Walking the Tour of the Lake District

Originally from Oxfordshire, Lesley Williams' first experience of the Lake District fells was as a teenager. With a lifelong passion for walking, trekking and more recently cycle touring, Lesley has been Cicerone's marketing director for over 20 years. Based on the edge of the Lake District, she and her husband Jonathan have relished the excuse to spend many happy (and sometimes very cold and wet) days on the fells researching the route for this book. Lesley is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Map key


Route summary table

Overview map

Alternative schedules

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Landscape and geology

Plants and wildlife

Farming

History and culture

The Tour of the Lake District

Planning your Tour

When to go

How to get there

Local transport

Accommodation

Equipment

Maps and apps

Navigation and safety

Using this guide

The Tour of the Lake District

Prologue Windermere to Ambleside

Stage 1 Ambleside to Coniston

Stage 2 Coniston to Eskdale

Stage 2A Coniston to Eskdale: high-level route

Stage 3 Eskdale to Wasdale

Stage 3A Eskdale to Wasdale: high-level route

Stage 4 Wasdale to Buttermere

Stage 4A Wasdale to Buttermere: high-level route

Stage 5 Buttermere to Keswick

Stage 5A Buttermere to Keswick: high-level route

Stage 6 Keswick to Rosthwaite

Stage 7 Rosthwaite to Grasmere

Stage 8 Grasmere to Patterdale

Stage 8A Grasmere to Patterdale: high-level route

Stage 9 Patterdale to Ambleside

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Facilities table

Appendix D Place names

Appendix E Further reading and resources