3 Days in the Lake District: Everything You NEED To Do

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Looking to spend 3 days in the Lake District? You’re in the right place! Below I have listed the best things to do in the Lake District if you only have 3 days there.

The Lake District is known for being one of the most beautiful places in the UK, and spending 3 days there is just about enough time to experience the best of it.

Whether you want amazing scenery, a peaceful break or to push yourself out of your comfort zone and adventure, the Lake District has it all!

It doesn’t matter if you only have 3 days in the Lake District. Even one day in the Lake District is an amazing way to see some of the national park!

So if you only have 3 days, this is the perfect itinerary.

A mix of adventure, chill and epic scenery, this 3 day Lake District itinerary is ideal for any first-timer in the area.

So, let’s get started!

Backpacking or travelling for the first time? Or want to know where to find the best travel deals? Check out my travel resources for the inside scoop!

Visiting the Lake District? I’ve got a whole ton of epic Lake District content on my blog! Check it out:

• 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
• What to Pack for the Lake District: Ultimate First Timer Guide
• Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
• 10 EPIC Things to Do in Grasmere, Lake District (2022)
• Scafell Pike From Langdale: Everything You Need To Know (2022)
• Things To Do In Ambleside In The Rain: 10 EPIC Ideas!
• Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!

3 Days in the Lake District

This 3 day route in the Lake District will really depend on where you’re staying.

For example, if you’re staying in the north, you might want to change this itinerary around to suit you and your driving times.

For reference, northern areas of the Lake District include: Keswick, Derwentwater, Blencathra, Skiddaw, Thackthwaite, and Castlerigg.

Southern areas in the Lake District include: Ambleside, Windemere, Bowness-on-Windemere, Coniston, Grasmere.

NOTE: These itineraries are written to include the best of the Lake District. Of course, this is always going to be personal!

If you’re more of a hiker, swimmer, slow traveller or explorer, pick and choose your favourite bits to combine your own itinerary.

Ooh, and be sure to check the local Lake District events when you are planning your 3 day route.

There are always local events happening, from food markets, live music gigs to countryside fairs and competitions, so make sure you have a look!

Enjoy!

Day 1 in the Lake District: Summary

Starting point: Bowness-on-Windemere

End point: Ambleside

Day 1 includes:

• Bowness-on-Windemere: water sports on the lake, Orrest Head Walk
• Waterhead: sunset views
• Ambleside: traditional English pub dinner

🗺️ My world travel must-have: Whilst out during the day, I use a tote bag to hold my belongings like my camera, notebook, purse and Microfibre towel. It’s easier to pack away than a big beach bag, and can be neatly tucked away when you don’t need it!

Morning 1

Start your morning off at the eclectic Magic Roundabout cafe, one of the best places in the Lake District to eat breakfast.

Located right in the centre of Bowness-on-Windemere, you can park in town and even leave your car there for the rest of the morning whilst you check out the lake.

Bowness is situated right on Lake Windemere, so after breakfast, head outside to enjoy a morning on the lake.

Lake Windmere isn’t the best for wild swimming because of its size and the number of large boats, but it’s a great one to rent a paddleboard, small boat or kayak.

There are a ton of companies that do this, but one of the easiest to get to from town is Windemere Lake Cruises.

🗺️ My wild swimming must-have: If you’re wild swimming, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every lake trip!

Afternoon 1

If you’ve still got some energy in you after your morning of watersports, I recommend heading to Orrest Head.

Orrest Head has some of the best views of the Lake District and was one of the famous William Wordsworth’s favourite spots.

The hike to the summit only takes around 20 minutes, so if you can, I’d recommend strapping on your hiking boots and trying it.

Note that this circular walk does require some uphill walking, and will take a maximum of 1 hour 20 minutes to complete.

**Click here for starting point to Orrest Head**

Want an easier walk? Check out my epic 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views) here.

🗺️ My Lake District must-have:  I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!

Evening 1

If you’ve completed both the hike and water sports in the morning, you’ll want to take it a bit slower this evening.

Depending on whether it’s a clear day or not, you can head to Waterhead for an epic sunset over Lake Windemere. If it’s a warm day, take a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine and make an evening of it.

Alternatively, head into one of the best towns in the Lake District – Ambleside.

Ambleside is full of pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes, so you can pop into your favourite for a tasty meal and some real Lake District atmosphere.

Most pubs have live music, pub quizzes or some form of entertainment each night!

You can find out more about Ambleside here.

