How to Spend 3 Days in the Lake District

With three days in the Lake District, a vast national park that covers much of England’s county of Cumbria, you can enjoy its crystal-clear lakes, craggy mountains, outdoor activities, stone-built villages, and literary heritage to the full. Here are a few ways to spend your 72 hours in this stunning region.

Day 1: Get an Overview

For a hassle-free introduction to the Lake District’s widely dispersed attractions, take a full- or half-day group or private overview tour. Choose a 10-lake foray into green valleys, high passes, and villages, seeing lakes such as Grasmere and Buttermere and highlights such as pretty Ambleside and Keswick. Prefer your three days planned out? Departing from Windermere, London, and Edinburgh, 3-day Lake District tours cover all the highlights. Alternatively, Beatrix Potter fans can choose a 3-day package focused on the life of the author and botanist, exploring Hill Top farmhouse, where she wrote books such asThe Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.

Day 2: Delve Deeper

Day two is prime for in-depth exploration. Perhaps fix on a particular area such as the sometimes-overlooked Western Lakes, riding the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway and visiting the reputedly haunted Muncaster Castle. Or, make tracks for the South Lakes to admire Lake Coniston and the craggy Langdale Valley. Hikers, meanwhile, might relish the chance to summit Scafell Pike—England’s highest peak. If you haven’t already explored Beatrix Potter’s legacy, take an afternoon tour her former home and other places she frequented, such as Esthwaite Water. Or, explore the William Wordsworth country of Grasmere, where the English poet spent much of his life. Peeking into Dove Cottage, where he lived with his sister, Dorothy, and visit his later home of Rydal House.  

Day 3: Day Trips and Pursuits

Spend your last day exploring outside the Lakes. In neighboring Yorkshire Dales National Park, wind through limestone valleys and emerald pastures and visit villages such as Wensleydale, famed for its cheese, and Bolton Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned. Alternatively, journey north to what was Roman Britain’s frontier—Hadrian’s Wall. Outdoor enthusiasts may prefer to climb a fell stream on a gill (stream) scramble or take a cruise on Ullswater, the region’s second-largest lake. This evening, enjoy dinner at one of the Lake District’s historical restaurants or inns, recalling your adventures over regional culinary delights.