Cumbria without a car
Trains reach Windermere on the branch line from Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle on the West Coast Main Line, and the coast on the Cumbrian Coast line. Buses link the main Lake District valleys, and the lake steamers on Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston and Derwentwater double as transport for walkers.
Each walk below says which bus or boat gets you to the start. Timetables are seasonal, so check Traveline or the operator before you go, and use the “Get there by bus or train” button on any walk for live times in Google Maps.
Walks you can reach by public transport
Aira Force waterfall loop
Easy, 1.5 km, 50 m up, about 30 minutes
A short woodland loop on National Trust land above Ullswater to the foot and top of Aira Force, one of the Lakes' best known waterfalls.
Alcock Tarn from Grasmere
Moderate, 5.4 km, 312 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A short, steep climb from Grasmere to a quiet fellside tarn, with one of the best views of the vale on the way down past Dove Cottage.
Arnside Knott and the shore from Arnside
Moderate, 9.9 km, 286 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
Arnside's best walk: along the Kent estuary shore to Far Arnside, then up to the toposcope on Arnside Knott for a view over Morecambe Bay.
Black Combe from Whicham church
Hard, 7.1 km, 559 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
The great sea-facing fell at the south-west corner of the Lake District, climbed on a clear bridleway from Whicham's church.
Blencathra via Sharp Edge from Scales
Mountain, 9.4 km, 840 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
The Lake District's sharpest ridge: up from Scales to Scales Tarn, along the knife edge of Sharp Edge to Blencathra's summit, and down Scales Fell.
Borrowdale valley loop: Seatoller, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite
Easy, 7.6 km, 199 m up, about 2 hours
A low-level ramble through the heart of Borrowdale: Johnny Wood, the River Derwent, Rosthwaite and the quiet side valley to Stonethwaite.
Bowfell from the Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band and Three Tarns
Hard, 13.1 km, 844 m up, about 4 hours
The classic Langdale round: up The Band to Three Tarns, a rocky climb to Bowfell's summit, then down by Ore Gap, Angle Tarn and Rossett Gill to Mickleden.
Brant Fell from Bowness
Easy, 5.6 km, 175 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A short loop from Bowness over Post Knott to the rocky top of Brant Fell, with one of the best views over Windermere, returning on the Dales Way.
Buttermere lake circuit
Easy, 8.8 km, 122 m up, about 2 hours
A level walk all the way round Buttermere, with a lakeshore tunnel, a beach at the head of the lake and the High Stile ridge towering above.
Carlisle riverside: Bitts Park, Rickerby Park and the Eden
Easy, 3.9 km, 6 m up, about 1 hour
A flat city loop from the castle side of Bitts Park, over the Eden into Rickerby Park and back by the Memorial Bridge and riverside paths.
Castle Crag from Grange
Moderate, 6.2 km, 279 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
The smallest Wainwright with the biggest personality: up through old slate workings to Castle Crag's summit memorial, then down past Millican Dalton's cave.
Castlerigg Stone Circle from Keswick
Easy, 6.3 km, 130 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
An easy walk from Keswick to Castlerigg, the stone circle ringed by fells, out along the old railway line and lanes and back through farmland.
Catbells from Gutherscale
Moderate, 7.1 km, 422 m up, about 2 hours
Keswick's favourite little fell: up the north ridge of Catbells to a rocky top over Derwentwater, down from Hause Gate and back along the terrace path.
Cautley Spout and The Calf from the Cross Keys
Hard, 10.4 km, 593 m up, about 3 hours
England's highest cascade above ground, climbed beside its falls, then a round of the Howgills' high tops by Cautley Crag and The Calf.
Dodd from Dodd Wood (Old Sawmill)
Moderate, 5.0 km, 382 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A steep woodland climb from the Old Sawmill to a summit with a view over Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and across the Solway to Scotland.
