Text over a fell in the Lake District: We all have a mountain to climb, come prepared to climb our. Lake District Kind.

Plan your visit and be Lake District Kind

We’re asking visitors to be prepared while enjoying the Lake District. Whether you’re new to the area or a seasoned visitor, please be #LakeDistrictKind and help us look after the landscape you love. On this page you’ll find ways to make your visit memorable, while also keeping it a safe and beautiful place to be.

Be Lake District Kind - know before you go:

  • Treat our home like its your home. Please bin your litter or take it home.

    Treat our home like its your home. Please bin your litter or take it home.

  • It's a National Park. Not a car park. Please park your vehicle sensibly. Think about farmers and emergency vehicles.

    It's a National Park. Not a car park. Please park your vehicle sensibly. Think about farmers and emergency vehicles.

  • Set your heart on fire, not our countryside. Wild fires and barbecues can destroy our landscapes, kill our animals and ruin habitats.

    Set your heart on fire, not our countryside. Wild fires and barbecues can destroy our landscapes, kill our animals and ruin habitats.

  • We all have a mountain to climb. Come prepared to climb ours. Please know your limits on the mountains and in our lakes. Be prepared and stay safe.

    We all have a mountain to climb. Come prepared to climb ours. Please know your limits on the mountains and in our lakes. Be prepared and stay safe.

  • Don't get out of your depth. While our lakes look inviting, open water can be dangerous, please be careful and know your limits.

    Don't get out of your depth. While our lakes look inviting, open water can be dangerous, please be careful and know your limits.

  • Enjoy the sites. Keep the Lake District looking beautiful, use one of our many local campsites.

    Enjoy the sites. Keep the Lake District looking beautiful, use one of our many local campsites.

  • Livestock is livelihood. Please keep your dogs on leads. Sheep worrying is a crime.

    Livestock is livelihood. Please keep your dogs on leads. Sheep worrying is a crime.

  • Wander lonely as a cloud. This year, broaden your horizons and explore further afield. You'll be surprised with what you'll find.

    Wander lonely as a cloud. This year, broaden your horizons and explore further afield. You'll be surprised with what you'll find.

  • Our farmers don't know the meaning of 9 to 5. Please park sensibly. Respect access for farmers and locals.

    Our farmers don't know the meaning of 9 to 5. Please park sensibly. Respect access for farmers and locals.

We all love the Lake District and we want to keep it looking stunningly beautiful.

Let’s all do our bit to help by parking sensibly, taking our litter home, avoiding crowded areas and knowing our limits on the hills and in our lakes.

Tips for first time visitors

What can you do? Can you camp and have fires? Where can you take your paddleboard? Where do you park? Our frequently asked questions are great for first time visitors to the Lake District.

Guides to areas of the Lake District

Beginners taster map of the Lake District

  1. Explore Coniston Water - surrounded by mountains and woodland
  2. Explore Derwentwater and Keswick - the nearest lake to the town of Keswick
  3. Explore Grasmere and Rydal - and Rydal Water
  4. Explore Langdale Valley - running west of Ambleside
  5. Explore Northern Lakes - including Buttermere, Crummock Water, Loweswater and Bassenthwaite.
  6. Explore Ullswater and Glenridding - including Helvelyn
  7. Explore Wastwater and the West coast - England's deepest lake and explore the western coastline
  8. Explore Windermere and Ambleside - England's largest lake with bustling tourist towns Bowness and Ambleside
A blue bus with Keswick 555 displayed on a rual road

Travel and transport

Make the journey part of your adventure, with boats, bikes and buses to beat the traffic and travel sustainably

Full list of car parks across the Lake District

Vanlife - guide for campervans and motorhomes

Bike hire and quiet cycle routes to places like Langdale, Elterwater, Coniston and Windermere shore

Young couple walking on a high fell

Walking in the Lake District

paddle board on lake windermere

Get on the water

Walker taking in the Kentmere valley view copyright Helen Reynolds

Things to do

Respect. Protect. Enjoy.

Respect. Protect. Enjoy

Tips on how to be a caring visitor to the Lake District, from be prepared, to taking your litter home.

The Countryside Code in the Lake District

Lake District online shop products, coffee cups, water bottles and shopping bags.

Shopping here, supports here

Every penny you spend in our online shop goes back into protecting the Lake District National Park.

From re-usable water bottles and coffee cups, to bags, t-shirts and even Lake District Monopoly, its a great way to take a bit of the Lake District with you everywhere.

Lake District online shop


The latest on Instagram

Share your pictures on Instagram and #lakedistrict and we could feature your photos on our site!