Kim
11 January 2024
There are a huge number of things to do in the Lake District for couples including romantic boat rides, invigorating mountain walks and quirky excursions Whether you’re planning a Valentines break in the Lake District, a honeymoon, minimoon, or simply a romantic weekend away, you’ll find plenty of things to do during a memorable couple's retreat.
We’ve put together a list of our absolute favourites, but we couldn’t possibly include them all here! You can find even more days out and ideas for couples in our things to do guide.
Go on a romantic Lake District boat trip
Hop on a cruise boat or hire a rowing boat! You can do so at most of the lakes, so pick your favourite location and jump aboard. You can hark back to a previous era with parasol in hand or get involved and get rowing. If the weather’s nice, why not put down your oars and float in blissful serenity? Just watch out for other sailors!
Top romantic boat trips in the Lake District
- Windermere Evening Cruise: Wrap up well and watch the sun go down behind the fells surrounding England’s favourite lake.
- Ullswater Circular: Ride a heritage ‘Steamer’ on a full 20-mile round trip of Ullswater, widely considered to be the Lake District’s most beautiful lake.
- Rowing on Derwentwater: Up the romance when you hire a rowing boat on Derwentwater. You can recite some poetry if you like, or just take it easy and enjoy the scenery.
Meet an alpaca
Image credit: Alpacaly Ever After
These adorably fluffy creatures are an absolute delight to meet, feed, and walk through the beautiful Lake District. If you’re after something a little bit different, an alpaca walk with Alpacaly Ever After near Keswick makes for a wonderful day out in the Lake District for couples. Walk with the friendly alpacas or go on a hike with a fascinating llama!
Get out on two wheels
Zip down mountain passes, career along forest paths, or gently glide along flat coastal routes. If you’re a lover of cycling - or just fancy giving it a go during your stay - you’ll find plenty of options in the Lake District and Cumbria. Both mountain biking and road cycling are in abundance, and you can hire bikes - including e-bikes - from numerous locations if you don’t fancy bringing your own. You can even hire tandem bikes for the ultimate couple’s cycling experience!
Try these bike rides for two
- The Solway Coast: A long, flat route with the sea to the west and the Lake District mountains to the east. Mostly off-road.
- Whinlatter Pass: A difficult road climb for enthusiastic cycling couples who love a challenge. Lovely forest setting with occasional wide-reaching panoramas.
- The Grasmere Trail: A moderate route through the stunning scenery of the Central Lakes. Mostly off-road with lakeside sections.
Enjoy a spa day
Image credit: Lodore Fall Spa
Pack your cossie and head to a fabulous Lake District spa for a luxurious day of relaxation and pampering for you and your other half. There are all sorts of treatments available, from facials and massages to mud baths and body wraps at places such as Lodore Fall Spa. You can get a sweat on at the gym before relaxing again in the pools, saunas and hot tubs. Delightful!
Try these spa days
- The Falls Spa, Borrowdale: An indoor pool, outdoor hot tub and outdoor infinity pool with views over Derwentwater.
- The Spa at Low Wood Bay, Windermere: Lake views, exclusive treatments and a fellside sauna.
- Aqua Sana, Whinfell Forest Park: A spa within a wildlife park and red squirrel sanctuary. Exotic treatments from all around the world.
Eat a quality meal
The Lake District truly is a foodie paradise and you can whet your appetite at both cosy local pubs and high-end Michelin restaurants. Or, if you want to DIY it - think candlelight dinners and romantic lakeside picnics - why not make use of the amazing local produce on offer? Pick something up at a local supplier or get a meal delivered to your door!
Visit Grasmere and Rydal Water
Visit any of the Lake District lakes for a great day out for couples, but we particularly like Grasmere and Rydal for their beauty and charm. This pair of small lakes provide an easy circular walk, with plenty of interest on the way. Explore hidden caves, pop into stately homes, or even take a dip in the water! Once you’re back in the village of Grasmere, you can treat yourself to some famous Grasmere Gingerbread®.
Try an adventure
Image credit: Keswick Adventures
Are you a couple that likes to get the adrenaline pumping? Then an outdoor adventure is just the thing for you.
The Lake District is a giant playground for outdoor activity lovers, offering pursuits such as climbing, ghyll scrambling and paddleboarding. If you’re experienced, you can go at it on your own, but there are also lots of wonderful outdoor adventure companies who will take you out for a rip-roaring time!
Best outdoor activities for couples
- Ghyll scrambling: See the Lake District like never before - from inside a river canyon. Slip down waterfalls, splash into plunge pools, and get soaked through!
- Kayaking: A more relaxed way of experiencing the scenery from the water. Cross a lake or river under your own steam, going as rapidly or as slowly as you like.