Dunmallard Hill from Pooley Bridge
Easy, 2.1 km, 111 m up, about 30 minutes
A short woodland loop from Pooley Bridge over the wooded knoll at the foot of Ullswater, with the remains of an Iron Age fort on top.
Easedale Tarn from Grasmere
Moderate, 8.6 km, 227 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's classic tarn walk: up beside the white cascades of Sourmilk Gill to a big mountain tarn, back by Far Easedale.
Elterwater to Skelwith Force
Easy, 5.4 km, 36 m up, about 1 hour
A level riverside walk from Elterwater village, past the lake and through meadows to the falls at Skelwith Force. No stiles.
Friar's Crag and the Derwentwater shore from Keswick
Easy, 3.2 km, 6 m up, about 30 minutes
Keswick's favourite short stroll: from Theatre by the Lake to the Friar's Crag viewpoint, then on along the shore and boardwalk. Mostly step-free.
Gelt Woods and Greenwell from Low Gelt Bridge
Moderate, 9.1 km, 204 m up, about 2 hours
Field paths over Watch Hill to Greenwell, then home through the wooded gorge of the River Gelt below the old Brampton quarries.
Great Gable from Honister via Moses' Trod
Hard, 9.7 km, 822 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
A big-mountain day from a high start: out along the old smugglers' track of Moses' Trod to Beck Head, up Great Gable, and home over Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts.
Hadrian's Wall: Birdoswald to Willowford and Gilsland
Easy, 5.1 km, 78 m up, about 1 hour
The best short stretch of Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria: from Birdoswald fort over the Irthing to Willowford's wall and bridge, and on to Poltross Burn milecastle.
Hampsfell Hospice from Grange-over-Sands
Moderate, 7.8 km, 362 m up, about 2 hours
Grange's own hill: through Eggerslack Wood to the 1846 Hospice on Hampsfell, with a rooftop view indicator and Morecambe Bay below.
Haystacks from Gatesgarth
Hard, 7.7 km, 529 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
A small fell with a big character: from Gatesgarth over Scarth Gap to the craggy top of Haystacks, past Innominate Tarn and down Warnscale.
Helm Crag from Grasmere
Moderate, 6.6 km, 326 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's own fell: a short, steep climb from Easedale to the rocky crest known as the Lion and the Lamb, with an exposed summit block for those who want it.
Helvellyn by the Pony Path from Glenridding
Hard, 20.4 km, 1132 m up, about 6 hours
Helvellyn without the scrambles: up the old pony path from Glenridding via Keppel Cove, along the summit ridge to Dollywaggon Pike and home down Grisedale.
Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge
Mountain, 13.3 km, 955 m up, about 4 hours 30 minutes
England's most famous ridge scramble: from Glenridding over the knife edge of Striding Edge to Helvellyn, then down Swirral Edge past Red Tarn.
High Street from Mardale Head via Rough Crag
Hard, 9.6 km, 632 m up, about 3 hours
High Street's finest side: up the long ridge of Rough Crag and Long Stile above Haweswater, then down by Mardale Ill Bell, Nan Bield Pass and Small Water.
Hoad Hill and the Sir John Barrow Monument from Ulverston
Moderate, 4.5 km, 109 m up, about 1 hour
Ulverston's landmark walk: up The Gill and over Flan Hill to the lighthouse-shaped Barrow Monument on the Hoad, with Morecambe Bay below.
Latrigg from Keswick
Moderate, 4.9 km, 292 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
Keswick's own small fell: up Spooney Green Lane and the zigzags to a grassy top with one of the finest views of Derwentwater in the Lakes.
Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike from Elterwater
Moderate, 11.6 km, 536 m up, about 3 hours
A small fell with a huge view: from Elterwater through old slate quarries to Lingmoor's ridge, over Side Pike above Blea Tarn, and back along Great Langdale.
Loughrigg Fell from Ambleside
Moderate, 10.2 km, 413 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
Ambleside's own fell: over the knobbly top of Loughrigg, along Loughrigg Terrace above Grasmere, past Rydal Cave and home by the River Rothay.
