Five Perfect Picnic Spots in the Lake District
16th April 2015
Discover five of the best picnic spots in the Lake District, each offering spectacular scenery and a memorable place to stop and unwind. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful spot just a short stroll from the car or a rewarding walk before lunch, every location is well worth the visit.
Please remember to pack up all your rubbish—including fruit peel—and bring it home with you. Never light BBQs directly on the ground or build open fires. We want to keep the beautiful landscapes beautiful.
Ullswater
This can be a short or a long walk depending on what sort of mood you’re in.
If you want to make a day of it, take the steamer from Glenridding all the way to Pooley Bridge and follow the lakeside footpath back to Howtown. It’s a fair old walk but stunning views the whole way.
If you’re not in the mood for a long hike then simply take the steamer to Howtown. Follow the lakeside path towards Glenridding and at the top of the steps turn right.
If someone else has nabbed the bench ahead of you then fear not – you have 2 options still open to you.
Option 1
Return along the footpath, keep going past the top of the steps and grab the second bench you see.
Option 2
If you’ve packed a picnic rug (or have a jacket handy), you can take a wander up Halin Fell and find yourself a nice little spot on the grass, just be sure to keep an eye on any boiled eggs or tomatoes lest they take flight and roll away down the hill.
Skelghyll Lane
A perfect picnic spot just behind a tree and with some of the best views in the Lake District.
Don’t let the “Skelghyll Lane” name fool you; these days it’s a rather lovely old farm track winding around the bottom of Wansfell and is also part of the old Roman Road which leads up and over High Street to Penrith.
This pretty little spot is a relatively gentle hike from Town End where you’ll find a couple of laybys for parking, or a slightly steeper hike from Ambleside. From either direction it’s only about a mile and for the views you get over Windermere it’s well worth the effort.
There are no benches here, so be sure to take a rug if you don’t like sitting on rocks or grass.
As it’s such a short walk from Ambleside, it makes for a perfect summer evening picnic. You can watch the sun begin to set over the fells and still be back in town within half an hour or so before it gets dark.
Fell Foot Park
If a hike and a picnic rug isn’t your idea of a picnic, then how about a National Trust park with picnic benches, toilets and a cafe? Fell Foot Park is on the most southerly point of Windermere and is owned by the National Trust. This is a wonderful lakeshore park with stunning mountain views, a boathouse cafe, watersports hire and a kids play area.
There’s a large pay & display car park, however, if you’re a National Trust member, it’s free.
Fell Foot is absolutely beautiful, therefore, it does get very busy during the summer months. There are toilets, plenty of places to sit and, if you visit during the day, some attractions for the kids, details are on their website. Fell Foot is also a popular place for taking a dip in the lake, though please remember this is still open water and boats and other aquatic traffic will be passing through.
Walna Scar Road Car Park
The car park is along a steep single-track road on the hills just to the south of Coniston. It’s free to park but can get busy with hikers.
Beyond the car park the broad track continues and there are many lovely open grassy spots where you can set up a decent picnic and enjoy views down over Coniston Water.
Because it’s higher up and rather exposed, it will generally be a little breezier here than in the picnic spots on the lake shore.
Raven Crag
This one is a bit of a steep walk.
Head to the northern end of Thirlmere and take the road across the dam. There you’ll find a small car park. Look up and you’ll see Raven Crag looming above you.
Follow the road away from the lake. You’ll soon find a signed footpath leading up into the forest, it rises steeply. When you reach the broad track at the top, double back on yourself up onto the crag and keep going until you see 1 of the best views in the Lake District for such a short walk. Despite its lofty status there is a broad, flat, grassy area protected from most of the wind and absolutely perfect for a picnic.
Accomodation
Looking for the perfect base to explore these beautiful picnic spots? Discover our collection of handpicked Lake District holiday cottages and start planning your next escape.