Windermere: Six Lakes & Castlerigg Stone Circle Half-Day

Six Lakes in Four Hours: Castlerigg Stone Circle & Windermere's Hidden Waters

You see six lakes, stand at a 4,000-year-old stone circle, and walk through a Wordsworth village: all in a half-day without arranging your own transport or timing. The small coach and fixed route mean you're moving steadily through the highlights, with coffee and lunch stops built in, and you're back by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half day tour of six lakes and sights

• Begin morning tour at pickup point
• Stop for coffee in Glenridding
• Visit Castlerigg Stone Circle
• Pass by man made reservoir
• Stop in village of Grasmere
• Finish tour at pickup point

The experience

The coach pulls away from Windermere Information Centre while the morning is still cool. You're heading into the Lake District with five hours ahead of you and six different lakes to cross paths with: Ullswater, Thirlmere, Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Crummock Water, and Buttermere. It's a lot of ground, but the route is designed so you're not sitting still for long. The multilingual audio guide runs through the landscape as you move, and the driver knows where to pause.

First stop is Glenridding, a small settlement on the shore of Ullswater where you break for coffee. The water is right there, and the fells rise behind it. This is where you start to feel the scale of the place. After that, the tour heads to Castlerigg Stone Circle, a ring of 38 stones that's been standing for around 4,000 years, older than Stonehenge. It sits on open moorland with views that stretch across the valleys. You walk among the stones themselves, which is the part most people remember. The audio guide explains what archaeologists think it was for, though honestly nobody knows for certain.

Grasmere comes next, the village famous for its gingerbread and for being William Wordsworth's home. It's charming in the way Lake District villages are: stone cottages, a green, a church, shops selling local things. You have time to walk around, grab lunch if you want, or just sit by the water. Thirlmere, a man-made reservoir, is visible on the drive between stops, and the commentary fills in the history as you pass. The whole tour is built around minimal walking, so if you're not keen on long hikes, this covers the main sights without wearing you out. By early afternoon you're back where you started.

The coach itself is small (a mini-coach, not a full-size bus), which means tighter roads are possible and the group stays manageable. There are toilet stops on the route, and luggage storage is available at the Windermere departure point if you need it. Just arrive five minutes early to sort that out. The audio guide is multilingual, though you'll need to bring your own headphones. The on-board commentary is in English. Seats aren't reserved, so it's first-come seating, and children must be at least five years old with their own seat.

What’s included

Transport in a small mini-coach, multilingual audio guide (bring your own headphones), on-board commentary in English, stops at six lakes including Ullswater, Thirlmere, Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Crummock Water and Buttermere, entry to Castlerigg Stone Circle, a visit to Grasmere village, coffee and toilet stops on route, and return transport to your pickup point at Windermere Information Centre.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Mountain Goat Tours

Is this one for you?Right for anyone with limited time in the Lake District who wants to see the main lakes and landmarks without renting a car or planning their own route: the fixed schedule and small group mean you cover six lakes and a 4,000-year-old stone circle in a single morning.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the tour?

About four to five hours from pickup to return, depending on traffic and how long you spend in Grasmere.

Do I need to bring my own headphones?

Yes. The multilingual audio guide is included, but you must bring headphones. There's no wifi on the coach to download anything, so download the Mountain Goat app before you arrive.

Is there a lot of walking involved?

No. The tour is designed for minimal walking. You stop at each lake and the stone circle, but you're not hiking between them.

Can I store luggage?

Yes, luggage storage is available at the Windermere Information Centre departure point. Arrive early to arrange it.

What if I'm late for the tour?

The tour cannot wait. If you arrive late, the full cancellation fee applies and no refund or alternative is offered.

Is the coach wheelchair accessible?

No, the vehicles are not currently wheelchair accessible.

Can I choose my seat?

No, seats cannot be reserved. It's first-come seating.