- Rock climbing: Rock climbing takes two, so it’s the perfect outdoor (or indoor) activity for a couple. Experience the thrill of scaling a rock face and the fun of belaying back down again.
Take a starlit stroll
If you’re looking for romantic things to do in the Lake District, then you couldn’t choose better than a wonderful starlit stroll on a crystal-clear night. Find some of the darkest skies in the country alongside gently lapping lakes, on a wide-open moor, or, for those experienced in night hiking, up on the tallest fells.
Stargazing is often best done on a cool night, so make sure you wrap up cosy and warm and take a hot drink with you. The colder weather also gives you a great excuse to cuddle up close!
Float through the air
Fancy seeing the Lake District from a completely different angle? Well, you’ll want to get up as high as possible!
For something really romantic, book an experience in a hot air balloon and watch the sun rise or set as you glide elegantly over Windermere and the South Lakes. Toast to your partner with your heads - almost literally - in the clouds. You won’t want to come back down to earth!
Learn a new skill
Do you and your other half love experiencing new things? Taking a class or short course while you’re visiting the Lake District is an amazing way to spend some quality time together. From popular cookery classes to Quirky Workshop crafts, there’s something to suit every taste.
Classes for couples
- Build a pizza oven: If you’re a foodie, you’ll love learning how to make your own pizza oven to recreate back home for fresh pizza whenever you fancy.
- Mountain navigation: What better place than in the Lake District to learn about navigation? Stay safe on the fells with mountain skills and navigation courses.
- Cooking classes: Create your own romantic dinner at home with the help of cooking classes. Whether you already love cooking or can only make toast, you can find a perfect cookery class with Chef Academy.
Visit a hidden waterfall
There’s little more romantic than discovering a quiet forest dell and hearing the splashing refrains of a tumbling waterfall. Take a walk to one of the falls in the Lake District with your significant other and you’ll enjoy a delightful hour or two chasing the river.
Wonderful waterfalls
- Rydal Falls, Rydal: Close to one of William Wordsworth’s former homes, a stonebuilt hut sits next to this pretty waterfall. Cuddle up in the window seat as you admire the view.
- Stanley Ghyll Force, Eskdale: The towering waterfall plunges into a beautiful fairy glen that feels completely isolated from the world. Or see it from above via a handy viewing platform.
- Stock Ghyll Force, Ambleside: A short walk from the centre of Ambleside, this wide waterfall is a pleasant turning point on an easy evening stroll together.
Take a brewery or distillery tour
Image credit: The Lakes Distillery
For duos who enjoy a tipple, get yourself on a distillery or brewery tour at the headquarters of one of the quality makers in the Lake District. Guides will show you how their drinks are made, and you can usually enjoy a few samples once you’re done. Then, of course, you can pick yourself up a treat at the gift shop!
Experience farm life
Ever wanted to experience life on a farm? Meeting the animals or driving the machinery, you can get a taste of rural life during a farm experience day. At Old Hall Farm in Bouth, you’ll make butter, milk cows, work shire horses and explore vintage farm machinery. Or head over to one of the Lake District’s most photographed buildings - Yew Tree Farm - to meet the Herdwick sheep.
Catch a romantic film at an Art Deco cinema
Forget all about your usual cinema experience and get ready for something really special. At the Alhambra Cinema in Keswick, you get a gorgeous Art Deco picture house that is one of only a few to have been in continuous operation for over 100 years! Family run, it shows the most modern blockbusters alongside unique Indie films, world cinema, classic favourites, and recordings of live shows.
Climb a mountain
You’re in the Lake District, so you just have to climb a mountain - it’s practically the law! But don’t worry if you’re not a big hiker, there are lots of small and easy fells to climb. You can even drive halfway up some of them!
Climbing a mountain with your partner is a wonderful way to spend time together and really feel like you’ve achieved something as a couple. You can encourage each other when things get tough and then sit and take a quiet moment admiring the views once you reach the peak. What could be more perfect?
Favourite romantic mountain walks
- Haystacks, Buttermere: With an outlook over multiple lakes, Scafell Pike, and Great Gable, this moderate mountain walk has the most romantic of views.
- Scafell Pike, Wasdale: Sit on top of the world with your loved one when you hike to the top of England’s highest mountain. Though it’s a bit of a slog, reaching the top together is something the two of you will remember forever.
- Orrest Head, Windermere: An easy mountain walk with stunning views, and where Alfred Wainwright first fell in love with the Lake District.
Romantic self-catering Lake District cottages
The Roe in the Vale
If you’re looking forward to a romantic break, browse our holiday cottages for two. They’re the perfect base for days out in the Lake District for couples!
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.