Daffodil Walks – Walks to see the Lake District Daffodils

Daffodils have been synonymous with the Lake District during early spring since Wordsworth’s famous poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

So where are the best places to witness the bobbing yellow display during March and April?

Daffodils are everywhere in the Lake District from March until early to mid-April.  They can be spotted by hedgerows, alongside the lake shore, in gardens

Once the daffodils begin to fade, the bluebells begin to bloom in earnest. Check out our blog on walks to see Bluebells in the Lake District.

Ullswater: Wordsworth’s Daffodils and Aira Force           5km      1.5 hours

The beautiful lake of Ullswater was the inspiration behind the well-known poem The Daffodils. Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, visited Glencoyne Park on 15 April 1802 and came across an array of the yellow spring flowers.

A walk through Glencoyne Park today not only offers you the chance to see the “real” Wordsworth’s daffodils but also provides simply breath-taking views of Ullswater and the rugged mountains beyond. A true Lake District gem.

From Glencoyne Bay Car Park, head north with the lake on your right and take the footpath which runs parallel to the road. Cross Park Brow when reached and take the path leading to Aira Force Tea Rooms. Bear right beyond the tea rooms on the footpath north and uphill towards the waterfalls. Cross the bridge to take you across the river (however the falls can be reached on either side).

From the lower of the 2 stone bridges at the falls, head south briefly then take the footpath on your right signposted to Brow Close Car Park.

From the car park, head down the road for 0.2 miles ten take the footpath through the gate on your right, marked by a fingerpost. Follow the path as it takes a diagonal approach back to the lake shore, meeting up with the path from the car park to take you back to your starting point.

Stock Ghyll, Ambleside

This short walk from the centre of Ambleside, at the northern most end of Windermere, is a circular tour of the Stock Ghyll Waterfalls. During daffodil season in early spring, there is the additional delight of thousands of daffodils scattered throughout the woodland.

In Ambleside village take Stockghyll Lane which starts behind the Salutation Hotel and The Market Hall. Head up the road as it bears right and enters woodland. Just beyond the entrance to Stockghyll Brow, a footpath leaves the road to the left.

Follow the footpath as it weaves a loop through the woodland and towards the waterfalls. Wooden footbridges provide view points for the falls.

Sizerg Castle from Brigsteer                                                                     3.9km                   1hour 10 mins

Starting from the church at Brigsteer, The Parish Church of St John, head south from the parking area. Continue downhill on the lane towards the National Trust’s Holesack’s Farm House. Go past the farm buildings, pass through a gate and bear right through the woodland. Emerging from the woods head south along the wide path through the flat and open pasture. Sizergh Castle comes into view ahead. Eventually a gate brings you out opposite the car park for the castle. There’s a National Trust shop selling gifts and ice-cream plus a café with indoor and outdoor seating should you wish to break up your walk for a lovely lunch or tea and cake (and who wouldn’t).

Once you’re ready to leave Sizergh, go back to the lane alongside the car park but this time head west along the footpath bordered by hedgerows. Clear the hedgerows, bear left as the path enters an open field and continue along te path as it bears left. Upon reaching Parkend Lane, turn a sharp right to head north gently uphill across another open pasture.  After passing through a gap in a row of hawthorns, bear left to continue northwest, then north. The path passes through some tress then levels off. Go straight ahead towards a gate in the wall, passing though which will take you back to the lane from the church. Head north from the gate for a short distance to reach the parking area by the church.

Coniston and Tarn Hows                                                            from 3km and 1hour

If you’re staying in Coniston, then you’ll spot daffodils everywhere during March, including down by the lake shore and along the roadsides. Near Coniston, Tarn Hows has its own wild daffodils. And against the incredible back drop of the tarn and Coniston Old Man mountain beyond, this beautiful scenic walk is made even better during the weeks when daffodils bloom.

Depending on how long you wish the walk to be, Tarn Hows can be either be walked from the centre of Coniston Village or from the car park at Tarn Hows itself. If walking from Coniston, leave the village along  footpath paralell to the B5285, following the lake shore,  before leaving the lake behind. The footpath comes to a land, cross and head into the forest directly ahead. Follow the gravelled forest track uphill to emerge at Tarn Hows. 

Alternatively, you can also reach the tarn via Tom Ghyll Waterfalls. Leave the village north on the A593. Just past Beatrix Potter’s Yew Tree Farm is Glen Mary Bridge Car Park. From here a footpath leads uphill through the woods, alongside the impressive Tom Ghyll waterfalls before intersecting with the main circular footpath around Tarn Hows.

For a shorter walk, just around the tarn itself, then the National Trust Car Park at Tarn Hows is a short drive from Coniston. From here you can choose to walk the circular path around the tarn in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The best daffodils appear on the eastern side of the tarn, on the fellside either side of the footpath.           

Wordsworth Daffodil Garden, Grasmere

This is not a walk as such but where better to see the annual golden display of daffodils than in Wordsworth’s own beloved home of Grasmere? Perfect for families with pushchairs or those with lower mobility levels, this wander through the daffodils is accessible  to everyone.

The daffodil garden was created in 2003 and is located in the heart of Grasmere village – in between St Oswald’s Church, where the poet is buried, and the River Rothay. It’s free to visit and meander amongst the wild daffodils which are at their best from mid March to early April.

Once the daffodils begin to fade, the bluebells begin to bloom in earnest. Check out our blog on walks to see Bluebells in the Lake District.