The best walks in the Lake District: Beautiful lakeside hiking routes and where to stay
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Here are some of the best walks and hiking routes in one of the UK’s most popular holiday and hiking destinations, the Lake District. A 912-square-mile area of fells, lakes and market towns, the Lake District is one of the UK’s most popular destinations for a staycation.
![[Lake Windermere is visible on parts of the Ash Landing route]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/05/30/10/iStock-1343904773.jpg)
Britain’s largest National Park is home to England’s tallest peak and deepest lake (Scafell Pike and Wastwater respectively), and welcomes almost 16 million visitors per year, with tourists flocking to the area to take in some of the country’s best views and most beautiful settings. There are hikes for all abilities, with dramatic fells that offer breathtaking views after a heart-pounding climb, or lakeside paths with a pub at the end for a more peaceful meander.
![[This route starts and ends at Lake Buttermere]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/05/30/10/iStock-623272016.jpg)
Though the National Park authority offers free guided walking tours, chances are that visitors will want to take their own time to sample some of the area’s vast array of self-guided walks – and there are plenty to choose from. Looking for inspiration? Here’s our selection of some of the best walks in the Lake District.
![[Aira Force is one of the Lake District’s most popular attractions]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/05/30/10/iStock-524423013.jpg)
One of the Lake District’s most well-known lakes, Windermere is an enormously popular place to visit due to its myriad water-based activities and walking options. This route is one such walk: a seven-and-a-half mile hike along the less-developed western edge of the lake. Starting at Ash Landing, the walk heads north and finishes at Wray Castle, a mock gothic castle built in the 1800s.
![[A view from the top of Helvellyn]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/05/30/10/iStock-1460792966.jpg)
While the loop back to Ash Landing is optional, the walk will take you through Claife Woods and across several hills and steep inclines over the course of roughly four to five hours. Low Blind How and High Blind How are good places for picturesque views of Windermere, while Claife Heights itself also provides views of local rivers and rugged terrain.
![[Fleswick Bay is one of several hidden gems on the Whitehaven Coastal Walk]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/05/30/11/iStock-1087852732.jpg)
