10 Off the Beaten Track Activities in the Lake District

Surprise View lives up to its name, delivering surprisingly stunning views from its clifftop location. Located near Borrowdale in Keswick, this secluded spot offers plenty of space for visitors to take in the surrounding scenery, with views of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite lakes. You can drive up to the viewpoint or opt to walk along the single-track road.

Surprise View is a great location to capture the majestic landscape of the area for your holiday scrapbook or Instagram. It's also a nice place to pause during a busy holiday and take in everything Mother Nature has on display.

Bridge House is a charming Lake District destination that feels like it came straight from the pages of a fairytale. The Braithwaite family originally built the home as storage for the apple harvest, locating it on top of a bridge spanning the Stock Beck River. No one knows why the family chose this particular spot for the home, though some say it may have been a way to dodge land taxes.

It's worth the trip to Ambleside to see this tiny house on its ancient perch. Now managed by the National Trust, you can learn about the history of the house and the families who have lived there.

Upper Fitz Park sits along the banks of the River Greta in the market town of Keswick. The sprawling park offers relaxing places to rest after a day of exploring the Lakes, and you'll have great views all along the river banks. Cool off with ice cream or hit the cricket club and public swimming pool for something more active.

The park is also home to the Keswick Museum, which offers a wealth of local history and a tasty cafe. The interactive exhibits are great for the young and old alike, making it a wonderful place to spend a few hours while visiting the park.

Ennerdale Water is one of the Lake District's less visited lakes, but not because it isn't worth the trip. Ennerdale Water sits at the district's western edge, a more remote location than the more centrally located (and more often visited) lakes such as Derwentwater and Windermere.

If you make the journey to Ennerdale, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking scenery, plenty of trails and rugged natural settings. Parking is free, but beware that there is no swimming allowed in the lake due to cold temperatures and fast-moving currents. Still, it's an excellent day away from the crowds and a great place to soak in the sounds and sights of the Lake District at its most rugged.

Haweswater Reservoir was a controversial project during its construction in the 1930s. To create the artificial lake, builders had to flood the Marsdale Valley and destroy the small villages there. The water demand was so great, though, that plans to build the reservoir went ahead despite public outcry. The villages were relocated, including the local cemeteries, and it's possible to see the remains of the villages when the water levels are low enough.

Today, the reservoir offers beautiful views through the valley and well-maintained walking paths. You'll find Haweswater Reservoir along the eastern edge of the Lake District, stretching an impressive four miles long with a depth of more than 200 feet.

Crummock Water sits at the foot of Grassmoor Mountain, the tallest peak in the North Western Lakes area. The rugged mountain backdrop and serenity of the calm lake waters create a remarkable view. Surprisingly, tourists overlook this pretty lake, favouring the more popular Buttermere Lake. Locals know Crummock is just as lovely and much less crowded.

The best way to see Crummock Water is on foot. There are excellently maintained walking trails around the lake, and you can travel on foot from Buttermere to Crummock and back again. There are many places to rest along the paths, including picnic spots, and you can even spend a day here swimming in the cool, calm waters.

Kirkstone Pass is a great way to see the Lake District without hitting the walking trails. This scenic pass takes you from Ullswater Lake to Windemere along a winding mountain road, and it's the highest pass you can take in your car within the district. There are new views around every bend and, thankfully, plenty of places for you to pull off the road and snap a picture of the surrounding beauty.

Stop at the top of the pass to visit the Kirkstone Pass Inn. While this Inn now caters to the tourists going over Kirkstone Pass, records place buildings on the site since 1496.

Blea Tarn is off the beaten path, sitting east of Ambleside and only accessible via very windy, narrow country roads. Due to its remote location, you won't encounter nearly as many tourists. In the off-season, you may only run into a few other people and a lot of sheep. The journey to this circular lake is worth it, though, as Blea Tarn is known for its calm waters and serene surrounding countryside.

The lake offers a circular path around its waters, creating an easy walk of just under two miles. The easy terrain here makes it great for those who might not be able to make it through some of the district's more challenging hikes.

Cathedral Cave resulted from slate quarrying, which left a network of caves and tunnels in many areas of the Lake District. The main cavern is one of several smaller caves in the local quarry network, but this one is by far the most impressive. The cavern is roughly 40 feet high and lit from two overhead openings. Sunlight streaming into the otherwise darkened cave gives the space an otherworldly feeling that leaves visitors awe-struck.

The cave is a short hike from the car park, and you'll need to do a bit of easy climbing before going through a short (but dark!) tunnel that leads into Cathedral Cave.

Gummer's How is where Lake District locals go when they want to take in the beauty of Lake Windemere. The hill juts up along the lake's southern shore, offering terrific views of the valley. To reach the top, leave your car in the nearby car park and take an easy uphill walk to the peak.

There is a circular path at the top of the hill, so you'll get a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. The walk measures around a mile and a half, and while it's uphill much of the way, it's relatively easy terrain. Look for the cows that freely roam the area to help manage the flourishing grasses and wildflowers.