🗺️ My Lake District must-have: Solo travelling but still want to take photos?  📸 I’ve found the most perfect adjustable tripod that’s lightweight and easy to set up (you don’t want any awkward moments alone, I know how it feels!)

Day 2 in the Lake District: Summary

Starting point: Grasmere

End point: Coniston

Day 2 includes:

• Grasmere: Helm Crag hike, Dove Cottage, Gingerbread House
• Coniston: Wild swimming and sunset

Are you going on a Lake District road trip? Don’t forget to take a phone holder for your car. If you need to follow GPS to get around the lakes, you’ll need to prop your phone up somehow! We bought ours a few years ago and have used it on every road trip. Trust me – they never supply one!

Morning 2

Start off at a slow place, with breakfast in one of my favourite small villages in the Lake District, Grasmere.

Known for being the home of the famous poet, William Wordsworth, it’s a quaint English village with independent-run cafes, bookstores, coffee shops and quirky stores.

If you want an active morning, I recommend heading to Helm Crag first. This means you can avoid the midday heat, and enjoy incredible views of Helvellyn, Fairfield range and Grasmere Village from the summit!

Not into hiking? Head to Dove Cottage, William Wordsworth’s famous family home. You can pay a small fee to enter the home and museum and see exactly where Wordsworth wrote some of his famous words.

Plus, don’t forget to try some of the world-famous gingerbread, which dates back to the 1800s. You can check out the Gingerbread shop and opening times here.

I recommend purchasing a Dry Robe before visiting the Lakes, as it helps to keep you warm when entering and leaving the water. And you can easily get dressed and undressed in complete privacy, right in the middle of the beach! Mine is a lifesaver!

Afternoon 2

By this point, you might be desperate for a bit of wild swimming. The Lake District is one of the best places in the UK to wild swim, and it has some of the best lakes to choose from!

I highly recommend wild swimming in Coniston Water, mainly because of its calm waters and amazing views. It’s always pretty quiet too!

If you want more than a swim, visit the Coniston Boating Centre for paddleboards, rowing boats, motor boats, kayaks, canoes and even bikes.

🥗 Need lunch in Coniston? Check out Herdwicks Cafe. It’s a small family-run cafe, that sources all of its ingredients from a local farm.

Not only is the food incredible, but their kind and friendly atmosphere make all the difference! We go back to Herdwicks every time we visit the lakes!

Wild swimming and have valuable tech on you? Don’t forget to buy a waterproof phone case (so you can still take photos!) and a dry bag. You’ll never have to worry about damaging expensive tech again!

Evening 2

Finally, grab a pub dinner in the small town of Coniston.

The village itself is only small, so you can have a slow walk around before you relax and unwind for the day.

🍻 Where to eat in Coniston:

• Black Bull for cosy roaring fires and traditional pub settings
• Sara’s Indian if you fancy something spicier
• Our Plaice if you’re on a budget and are happy with fish and chips!

Need insect repellent for evenings in the Lake District? As well as using spray, we have midge repellent wristbands. They definitely help when travelling the UK and standing by still water on a summer evening!

Day 3 in the Lake District: Summary

Starting point: Ambleside

End point: Keswick

Day 2 includes:

• (Optional) Scafell Pike or Helvellyn hike
• Tarn Hows circular walk
• Lunch in Rydal or Ambleside
• Castlerigg Stone Circle
• Latrigg viewpoint
• Keswick town

🗺️ My hiking must-have: If you’re out on a long hike and run out of water, you can use a filter water bottle to drink any water you may find along the way. From puddle to lake water, it purifies in seconds so you can safely drink and stay hydrated! It’s a must-have for visiting the Lake District.

Morning 3

Start off your final day back in Ambleside. One of the easiest and prettiest walks, Tarn Hows, can be accessed easily by car from here, and it’s a great place to take a picnic and have a slow morning.

You can spend as long or as little as you’d like at Tarn Hows, and we spent a fair bit of time here exploring the different pathways and little nooks and crannies.

The circular route can be walked by anyone and is easy to complete.

Whilst visiting the Lake District, I’d highly recommend wearing hiking boots. It made the walks a lot easier and I was much more stable when scrambling, especially in my favourite Columbia walking boots!

Afternoon 3

Depending on how much you loved Ambleside, you can either stop off for lunch in one of the pubs, or continue on to Rydal.

If you want somewhere new, check out a 500 year old Rydal pub called The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar. You can eat lunch or dinner here, it’s dog friendly, and has two beer gardens for warmer weather.

