Latrigg is perfect for beginner walkers that want to hone their hiking skills
From small hills to imposing mountains, the rugged scenery of the Lake District has made it a favourite destination for hundreds of thousands of British hikers. While its most challenging climbs may also be its most memorable, there are plenty of hiking trails in the Lake District for absolute beginners and budding hiking experts.
These six Lake District hikes are perfect for honing your skills before conquering the region’s biggest fells. Each is achievable in under four hours or – in some cases – just 20 to 30 minutes.
1. Orrest Head
Orrest Head is the perfect warm-up for the Lake District’s more challenging walking routes. Suitable for small children and elderly visitors alike, the 20-minute climb up to the summit of Orrest Head offers some great views of Windermere and beyond.
Conveniently located for visitors staying in Windermere, this walk’s simplicity and rewarding summit views make it a great ‘first fell’ for visitors seeking a walk that’s far from challenging, yet offers great rewards.
2. Cat Bells
Cat Bells might be one of the Lake District’s most popular fells, at least after Orrest Head. Popular with beginner hikers, this walk takes around two hours to complete and takes you through some of the Lake District’s most remarkable terrain.
Begin the walk from Little Town Chapel, which is easy to access from Keswick. From here, it’s a 3.3-mile walk to the summit. There is some light roadside walking but the light traffic makes it almost completely risk-free.
In high season, this walk attracts a large amount of walkers staying in Keswick. Pack a tasty lunch and enjoy it t the summit before you complete the one-hour journey to the Little Town Chapel car park.
3. Latrigg
Latrigg’s modest height and excellent views of Borrowdale make it one of the most rewarding walks in the Lake District. Ideal for beginners, this walking trail is about the same level of difficulty as Cat Bells – which is to say, it’s far from difficult.
Easily accessible from Keswick, the walk to the summit of Latrigg takes about three hours in good weather. The total walk is around six miles in total, making it a more time consuming walk than the journey up and down Cat Bells.
4. Aira Force
The Lake District’s most aesthetically appealing waterfall can be accessed by one of the region’s best walking trails. Pass wish trees and beautiful Lake District scenery on the way to the inspiring Aira Force, which has enchanted locals for centuries.
Aira Force was an obsession of Lake District poet William Wordsworth, who visited the waterfall several times for creative inspiration. The waterfall is accessible via an impressive lakeside trail that takes visitors past a wish tree – be sure to bring a coin!
5. Binsey
Binsey was one of the favourite fells of legendary British walker Alfred Wainwright, who authored many guidebooks on scenic walking. The 4.1-mile trail up and down Binsey takes visitors through some of the Lake District’s most picturesque terrain.
Accessible via the small settlement of Bewaldeth, the journey up Binsey begins with a steep climb that brings walkers up almost 300 metres above their starting point to the summit.
From here, it’s a gentle walk back down through charming Lake District scenery. Be sure to pack a good camera for this two-hour trip, as the views on offer are stunning and certainly not to be missed.
6. Borger Dair
Described as the ‘finest square mile in Lakeland’ by Alfred Wainwright, Border Dair is an excellent four-mile trek that’s perfect for beginner walkers looking to improve their skills.
Pass a variety of holiday lodges for sale in the Lake District on the way to this walk, which will take you to Castle Crag – one of many hill forts build in the Lake District over 2,000 years ago.