Private Lake District tour: 8 lakes and mountain passes

Eight lakes in one afternoon, from England's highest inhabited inn to a 5,000-year-old stone circle

Private afternoon tour of the Lake District visiting eight lakes (Windermere, Brothers Water, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Thirlmere, Grasmere and Rydal Water) plus Castlerigg Stone Circle, Ashness Bridge and mountain passes, with hotel pickup and a knowledgeable guide throughout. The route climbs to Kirkstone Inn at the summit of the Lake District's highest pass open to motor traffic, then descends through steep valley walls and follows the shores of Ullswater where Wordsworth saw the wild daffodils that inspired his most famous poem.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ullswater10m
2. Castlerigg Stone Circle15m
3. Grasmere
4. Rydal Water
5. Bowness-on-Windermerepass by

Afternoon tour of Lake District lakes

• Climb to Kirkstone Inn for views
• Photo stop at Kirkstone Pass viewpoint
• Visit Ullswater and Wordsworth Point
• Stop at Castlerigg Stone Circle
• Drive along Derwentwater eastern shore
• Visit Ashness Bridge viewpoint
• Stop at Surprise View over Derwent Water
• Pass Thirlmere reservoir and Dunmail Raise
• Drive along Grasmere lake shore
• Visit Rydal Water and Wordsworth's home
• View Bridge House in Ambleside
• Drive along Windermere lake shore to drop-offs

The experience

Your afternoon starts at the Kirkstone Inn, the highest inhabited building in the Lake District, perched near the summit of the region's highest motorable pass. From there the road plunges down through Kirkstone Pass itself, with valley walls rising steeply on either side, past the church-shaped rock that gave the pass its name. You stop for photos of the ribbon of road as it descends to Brothers Water, one of the first lakes the National Trust acquired in the region.

The route follows the western shore of Ullswater, the Lake District's second-largest lake, almost in the footsteps of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. You stop at Wordsworth Point, where they saw the wild daffodils that inspired one of his most celebrated poems. From there the tour heads north and west toward Keswick, passing beneath Blencathra: one of the most northerly mountains in the Lakes, with six separate fell tops and the famous Sharp Edge ridge. Your next stop is Castlerigg Stone Circle, a Neolithic monument made up of 38 free-standing stones, some up to 3 metres high, dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years. It sits on a natural plateau with a 360-degree view over the surrounding fells.

The journey then takes you along the eastern shores of Derwentwater, where Beatrix Potter had two holiday homes and scenes from Star Wars were filmed. You stop at Ashness Bridge, the most photographed bridge in the Lake District, which looks out over Derwent Water toward Bassenthwaite Lake. A short climb brings you to Surprise View, where you can see how ice sheets carved out the landscape, with an uninterrupted view across Derwent Water to Bassenthwaite and the distant shores of Scotland. On the return toward Ambleside, you pass Thirlmere (originally two smaller lakes, now a vast reservoir created in 1889), and descend through Dunmail Raise, the flattest mountain pass in the Lake District, where legend says the last king of Cumberland is buried beneath a cairn. The route then follows the shores of Grasmere, where William Wordsworth lived at Dove Cottage, and ends at Rydal Water, often mirror-like and still, before returning to Ambleside and your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• live commentary from a knowledgeable guide throughout the tour.
• WiFi on board.
• charging points for mobile devices at all seats.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and SaturdayDeparts at 14:00Last departure this season: 24 Oct

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 47 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by English Lakes Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to visit multiple lakes and high passes in one afternoon with your own group setting the pace, rather than joining a shared coach where you move with the group schedule.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What is Castlerigg Stone Circle and why is it worth a stop?

Castlerigg Stone Circle is a Neolithic monument of 38 free-standing stones, some up to 3 metres high, dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years. It stands on a natural plateau with a 360-degree view over the surrounding fells and is one of Britain's earliest stone circles.

Does the tour include time to walk around the lakes or is it mostly driving?

The tour is primarily a scenic drive with photo stops at key viewpoints and lakeshores. There is some short walking involved at stops like Ashness Bridge and Surprise View, including some uphill sections and uneven or wet terrain, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Which lakes do you actually see on this tour?

You see eight lakes: Windermere, Brothers Water, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and pass along the shores of each. The route also includes views toward Bassenthwaite Lake from Surprise View and Ashness Bridge.

What is Kirkstone Inn and why do you stop there?

Kirkstone Inn is the highest inhabited building in the Lake District, sitting near the summit of the region's highest pass open to motor traffic. You stop there at the start of the afternoon for views back down the valley all the way to Lake Windermere and Ambleside.

Is hotel pickup included, and does it work for all accommodations in the area?

Hotel pickup is included from most hotels in the Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside area. The tour returns you to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.