Summer fun in the Lake District

Make the most of long summer days exploring the great outdoors. We're home to mountains, rolling hills, lakes, woodlands and wildlife. Find the perfect place to play out this summer in the Lake District.

Girl rope swing Fell Foot
Fell Foot   Cumbria

Family fun at Fell Foot

Lace up your boots for a walk through the hay meadows. Keep an eye out for bees and butterflies enjoying the colourful wildflowers-perfect for ticking off some of your ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities too. Play family games on the parkland or pack a picnic and relax by the lake. Round off your day with a cooling paddle in Windermere.

Plan a visit
A child runs below Sizergh Castle
Sizergh   Cumbria

Explore outside at Sizergh

With over 1400 acres of parkland to explore, you stretch your legs on your own nature adventure at Sizergh. Head to the woods to tackle the wild play trail. Keep and eye out for the resident deer and buzzards among the trees or head to the garden and see what bugs you can find among the colourful flowerbeds. Refuel hungry explorers with a snack from the café or pack a picnic and soak up the summer sun on the lawn.

Plan your visit
Children running down Hill Top garden path, Cumbria
Hill Top   Cumbria

Discover the garden at Hill Top

Explore the garden and soak up the views at Beatrix Potter’s 17th-century farmhouse, the inspiration and backdrop to some of her most famous tales. The cottage garden is a colourful mix of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables. Make your way up the garden path and see for yourself why Beatrix loved this place.

Plan your visit
A family at Aira Force in Ullswater
Aira Force and Ullswater   Cumbria

Aira Force and Ullswater

Discover a place full of adventure with the whole family this Summer at Aira Force. From splashing through streams and hiding behind towering trees in the woods to becoming a red squirrel detective, we’ve got the lot.

Plan your visit
A family walks along the shore of Windermere at Wray Castle
Wray Castle   Cumbria

Go wild at Wray Castle

Sitting on the shore of Lake Windermere, the ground at Wray Castle are the perfect place to tick off a few items from your ‘50 things list’ this summer. From cloud watching, building a den, skimming a stone across Windermere or making a daisy chain on the west lawns; how many will you complete on your visit?

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People looking at the view on a walk at Great Langdale, Cumbria
Sticklebarn and The Langdales   Cumbria

Sticklebarn and the Langdales

Langdale has endless opportunities for all day adventures. Spend long summer days exploring the countryside before winding down with an evening on the terrace at Sticklebarn.

Plan your visit
Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water

Steam your way around Coniston Water aboard Gondola 

Steam Yacht Gondola is an historic boat cruising daily from Coniston Pier. Join the crew for a sailing experience not to be missed.

Find out more about cruise times and book
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Download three self-led family wildtime trails 

Our rangers have created three free trail maps to download to make it really easy to spend fun time outdoors together as a family

Download a trail and get exploring
A boy inspects a bug at Croft Castle in Herefordshire

Family activities  

Delve into our garden shed of fun activities for the kids throughout summer. Explore things to do, games to play and recipes to bake. There's lots to be done outdoors in nature or indoors on a rainy day

Explore family activities
Watendlath Beck in autumn, Borrowdale, Lake District

Best car parks for Borrowdale 

Borrowdale and Derwentwater are a great place for an outdoor adventure this summer. Here's where to park your car when you visit.

Find out more