Traveller Tale: A Taste of the Lake District on Foot

Five days of fells, lakes, gingerbread and poetry, as told by Tegan and her mum.

My mum and I set off to explore the Lake District together on the Taste of the Lake District walking holiday, part of the 'Taste of' collection. The region is famously popular with tourists, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the moment we laced up our boots and hit the trails, we discovered a side of the Lakes that felt wonderfully untouched: peaceful paths, breathtaking views, and villages that still feel like villages.

This corner of England has been shaping storytellers for centuries. Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey, the famous Lake Poets, all called it home, and walking through the same fells and valleys that inspired them, it's easy to see why.

Day 1: Arrive in Keswick

We arrived into Keswick with the afternoon free, so we opted for the walk out to Castlerigg Stone Circle. It turned out to be the perfect introduction, gentle enough after travelling, but rewarding enough in scenery and atmosphere that it didn't feel like a throwaway first day. If you land early, I'd genuinely recommend it.

Day 2: Derwentwater via Walla Crag

This was one of the scenic highlights of the whole trip for us. The climb up Walla Crag opens out onto proper fell views, the Newlands Valley, the high fells of Borrowdale, and Derwentwater glistening below, and the walk back down brings you past Ashness Bridge, which is every bit as photogenic as the postcards suggest.

That evening we were staying at Fellpack House, and I have to say it was the favourite of our whole trip. The team there were lovely, they even managed to get us one of the best tables at the restaurant for dinner. Breakfast the next morning, eaten in the lobby with the same chef from the restaurant cooking, might have been the best hotel breakfast either of us has ever had. Ten out of ten, no notes.

Day 3: Travel to Grasmere

Grasmere is a proper Wordsworth pilgrimage, home to Dove Cottage, where William and Dorothy Wordsworth lived for almost a decade. Even if you're not particularly drawn to literary history, it's a lovely little 17th century cottage and gives you a real sense of what life here looked like two centuries ago.

Grasmere itself is gorgeous too, small, lake-side, and home to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop, which makes its gingerbread daily from a secret recipe. We picked some up as a picnic treat and, honestly, as a souvenir, since it's hard to leave without a tin of it.

Day 4: Silver Howe and Easedale Tarn

A slightly more moderate day, climbing up to the summit of Silver How, 393m/1,290ft, one of Dorothy Wordsworth's own favourite viewpoints, before descending past the lovely Easedale Tarn. The Langdale Pikes sit on the horizon for most of the walk, which made for a spectacular backdrop.

We also stopped in at the café at Grasmere Gather on our way through, which I'd happily recommend to anyone, the food was excellent, and the little store attached to it was a lovely place to browse for locally made gifts.

Day 5: Grasmere to Ambleside

Our final walking day took us along the shores of Grasmere and Rydal Water, an easier, gentler walk that let us properly soak in the scenery after a few bigger days. We'd seen a "secret waterfall house" all over social media before the trip, and sure enough, tucked away in the garden at Rydal Hall, we found it. It's tricky to spot if you don't know it's there, so consider this your tip.

We finished the walk into Ambleside, at the northern end of Windermere, and celebrated with dinner at Zeffirellis, an independent cinema that runs a dinner-and-movie package alongside its vegan Italian restaurant. Neither of us is especially drawn to plant-based food normally, but the meal was genuinely excellent, a lovely way to mark the end of the trip. We also discovered, slightly to our amusement, that a few of Grasmere's cosiest-looking pubs are actually residents-only, worth knowing before you go hunting for a pint.

The Verdict

This is a short, easy-paced walking holiday, graded Introductory to Moderate, and it's a lovely one for anyone who wants to properly slow down and take in the Lake District rather than rush between highlights. The walking is genuinely achievable for most fitness levels, and the two-night stays in both Keswick and Grasmere meant we never felt like we were living out of a suitcase.

My mum and I left already talking about coming back to do some of the more challenging routes nearby. But for a first taste of the Lakes, this trip delivered exactly what it promises: beautiful walking, comfortable stays, and a genuine sense of the history and culture that makes this part of England so loved.

Ready to explore the Lake District yourself? View A Taste of the Lake District on Foot to find your next adventure.