Walks in the Lake District — The Ambleside Area

Fairfield to Great Rigg
Walkers enjoying the views from the Fairfield to Great Rigg Ridge

Ambleside is ideally situated at the north end of Lake Windermere and close to Rydal Water and Grasmere. It is also a fantastic gateway to the Langdale and Coniston fells, making it an ideal base for walkers wanting options across different parts of the Lake District. From the head of Langdale, even the Scafells can be reached via Bowfell or nearby mountain passes. In the immediate vicinity of Ambleside, there are plenty of superb easy walks, representing a great location for all types of walkers.

Interactive Map of Lake District Walks 🗺️

Ambleside Area Walking Routes

Walk Miles (km) Description
Loughrigg Tarn 1.7 mi (2.7 km) I think Loughrigg Tarn is in the best setting of all. See if you agree on this easy stroll.
Tarn Hows 2.6 mi (4.2 km) A family-friendly walk to the most visited tarn in the Lake District, created as a Victorian designed landscape.
Blelham Tarn, Windermere and Wray Castle 3.4 mi (5.4 km) A delightful Lake District walk suitable for all abilities with low fells, lakeside paths, and a fairytale castle.
Ambleside to Skelwith Bridge 3.4 mi (5.5 km) Loughrigg Fell and Loughrigg Tarn are just two of the highlights of this short walk.
Elterwater, Loughrigg Tarn, Skelwith Bridge and Elter Water 3.7 mi (6.0 km) A short Lakeland walk that visits two very different lakes.
Elterwater Waterfalls Walk 4.8 mi (7.7 km) Skelwith Force and Colwith Force star in this brilliant, spectacular walk.
Loughrigg Fell and Rydal Water 5.0 mi (8.0 km) A walk with much variety, beginning with one of Wainwright's fells before a peaceful lakeside finish.
Hawkshead to Lake Windermere 5.5 mi (8.9 km) A pleasant walk with breathtaking views over Windermere.
Elterwater, Skelwith Force, Colwith Force, Cathedral Cave and Slater Bridge 5.6 mi (9.0 km) A low-level walk featuring a lake, waterfalls, a cave, and a remarkable historic stone bridge.
Jack's Rake, Pavey Ark and Thunacar Knott 6.6 mi (10.6 km) A fantastic scramble is the absolute highlight of this popular Langdale walk.
Helvellyn, Lower Man and Browncove Crags 6.6 mi (10.6 km) A walk with a tough start leading to great views well worth looking forward to.
Steel Fell, Calf Crag, Gibson Knott and Helm Crag 6.9 mi (11.1 km) A popular walk with some brilliant moments along the high ridgeline.
The Langdale Pikes 8.2 mi (13.2 km) One of the Lake District's iconic walks with many outstanding moments.
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell & Esk Pike 9.2 mi (14.8 km) A classic high-level walk over Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and Esk Pike from Great Langdale.
Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Cold Pike & Pike of Blisco 9.2 mi (14.7 km) An adventure walk of much variety with precipitous paths, rock buttresses, scrambles, and wide-open uplands.
Holme Fell, Cathedral Cave, Black Fell and Tarn Hows 9.4 mi (15.1 km) A walk with lots of interest including two fells, quarries, a cave, and beautiful Tarn Hows.
Old Man of Coniston, Black Crag, Swirl How and Wetherlam 9.5 mi (15.3 km) The Old Man of Coniston is just one highlight of this thrilling exploration.
Raise, Helvellyn and Striding Edge 9.8 mi (15.8 km) Probably the most popular walk in the Lakes, but experienced via a unique route!
Tilberthwaite, Old Man of Coniston, Levers Hawse, Swirl How and Wetherlam 10.0 mi (16.0 km) A circuit of the Coniston Fells starting out from one of the prettiest and most remote Lakeland locations.
Fairfield, Great Rigg and Heron Pike 10.4 mi (16.7 km) Breathtaking views can be found on the high ridges of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
Yoke, Ill Bell, Frostwick, Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell, Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts 12.3 mi (19.8 km) A brilliant walk in the Far Eastern Fells with seven of Alfred Wainwright's fells encountered on the route.
Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell Pike and Scafell 14.0 mi (22.5 km) A challenging 14-mile walk from Langdale to the highest mountains in England.

Feedback and Suggestions

I am always pleased to receive feedback on the structure and content of the website. I also welcome suggestions on how I can improve the website, which may include new areas to cover, new walks, or route alterations to existing walks. To get in touch with feedback and suggestions, please contact me via my social media links. Thank you.

(Note: Walking without proper preparation can be dangerous. Information and downloads on this website are provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check the material and use accordingly. Postscript: My walk reports are not route guides and should not be treated as such. They are written as personal reflections of my walks.)

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