A Guide to
Summer Fun in the Lake District
Cumbria’s Lake District comes to life in the summer months, offering a truly unforgettable experience in this stunning National Park. Whether you seek adventure, family fun, or peace and tranquillity, our region has something for everyone. Here, we guide you through our top recommendations for an amazing Lake District summer. Keep reading to discover more…
Wet and Wild Summer
Here in the Lake District, we have an incredible variety of water-based activities. Keswick Adventures provides bespoke paddle boarding experiences, teaching you the best standing and paddling techniques. They also offer kayaking and raft-building courses, with kayaks and paddleboards available for hire. Options for adrenaline junkies include white water tubing, ghyll scrambling, hydrospeeding, and canyoning.
For a more relaxing outing, try your hand at fishing at Rookin House near Ullswater. Their family-friendly fishing pond is perfect for beginners and children and is well-stocked with Rainbow Trout. If you’re lucky, you might even catch your supper!
A lake cruise is another special way to experience the beauty of the Lake District. Keswick Launch Company offers boat trips on Derwentwater with incredible views of the surrounding fells. Relax and enjoy scenic vistas of Skiddaw, England’s fourth highest mountain, Catbells, and the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale.’
Animal Encounters with Horses, Alpacas and Llamas
Reconnect with nature this summer and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Ullswater and Matterdale Valleys on horseback. Rookin House offers pony trekking along bridleways and quiet country lanes, through peaceful forests, and across open fells. Their trekking routes offer wonderful views of the surrounding landscape, with horse riding lessons and private rides also available.
For a unique experience, Alpacaly Ever After offers the opportunity to meet alpacas and participate in guided alpaca walks throughout the summer months. Locations include Lingholm Estate, Whinlatter Forest, and lakeside walks at their Northern Lakes ‘basecamp’. They also offer llama trekking adventures through Newlands Valley, between the summits of Catbells Fell and Maiden Moor.
Indoor and Outdoor Climbing Challenges
Feel the wind in your hair with invigorating climbing adventures. Lake District Adventuring offers exciting outdoor rock climbing experiences and mountain skills courses. For rainy days, Kong Adventure in Keswick has an indoor climbing wall with roped climbing and bouldering options, perfect for keeping kids entertained.
Alternatively, swing and zipline through the canopy at Go Ape in Whinlatter Forest, Britain’s only true mountain forest. Their Treetop Adventure is an epic high ropes course, 14 metres above the forest floor, aimed at younger children. It features intricate tree-to-tree crossings, wobbly bridges, and zooming zip wires. For intrepid explorers, their Treetop Adventure Plus is a higher, more challenging course, culminating in a thrilling zip wire ride.
Golfing for Enthusiasts or Just for Fun
The Lake District is a golfers’ paradise and there are plenty of world-class courses to choose from. Play a round at Windermere Golf Club’s scenic course, or test your skills at the Silloth-on-Solway coastal links course. Keswick Golf Course in Threkeld is also a brilliant spot to enjoy a great value game.
For all the family, you can’t go wrong with crazy golf. Hope Park between Keswick and Derwentwater has an 18-hole crazy golf course that gets more challenging the further round you go. Hope Park’s 9-hole pitch-and-putt course and 18-hole putting green are ideal for those seeking a little more competition.
Explore National Trust Properties
The Lake District is also home to many beautiful National Trust properties. Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House and Garden offers a fascinating glimpse into the inspiration behind many of her beloved stories. Explore Beatrix’s immaculately preserved Treasure Room or stroll around the lovingly restored gardens – an explosion of scent and colour in the summer months.
Allan Bank in Grasmere, once home to William Wordsworth and National Trust founder Hardwicke Rawnsley, is a quirky National Trust property, combining a small informal art gallery with a huge indoor mural space. On a hot summer day, its 19th-century wooded pleasure gardens are the perfect shady spot to cool down. Allan Bank’s lawns are set up with traditional games and there are deckchairs to sit back in and admire the view over the lake.
Plan Your Visit Today
We hope our Lake District summer recommendations have sparked your curiosity. If you’re tempted to visit our magical region, Underscar offers a range of 5-star, luxury self-catered cottages in the heart of the Northern Lakes. Each cottage features a private terrace with beautiful views across Derwentwater to the fells beyond. There’s no better place to enjoy the sunset on a warm summer evening. Guests can also unwind in our on-site spa, pool and gym. Our bar & bistro offers delicious culinary options, from morning scones to afternoon tea.
Make this your Lake District summer to remember, we look forward to meeting you!