The Lake District sits in a fortunate position in northwest England, with easy access to the Cumbrian coast, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Scottish borders. When you want a break from the fells or a rainy day alternative, these day trips offer a change of scenery within an hour or two.
Cartmel
Cartmel is a gem of a village on the southern fringes of the Lake District, just inland from Morecambe Bay. The village is tiny — a few streets around a medieval priory — but it punches enormously above its weight.
Cartmel Priory, dating from 1189, is one of the finest medieval churches in the north of England. The interior is grand, atmospheric, and free to visit. Around the village square, you will find excellent independent shops, the famous Cartmel Village Shop (home of the original Cartmel sticky toffee pudding), and, on a good day, a sense of rural England at its most appealing.
L'Enclume, Simon Rogan's three-Michelin-starred restaurant, is here too — though booking well in advance is essential.
Getting there: About 20 minutes from Windermere via the A590. Don't miss: The Cartmel Village Shop's sticky toffee pudding. Buy one to take away.
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall, the 73-mile Roman frontier running from coast to coast, passes about an hour north of the Lake District. The most dramatic and best-preserved sections are around Housesteads Roman Fort and Steel Rigg, where the wall follows the undulating crags of the Whin Sill.
Housesteads (managed by English Heritage) is the most complete Roman fort in Britain, with visible barracks, granaries, a hospital, and latrines. The walk along the wall from Housesteads to Steel Rigg (about 3 miles) is one of the finest short walks in England.
Getting there: About 1 hour 15 minutes from Keswick via the A66 and A69. Admission: Housesteads around £10 for adults (English Heritage members free).
The Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales National Park borders the Lake District to the east, and the contrast between the two landscapes is striking. Where the Lakes have mountains and deep lakes, the Dales have limestone pavements, waterfalls, and wide green valleys.
A day trip to the Dales might take in:
- Aysgarth Falls: Three dramatic waterfalls on the River Ure in Wensleydale.
- Malham Cove: A spectacular 80-metre curved limestone cliff with a limestone pavement on top.
- Hawes: A Dales market town with the Wensleydale Creamery, where you can see (and taste) the famous cheese being made.
Getting there: Hawes is about 1 hour from Windermere via the A684. Malham is about 1 hour 15 minutes via the A65.
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay, the vast tidal inlet south of the Lake District, offers a completely different landscape — miles of sand, mudflats, and big skies. The most distinctive way to experience the bay is on a guided cross-bay walk led by the King's Guide to the Sands (a role dating back to the 16th century). The walk from Arnside to Kent's Bank crosses the sands at low tide and is a unique and memorable experience.
Important: Never attempt to cross the bay without the official guide. The tides are treacherous and quicksand is a genuine hazard. Walks: Check the Morecambe Bay Partnership website for guided walk dates.
Carlisle
Carlisle, the county town of Cumbria, sits at the northern edge of the Lake District and makes a straightforward day trip from Keswick (30 minutes by car). The city's medieval castle (English Heritage) was a key border fortress for centuries, and Carlisle Cathedral — small but beautiful — has fine medieval stained glass.
The Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is excellent, with collections spanning Roman archaeology, Pre-Raphaelite art, and the region's natural history. The city centre has a decent range of shops and restaurants.
Getting there: 30 minutes from Keswick via the A66.
The Cumbrian Coast
The Cumbrian coast west of the Lake District is one of the most underrated stretches of coastline in England. The Cumbrian Coast railway line runs from Carlisle to Lancaster via Whitehaven, St Bees, Ravenglass, and Barrow-in-Furness, hugging the coast for much of its length. The journey itself is a delight.
Stops worth making include:
- St Bees: A sandy beach, dramatic sandstone cliffs, and an RSPB seabird reserve. Starting point of the Coast to Coast Walk.
- Ravenglass: The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway runs from here. The village has a Roman bath house ruin.
- Whitehaven: A Georgian harbour town with an interesting maritime heritage.
Sizergh Castle and Levens Hall
Two of England's finest historic houses sit within 10 minutes of each other near Kendal:
- Sizergh Castle (National Trust): A medieval pele tower surrounded by later additions, with a beautiful rock garden and limestone pavement walk. The tearoom is excellent.
- Levens Hall: An Elizabethan house famous for its topiary garden — the oldest in the world, dating from 1694. The fantastical yew shapes are extraordinary.
Getting there: Both are just off the A590, about 20 minutes south of Windermere.