The Lake District
8 hand-picked long-distance trails
Lake District walks in this collection are for hikers who want more than a short viewpoint stroll: multi-day crossings, lakeshore loops, Cumbrian valley routes and demanding mountain days. The selection ranges from moderate long-distance paths through woodland, farmland and river valleys to strenuous point-to-point trails across northern England, with options for walkers planning anything from a single hard day to a 12–15 day journey.
Trails in this collection
The Dales Way
View trail →
United Kingdom, England · 129 km · 6-8 days · Moderate Ending at Bowness-on-Windermere, the Dales Way earns its place as a 129 km moderate point-to-point route linking riverside, valley, farmland, limestone, moorland and Lakeland Fringe terrain.
The Cumbria Way
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 112 km · 5 days · Moderate A natural centrepiece for this collection, the Cumbria Way crosses Cumbria on a 112 km, 5-day moderate point-to-point route with mountainous, forest and grassland terrain.
The Eden Way
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 129 km · 6 days · Moderate The Eden Way adds a Cumbrian valley option: a 129 km, 6-day moderate route through the Eden Valley, following river valley, lowland farmland, woodland and moorland terrain.
Windermere Way
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 72 km · 4 days · Moderate This 72 km moderate loop keeps the focus on Windermere over four days, combining forest, grassland and mountainous terrain without requiring a point-to-point itinerary.
Pennine Bridleway
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 330 km · 12-14 days · Moderate The Pennine Bridleway is the longest option here: a 330 km moderate National Trail from Derbyshire to Cumbria, crossing moorland, limestone plateau, wooded river valleys, reservoir hills and fell country.
The Wainwright Coast to Coast
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 306 km · 12-15 days · Strenuous It opens on the Cumbrian coast at St Bees and crosses the Lake District before the moors, so this strenuous 306 km, 12–15 day National Trail offers the Lakeland fells as the dramatic first act of a full northern England crossing.
The Old Man of Coniston Circuit
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 12 km · 1 days · Hard This hard 12 km loop is the compact mountain choice, starting and finishing in Coniston village and climbing the Old Man of Coniston at 803 m.
Hadrian's Wall Path
View trail → United Kingdom, England · 135 km · 6-7 days · Moderate Hadrian’s Wall Path broadens the Cumbria theme towards the Solway Firth, offering a 135 km moderate National Trail across northern England with grassland and urban terrain.
Lake District Walks: How to Choose a Long-Distance Route
Choosing the right Cumbria route
Start with the shape of the walk. A loop such as the Windermere Way or the Old Man of Coniston Circuit brings you back to where you began, which can simplify planning. Most of the longer routes here are point to point, so they suit walkers who are comfortable linking daily stages and finishing somewhere different from the start.
Distance and duration are the clearest filters. The shortest option is a 12 km one-day mountain loop, while the multi-day routes run from 72 km to 330 km. If you want a focused Lake District circuit, choose a shorter loop; if you want a broader Cumbrian or northern England journey, look at the routes measured in six days or more.
Difficulty matters, but terrain explains the difference. Moderate lake district walks can still include mountainous ground, moorland, woodland, grassland, riverside sections or farmland. The strenuous option is longer and more varied, while the hard one-day circuit is compact but mountainous. Match the label to the kind of ground you actually enjoy walking on, not just the total distance.
Fitness, terrain and logistics
For a first multi-day route in Cumbria, a moderate trail with valley, lakeshore, woodland or farmland terrain is a practical starting point. These routes still require consistent walking over several days, but they avoid the commitment of the longest National Trails in this list.
If you are drawn to wilder-feeling ground, look for moorland, fell country, limestone plateau or mountainous terrain. These descriptions signal a different walking experience from lowland farmland or riverside paths, even when the difficulty rating is the same.
Finally, decide whether the Lake District itself is the focus or whether you want the wider Cumbrian context. Some routes centre on Windermere, Coniston or Cumbria’s valleys; others connect Cumbria with coast, Roman frontier, Pennine country or northern England crossings. That distinction is the key to choosing lake district walks that fit your time, fitness and appetite for a bigger journey.