Lesser Known Lake District Spots to Escape the Crowds

The Lake District can be a busy place, especially in high summer in the biggest tourist hot spots, but the best thing about the Lake District is that even if you come at the height of the summer season you will be able to find places where you won’t see another soul, you just need to know where to go.

Typically, people go to the most well-known spots in the largest numbers. Derwent Water and Buttermere, Windermere and Keswick are a few of the places that can be very busy during the summer. But what about those lesser known Lake District spots? Where can you go to avoid the crowds?

Ennerdale Valley

Despite its size, Ennerdale Valley is one of the quietest parts of the Lake District. Part of the reason for this is that it is a reservoir so there are no boats allowed or any water sports, things that draw people to the other lakes in big numbers.

It isn’t the easiest spot to reach either – you need to have a car to get there. The lake itself doesn’t have much in the way of facilities but makes up for that in stunning views and places to walk and picnic. Nearby there’s the village of Ennerdale Bridge and the town of Cockermouth which isn’t too far away.

Wasdale and Eskdale

The ‘wild’ west part of Cumbria is generally less popular with tourists but contains some of the most stunning landscape. You can visit England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike as well as the Hardknott Pass, one of the steepest roads in the UK with a 1:3 gradient.
Wasdale is the more rugged of the two spots with the Eskdale area having gentle fells and woodland, dotted with farmhouses and some very nice pubs. Muncaster Castle is in the area and there’s the narrow gauge railway known as The La’al Ratty.

Caldbeck

Caldbeck is known as the Northernmost Fells and is an area of the Lakes without any actual lakes. This means people looking for the water sports, lake walks and anything to do with water aren’t drawn here, but there’s still plenty to see and do. It is a great place for walking including the Cumbria Way leading to Keswick. There are spots for crystal hunting or even Bowscale Tarn for a very bracing swim. Caldbeck itself has a ruined mill and brewery to visit as well as picturesque villages around it.

Haweswater and Kentmere

Known as the Eastern Fells, these areas are along the eastern edge of the Lake District and are less common for tourists to visit. Haweswater is tricky to reach with a single road leading in and out so cars are needed to get there and the best views are found on foot.

Haweswater is one of the largest lakes and was created by the flooding of the village of Mardale back in the late 1920s. Kentmere is nearby and has high level falls that are a bit of a hike to reach but well worth the effort when you get there. There’s also Shap Swimming Pool, the highest outdoor pool in the UK – if you are brave enough!