Lake District Full Day Tour: 10 Lakes from Windermere

Ten lakes, four mountain passes, and a stone circle 5,000 years old

A private full-day tour of the Lake District visiting ten lakes (Windermere, Ullswater, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater, Grasmere and Rydal Water) with stops at Castlerigg Stone Circle, Ashness Bridge and Honister Pass. The tour includes eight hours of private minibus transport with a live guide, a one-hour lake cruise, and hotel pickup from the Windermere area.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day scenic tour of 10 lakes

• Climb from Lake Windermere shore
• Stop at Kirkstone Inn for views
• Photo stops on Kirkstone Pass
• Drive past Brothers Water to Patterdale
• Join 1-hour Ullswater lake cruise
• Travel towards Keswick via Ullswater valley
• Visit Castlerigg Stone Circle
• Lunch at Lakeside near Keswick
• Stop at Surprise View for Derwentwater views
• Visit Ashness Bridge
• Stop at Seatoller and Honister Slate Mine
• Drive through Honister Pass to Buttermere
• Photo stop at Buttermere valley
• Climb Newlands Pass and see Moss Force Waterfall
• Stop at Whinlatter Viewpoint for Bassenthwaite views
• Pass Thirlmere and Dunmail Raise
• Drive past Grasmere village and lake
• Visit Rydal Water and Wordsworth's home
• Pass through Ambleside with Bridge House views

The Experience

Your day starts at the shores of Windermere and climbs to Kirkstone Inn, the highest inhabited building in the Lake District, where you stop to look back down the valley. From there the road drops steeply through Kirkstone Pass (one of four mountain passes you'll cross) past Brothers Water and down to Patterdale. At Glenridding you board a minibus for a one-hour cruise on Ullswater, the National Park's second largest lake, before rejoining the minibus to head north toward Keswick.

The route passes Blencathra, a northerly mountain with six fell tops and the famous Sharp Edge ridge, then stops at Castlerigg Stone Circle: 38 standing stones up to three metres high, arranged on a natural plateau with 360-degree views of the surrounding fells. Dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years, it sits among some of the most rugged terrain in the Lakes. You stop for lunch at Lakeside near Keswick, a small corner of the park with views across Derwentwater to Cat Bells. From there you visit Surprise View, one of the Lake District's most photographed viewpoints, then drop down to Ashness Bridge, a packhorse bridge that draws photographers constantly.

The day continues through Borrowdale valley to Honister Slate Mine at the head of Honister Pass: one of Cumbria's highest passes at 1,167 feet with a gradient of one in four. You descend into the Vale of Lorton, one of the lushest parts of the northern lakes, passing Buttermere and Crummock Water with the sun glinting off the water. A steep climb up Newlands Pass brings you to Moss Force Waterfall, then to Whinlatter Viewpoint overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake. The final stretch takes you past Thirlmere and down Dunmail Raise, your fourth mountain pass, before dropping toward Grasmere, where William Wordsworth lived at Dove Cottage. You end at Rydal Water, often mirror-still with reflections of the surrounding fells, and return to your hotel in the Windermere area.

What’s included

• Private minibus transport for the full eight hours.
• live guide in English.
• one-hour cruise on Ullswater.
• hotel pickup from the Windermere area.
• WiFi on board.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• device charging points at all seats.
• live commentary throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by English Lakes Tours

Is this one for you?The tour covers eight hours and four mountain passes with light walking at each stop, so it suits anyone comfortable with a full day in a minibus and short walks on uneven terrain. The fixed itinerary means all ten lakes and the stone circle fit into one day without gaps.

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Top questions

What's included in the tour price?

Private minibus transport for eight hours, a live English-speaking guide throughout the day, a one-hour cruise on Ullswater, hotel pickup from the Windermere area, WiFi on board, air conditioning, device charging points at every seat, and live commentary as you travel between stops.

How much walking is involved?

The tour involves light walking at each stop: photo stops at viewpoints, a short walk to Castlerigg Stone Circle, and brief visits to bridges and passes. Some terrain is uneven or wet, and a few sections are uphill, so wear comfortable, waterproof shoes and bring a waterproof coat.

What is Castlerigg Stone Circle?

Castlerigg is a Neolithic stone circle made up of 38 standing stones, some up to three metres high, dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years. It sits on a natural plateau with commanding 360-degree views of the surrounding fells and is one of Britain's earliest stone circles.

Will I have time for lunch?

Yes, you stop for lunch at Lakeside near Keswick, a café restaurant perched between a theatre and Derwentwater with large windows overlooking the lake and Cat Bells beyond. You have time to eat there before continuing the tour.

What is the weather like, and what should I bring?

Lake District weather changes quickly even in summer. Bring a waterproof coat with a hood in case of rain or wind, and wear comfortable shoes suitable for wet or uneven ground. The tour runs in most conditions.