After this, carry on to the Castlerigg Stone Circle, which is an epic stone formation for any history buffs.

🗺️ My Lake District must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.

Evening 3

On your final evening in the Lake District, I recommend heading to Latrigg for one of the best views in the entire National Park.

It’s a short drive from Castlerigg and a short 15-minute walk from the car park.

Either take some food up to the viewpoint to eat and enjoy on the mountainside, or head back down to Keswick town centre for your final meal.

Keswick is full of pubs, restaurants and bars, and like Ambleside, has a great atmosphere.

🍻 Where to eat in Keswick:

• The Dog & Gun or The George for cosy pub vibes
• Woodstone Pizza and Flamegrill for Italian food
• The Old Keswickian for traditional fish and chips

Check out my Keswick pub guide here.

Want to take photos or videos in the water? You need a GoPro! I use mine every time I wild swim in lakes or the ocean. It’s an incredible way to keep your memories forever!

Top tips for visiting the Lake District for the first time

• Hire a car. Public transport isn’t very reliable, and if you only have 3 days, you don’t want to be wasting time waiting around for buses.

• Don’t try and cram in too much! This is one of my best tips for visiting the Lake District. There is so much to do in the lakes, that it’s impossible to do it all at once. Pick a few things and take it slow – really soak it all in.

• Take hiking boots! This is key if you’re doing any long hikes. Not doing long or difficult hikes and want to know if you still need hiking boots? Check out my detailed post: 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)

• Expect rain! It rains a lot in the Lake District National Park and the surrounding areas (it is in the north of England) so make sure you’re prepared. Check out my rainy day Lake District activities here.

• Always carry a map. If you’re hiking summits like Scafell Pike of Helvellyn, it’s easy to get lost. You may turn the wrong way and end up at the complete wrong car park, 2 hours from where you started. Or even worse – become totally lost 1000m above sea level! Always, always carry a map. Your phone signal won’t work everywhere, and there are hardly any signposts!

• You can’t wild swim in every lake, so double-check before you jump in! This is for a number of reasons, most importantly to protect local wildlife or conservation. Be sure to check out my wild swimming in the Lake District guide here before you visit.

• The Lake District has a bit of its own lingo. For example, you’ll see the words ‘pike’ and ‘crag’ everywhere. Here’s what the local lingo means:

Pike: a rocky, pointed summit (like Scafell Pike)

Rigg: a ridge or edge

Fell: another word for a hill

Dale: a different word for valley

Tarn: a small (and usually cold) lake. They can be found all over the Lake District.

Is 3 days in the Lake District enough?

This depends on what you want to do in the Lake District. If you want to hike to all of the major summits like Scafell Pike and Helvellyn, then no, it’s not enough time.

But if you’re happy with experiencing some of the hikes, a wild swim in the lakes, the traditional English pubs and the atmosphere of the Lake District Park, then yes, 3 days is enough time to experience the best of the Lake District.

I’ve even written a post on how I think ONE day is a great amount of time in the Lake District.

It’s such a special place, that I think any amount of time you can spend there is better than nothing!

How can I spend 3 days in the Lake District?

Only have 3 days to spend in the Lake District? Do this:

• Rent a paddleboard, motor boat or kayak to explore Lake Windemere or Coniston Water
• Have a pint at a traditional English pub
• Go wild swimming
• Visit Dove Cottage, William Wordsworth’s family home
• Try the world’s best gingerbread in Grasmere
• Hike Scafell Pike, Helvellyn or Helm Crag
• Complete an easy, circular walk
• Watch the sunset at Waterhead
• Take in the views at Latrigg
• Hike Orrest Head for some of the best views in the national park
• Enjoy Ambleside or Keswick’s atmosphere
• Explore the small Lake District villages

Wild swimming and have valuable tech on you? Don’t forget to buy a waterproof phone case (so you can still take photos!) and a dry bag. You’ll never have to worry about damaging expensive tech again!

Getting around the Lake District

Without a doubt, driving is the best way to get around the Lake District.

The Lake District does have some public transport, but I wouldn’t rely on it.

I’ve seen other bloggers rave about how good it is, but from personal experience (and being from London), I don’t think the public transport in the Lake District is that great.

If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District and do a Lake District road trip. It’s easy to drive around (as long as you don’t mind narrow roads!) and it’s definitely the quickest.

Only having 3 days in the Lake District means you’re short on time, so don’t waste it on waiting for a bus!

If you’re new to driving in the Lake District, I’ve written some handy tips in my post; Lake District Road Trip: 3 EPIC Routes (2022).