Loweswater and Holme Wood from Maggie's Bridge
Easy, 3.8 km, 5 m up, about 1 hour
A level, fully accessible walk along the quiet south shore of Loweswater into the oaks of Holme Wood. A Miles without Stiles route for all.
Muncaster Fell from Ravenglass to Irton Road
Moderate, 9.6 km, 303 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
A one-way walk from Ravenglass past the Roman bath house and over Muncaster Fell, returning on the Ravenglass and Eskdale steam railway.
Orrest Head from Windermere station
Easy, 2.5 km, 108 m up, about 30 minutes
A short climb straight from Windermere station through woodland to Orrest Head, a 360 degree viewpoint over Windermere and the central fells.
Place Fell from Patterdale
Moderate, 7.6 km, 542 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
The best viewpoint over Ullswater for the effort: up from Patterdale to Boredale Hause and Place Fell, then down by The Knight to the lakeshore path.
Ravenglass to the Roman bath house
Easy, 1.8 km, 5 m up, about 30 minutes
An easy, step-free walk from Ravenglass along Walls Drive to one of the tallest Roman buildings still standing in northern Britain.
Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag from Buttermere
Hard, 14.1 km, 839 m up, about 4 hours
One of Lakeland's great ridge walks: up past Bleaberry Tarn to Red Pike, along the crags to High Stile and High Crag, then down Gamlin End to Scarth Gap and the lake.
Rydal Water and Rydal Cave from Pelter Bridge
Easy, 6.8 km, 231 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A full circuit of Rydal Water: the old Coffin Route, the River Rothay to Grasmere, Loughrigg Terrace and the great slate cavern of Rydal Cave.
Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar from Kendal
Moderate, 10.3 km, 260 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
Kendal's doorstep classic: over Kendal Fell to the limestone edges of Cunswick Scar and Scout Scar, with the whole Lake District skyline from the Mushroom.
Silver How from Grasmere
Moderate, 5.8 km, 370 m up, about 2 hours
Grasmere's own little fell: a short circuit to a rocky summit with one of the finest views of the vale, the lake and the Langdale Pikes.
Stickle Tarn from the New Dungeon Ghyll
Moderate, 3.2 km, 379 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
The best short climb in Great Langdale: up the tumbling Stickle Ghyll from the New Dungeon Ghyll to Stickle Tarn under the cliffs of Pavey Ark.
The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside
Hard, 19.5 km, 1018 m up, about 5 hours 30 minutes
One of the great Lakeland rounds: from Ambleside up Nab Scar and over eight tops around the Rydal valley, with Fairfield's summit at the head.
The Kentmere Horseshoe
Hard, 21.2 km, 1157 m up, about 6 hours
A long, classic round of nine Wainwrights from Kentmere: up the Garburn Road to Yoke and Ill Bell, over High Street, and home by Harter Fell and Shipman Knotts.
The Old Man of Coniston via the Coppermines and Walna Scar
Hard, 11.7 km, 772 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
Coniston's mountain by its most interesting line: up through the old copper and slate workings to Low Water and the summit, down by Goat's Water and Walna Scar.
Ullswater Way: Howtown to Glenridding
Moderate, 11.3 km, 317 m up, about 3 hours
A favourite low-level Lakes walk: steamer to Howtown, then home along the wild eastern shore of Ullswater to Glenridding.
Walla Crag from Keswick
Moderate, 10.6 km, 377 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
A half-day round from Keswick over Castlehead to the cliff-top of Walla Crag, down to Ashness Bridge and home along the Derwentwater shore.
Wansfell Pike and Troutbeck from Ambleside
Hard, 11.6 km, 602 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
Ambleside's own fell: past Stock Ghyll Force to Wansfell Pike, down Nanny Lane to Troutbeck, home through Skelghyll Woods and Jenkin Crag.