst us. You can start in the centre of Ambleside and climb through the beautiful woodlands up to Wansfell Pike, where you will be able to look out over the breathtaking natural peaks and valleys of Ambleside. You could even carry on up to the top of Wansfell to tick off another Wainwright, though this will add some time on to your walk. The descent into Troutbeck is steady and rich with some of the most stunning views of our lovely area, and once you’re back on the road, the famous Mortal Man pub is only a few minutes away.
The Mortal Man is a well-known pub to locals and tourists alike because of its plentiful history. The pub was originally known by another name in 1689, but the Mortal Man was such a famous nickname that the pub was known by it throughout history until the name was officially changed sometime in the nineteenth century. William Wordsworth, himself, was said to have visited the warm, friendly public house many times during his life, living and creating in the Lakes.
After you’ve filled your stomachs with good food and warmed your souls with even better people, the walk back to Ambleside will take you through the rolling hills, past Windermere Lake, and through the lovely centre, where you can find a myriad of pubs and restaurants to rest and refuel in again.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Bowness-on-Windermere – Windermere – Queen Adelaide Hill Loop
7.3km – 1-2 hours – Circular
We’ll take it easy on this one. Can you think of any better way to relax on a warm afternoon in the Lakes than to walk the easy loop around the famous Queen Adelaide Hill? This route starts wherever you’d like in Bowness-on-Windermere, or maybe as soon as you step off the train at Windermere Station, or from the doorstep of a holiday cottage of ours – either way, it’s a gentle circle through both towns, along the famous shores of Windermere Lake, and around the base of the historic Queen Adelaide Hill.
To add a bit of time to your walk, you can walk the gentle ascent up to the top of Queen Adelaide Hill. From this point, you can see panoramic views of Windermere Lake and the slopes of the surrounding mountains; you may even catch sight of the local wildlife or a breathtaking sunset while taking a moment to take it all in at the peak. There are a variety of pubs dotting the weaving streets of both Windermere and Bowness, all with their own charm, like The Crafty Baa in Windermere, decorated in warm fairy lights and filled with bright colours, and the Lake View Garden Bar in Bowness, with its vast veranda that looks over the glittering water of Lake Windermere.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Kendal – Staveley – Bowness [The Dales Way trail]
18.2km – 5-6 hours – Point to point
I would be remiss if I didn’t add one of the most famous walks through the Lakes: the Dales Way is a long, multi-day walk from West Yorkshire to the Lake District, ending in Bowness-on-Windermere. It passes through the Yorkshire Dales and heads west up towards us, where the Lake District part of this trail starts, though it doesn’t officially start in Kendal.
Kendal, known as the Gateway to the Lakes, is a bustling centre of pubs and shops, and has many of our holiday cottages from which you can start the walk. You’ll walk through the winding streets of Kendal up to the small papermill village of Burneside, where the cosy, grey-bricked pub named The Jolly Angler will welcome you with warmth of good food and kind locals.
From Burneside, you can join the official Dales Way trail, meandering through the lush fields that follow the River Kent, passing in and out of Bowston and taking the marked path to Staveley, a sweet village tucked into the rolling hills, where you can stop for a refreshing drink and classic pub food at the local watering hole, The Eagle & Child. The trail continues on through the awe-inspiring landscape of green countryside and untouched woodlands, all the way into Bowness, where you will reach the end of the Dales Way. As a reward, you can finally rest your feet in one of the many highly rated pubs that line the popular streets of the centre.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Glenridding and Greenside Mine Circular
5.6km – 1-2 hours – Circular
This route will take you along a beautiful riverside trail in Glenridding, up a steady ascent to the old Greenside Mine and the gentle rushing of its waterfall. You can start this walk in the village of Glenridding, tucked away in the valley on Ullswater Lake, with its friendly hub of cafés, restaurants and of course, pubs. As you walk the trail, you’ll be surrounded by the formidable base of Sheffield Pike on one side and the waters of Glenridding Beck on the other. When you reach the bend in the loop of the walk, you’ll walk through the old miners’ buildings, and when looking up to the fells, you’ll see a waterfall splitting the hillside in half with rushing waters.
On your way back around to Glenridding, there is a slight climb as you pass Gillside Plantation, but following that, it’s a smooth descent down through the green fields, accompanied by the gentle flowing of Glenridding Beck on your other side this time. You’ll follow the path back through the village, and straight around to the local pub, Travellers Rest – aptly named, as you will be able to get off your feet and enjoy a refreshing drink as a reward.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Cartmel, Hampsfell Hospice and Heaning Wood Circular
9km – 2-3 hours – Circular
Cartmel is a beating heart of community; it’s known for yummy sticky toffee pudding, the fantastical races held throughout the year, and its wide variety of fine-dining eateries, welcoming pubs, and local shops. We have a couple of holiday properties tucked into the valley of Cartmel that you could begin this walk from; it’s a fair ascent up out of Cartmel through rolling fields. It will take you to Hampsfell Hospice, a small historic shelter built in 1846 for travellers over the fells – on the clearest days, you can see panoramic views of Lake District fells, the Yorkshire Dales and Morecambe Bay from the viewing platform on the roof of the building.
Continuing on, you’ll follow along the edge of the thick Eggerslack Woods and descend through Heaning Woods. Thick woodlands will guide you on your walk, and as you pass by way of them, you’ll likely catch sight of the flora and fauna of the Lakes. As you rejoin the road, it’s a gentle walk back into the village of Cartmel. When you reach the square again, you’ll be met with the welcome sight of the Cavendish Arms, one of the highly rated local pubs that serve brilliant food and reviving cold drinks.
View more information here | View nearby properties
Though charming, the weather here in the Lakes can be famously unpredictable, so please ensure you are appropriately dressed before you set out on any of these walks. You can find a great guide for walkers on the official Lake District website here —Walkers’ checklist – Lake District National Park . This will help you not only with what to wear but also with what to pack before you start your foray into the great outdoors.
Once you’ve donned your walking boots and packed your rucksack, you can quench your thirst for adventure and a good local ale with any of these trails. If any of these pub walks tickle your fancy, then you may also need a place to stay! We have warm cottages and pods up and down the Lake District; there is something for anyone, whether you are an eager solo traveller, a couple looking for their next escape, or a multigenerational family on holiday.