A bit of an over-packer? I have the answer! I use these handy packing cubes for every trip, meaning I can pack nearly 2 times as much as I could without! They are so worth investing in!

When is the best time to visit the Lake District?

You can visit the Lake District 365 days a year. It truly is an ‘any kind of weather‘ place to visit in the UK.

However, if you want the cheapest prices, visit in the shoulder season (autumn and spring). This is when the Airbnbs and hotels are at their cheapest, and you still get some dry and sunny days!

During the winter months (November – February), the Lake District is known to get quite a bit of snow. If you’re visiting during the colder months, make sure you pack the necessary warm clothes (especially if you want to hike).

The summer months in the UK (June – August) are always the most expensive, and the busiest. I’ve visited the Lake District during this time, and although the weather has been amazing, you can expect to share your trip with a lot of other tourists!

Personally, I love the Lake District in September. You have the cooler yet sunny weather, without the big crowds. I love it so much that I’ve even written a guide, all about the best things to do in the Lake District in September.

🗺️ My Lake District must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

What can I do if it rains on my 3 day Lake District trip?

Let’s be honest, the likelihood of it raining whilst you’re visiting the Lake District is high.

The Lake District has more rainy days in a year than not, so it’s best to be prepared!

As well as bringing your waterproof jacket, umbrella and waterproof dry bag, have a few ideas up your sleeve for what you can do if it rains.

Need help? I’ve written an entire guide about what to do in the rain in the Lake District here.

Backpacking for the first time? Or want to know where to find the best travel deals? Check out my travel resources for the inside scoop!

Where to stay in the Lake District

Knowing where to stay in the Lake District can be overwhelming if you’re visiting for the first time, so I wrote an entire guide about the areas and neighbourhoods to choose from.

However, if you’re short on time, I recommend the following:

• For first-timers: Ambleside
• For groups of friends: Keswick
• For couples: Grasmere or Coniston
• For families or groups of friends: Bowness-on-Windemere

What do I need to pack for the Lake District?

As well as writing an ENTIRE guide on what to pack for the Lake District, I’ve created this quick list for all the extras you might need.

As well as packing your regular items for a trip, these are some of my essential items for the Lake District:

• A lightweight waterproof jacket
• Hiking boots (that won’t slip) – these are my favourites for any kind of weather
• An umbrella
• A waterproof day bag
• A waterproof phone case (which can also be used for wild swimming when it’s sunnier)
• A portable charger
• Lots of layers
• A GoPro for waterproof camera footage
• A waterproof backpack cover
• A chilly bottle to keep your water at a drinkable temperature
• A Dry Robe, as it helps to keep you warm when entering and leaving the water (even if it’s raining!)
• As well as using bug spray, we have midge repellent wristbands.

But as I said, if you want a more in-depth guide, check out my What to Pack for the Lake District: Ultimate First Timer Guide.

How to get to the Lake District

Here are some quick driving time references if you’re coming from different parts of the country to the Lake District.

• London to the Lake District: 4 hours 45 minutes
• Manchester to the Lake District: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Birmingham to the Lake District: 2 hours 30 mins

Or, if you’re travelling by train;

• Manchester to Windemere: 2.5 hours
• London to Oxenholme: 2.5-3.5 hours
• Glasgow to Oxenholme: 2 hours

Want cheaper travel? The cheapest way to travel the UK is by bus, but it can take a long time. If you only have 3 days in the Lake District, I’d recommend hiring a car.

Still want to take the bus? Check out Megabus and National Express for routes that travel to and near the Lake District.

3 Days in the Lake District: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it!

The best 3 days in the Lake District, and everything you need to know about travelling the Lake District for the first time.

If you haven’t already added the Lake District to your bucket list, make sure you do. It really is one of the most special places in the UK.

Heading to the Lake District and need to know a bit more? I have a whole catalogue on the Lake District on this blog (just because I love it so much), so make sure you check it out before you move on.

🥾 You can see all of my other Lake District posts here.

As always, if you have a question about the Lake District in September (or anything else travel or blogging-related) you can contact me over on Instagram or on my contact me page.

Happy travelling!

Jennie 😀 x

Up next:

• 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
• What to Pack for the Lake District: Ultimate First Timer Guide
• Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
• 10 EPIC Things to Do in Grasmere, Lake District (2022)
• Scafell Pike From Langdale: Everything You Need To Know (2022)
• Things To Do In Ambleside In The Rain: 10 EPIC Ideas!
• Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!

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