Autumn is well and truly upon us so, rather than bemoaning the shorter days and the occasionally damp and windy conditions, here are our suggestions for the best autumn walks in the Lake District to help you get out there and enjoy this stunning season.

To make the most of the magical array of colours that arrives at this time of year, the best place to be is, of course, amongst the trees, so most of these walks are fairly low level and manageable in most conditions, with a couple of forays to the relatively low summits of Walla Crag and Harter Fell.

Autumnal woodland scene with amber bracken and a low sun shining through the trees

Borrowdale and Derwentwater

One of our absolute favourite low level walks at any time of year, this route really comes into its own in the autumn. It’s a linear walk but easily manageable in a day by parking in Keswick and taking the bus down to Rosthwaite to start the walk (and so avoiding the tight Borrowdale road and the limited parking).

The route follows the stunningly clear infant River Derwent as it heads towards Derwentwater, through what Alfred Wainwright famously described as “the loveliest square mile in Lakeland” (and who are we to disagree with the main man!). The path takes you through the ancient woodland of Hows and Dalt woods, part of the ‘Borrowdale Rainforest’ (with the option for a short detour to the summit of Castle Crag), before passing through the village of Grange – where you can stop at the lovely café – and arriving at the lake shore

You then follow the wooded western shore of Derwentwater for its full length (with another great option for a stop at the highly recommended Lingholm Kitchen) before looping around the top of the lake to return to Keswick.

Start: Rosthwaite, Borrowdale

Distance: 13.5km

Ascent: 185m

If you fancy a few days walking in the Lakes, this route is one of the linear routes on our ‘Enchanting Borrowdale and Derwentwater’ self-guided walking holiday.

The Great and Little Langdale Valleys

Starting from either the Stickle Ghyll or Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car parks (free for members), this circular route starts with the only real climb of the day as you zig-zag out of the Great Langdale Valley. You are quickly rewarded with stunning views of the mountains that surround the head of the valley, including the Langdale Pikes, Bow Fell and the Crinkle Crags.

You soon arrive at tree-lined Blea Tarn, where the autumnal colours enrich this always picture-perfect spot, then meander along sparkling Bleamoss Beck as you descend into the Little Langdale Valley. Little Langdale is home to two well-known Lake Distrct sights – Slaters Bridge, one of the most photographed spots in the area, especially in the autumn – and Cathedral Quarry – a fascinating collection of caves and tunnels where slate quarrying took place from the sixteenth century up until the 1950s.

Pass through the village of Little Langdale (considering a stop at the recently spruced up Three Shires Inn!) and climb gently out of the valley to drop back into Great Langdale, enjoying the colourful woodland though Baysbrown and Haggs woods, before a final meander through the valley back to the start.

Start: Stickle Ghyll or Old Dungeon Ghyll car parks, Great Langdale

Distance: 14.5km

Ascent: 465m

If you fancy a few days walking in the Lakes, this route is one of the circular routes on our ‘Heart of Lakeland’ self-guided walking holiday.

Trees turning a range of autumnal colours in the foreground with Ullswater lake behind, backed by mountains

Ullswater southern shore

Another Wainwright recommendation, he described the walk from Howtown back towards Glenridding on Ullswater’s southern shore as ‘the most beautiful and rewarding’ lakeside walk in the Lake District.

Park in Glenridding and take an Ullswater Steamer to the little village of Howtown on the far side of the lake. The walk follows the clear path that primarily follows the lakeshore (often set some way above the water). It first skirts around the base of Hallin Fell to pass through Hallinhag Wood, where you can make a short detour to track down the poetry stones amongst the trees.

After passing Sandwick Bay, the path moves away from the lake a little and gains some height along the fellside for lovely open views, before returning close to the lake for another wooded section perfect for the autumn months. Passing around Silver Point, the clear track continues to follow the fellside until it drops to the valley floor at the end of the lake and you reach the small village of Patterdale. It’s then just a short stretch of pavements and permissive paths back to Glenridding.

Start: Glenridding

Distance: 11km

Ascent: 330m

This section of lakeshore is part of one of the longer linear walks on our ‘Explore Ullswater’ self-guided walking holiday, which includes a full circuit of the lake.

Buttermere lake circuit

Despite Wainwright’s contention above, this one definitely has a good shout for most beautiful lakeside walk too! The small lake of Buttermere is ringed by imposing mountains, so the views are stunning throughout.

A very flat, four-mile circuit, this walk is perfect when you want something easy going without compromising on fantastic Lake District scenery. Starting in the village of Buttermere, you head down the popular path to the top of the lake, where you can admire the water tumbling down Sourmilk Gill before following the lake shore path along the edge of Burtness Wood.

Cross over Warnscale Beck at the bottom of the lake to reach Gatesgarth Farm then meander back along the often wooded lake shore, with lots of pretty bays to stop for a break or a picnic (or save yourself until you get back to Buttermere and choose between the excellent pubs and cafes!).

Start: Buttermere village

Distance: 7km

Ascent: 110m

The stone arch of Ashness Bridge with the beck running under it in the foreground, backed by autumnal trees in a range of greens, oranges and yellows and the mountain of Skiddaw in the background

Walla Crag, Ashness Bridge and the Derwentwater shore

Starting from the centre of Keswick, you are quickly out of town and heading up hill through little Springs Wood – a stunning array of colour at this time of year – following Brockle Beck out of the wood and onto the fellside.

A straightforward, if steep in places, path takes you all the way to the flat, rocky summit of Walla Crag (if you don’t mind sharp drop offs, take the little detour close to the edge of the crag as you approach the summit, to follow a rocky path scattered with trees and offering great views).

After enjoying the views over Derwentwater to Skiddaw, continue to follow the bridleway along the fell, dropping down to another of the Lake District’s most photographed spots – Ashness Bridge! At its most stunning in the autumn, the view over Barrow Beck, the bridge and the myriad of colourful trees to the Skiddaw range in the background is hard to beat.

From here, the route loops round to head back towards Keswick, initially along the lower fellside, with great views over Derwentwater, and then though atmospheric Great Wood, for more autumnal scenes. The last section takes you along the shore of Derwentwater to return to Keswick, where there are plenty of options for some well-earned post-walk refreshment.

Start: Keswick

Distance: 11km

Ascent: 390m

All of this area is covered on our ‘Enchanting Borrowdale and Derwentwater’ self-guided walking holiday.

Harter Fell through Hardnott Forest

If you prefer to head to the quieter western parts of the Lake District, Harter Fell is a fantastic, and often overlooked, summit, with great views to its larger neighbours in the Scafell range.

It is accessible from several directions, but our version starts in Dunnerdale, near Birks Bridge, which means the first section is a steep climb up through the ‘Hardnott Forest’. Forestry England are in the process of restoring to native habitats of oak and birch woodland, peat bogs, heather and grassland to this area.

You come out on the fellside for a short hop to the summit then circle round to head back down through the wood (with the option to add on a short extension to Green Crag if you’re ticking off summits!), following lovely Grassguards Gill to reach the River Duddon. A stunningly beautiful (if sometimes a little overgrown!) permissive path along the river takes you back to Birks Bridge.

Start: Forestry Commission parking near Birks Bridge

Distance: 8.5km

Ascent: 585m

We hope these ideas inspire you to get out and enjoy some fantastic autumnal walking! Do let us know if you do any of our suggested routes or tag us on social media (@muddybootswalkingholidays on Instagram or Facebook). If you’re interested in spending a few days in the Lake District, drop us a line about the options for a walking break.