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Top 10 picnic spots in the Lake District holiday cottages

Top 10 picnic spots in the Lake District

Ed Roberts 25 August 2021

Welcome to our guide on the best places in the Lake District to go for a picnic. A robust tradition of the British holiday is a picnic. Eating your favourite food whilst taking an exceptional view is a great pastime that everybody should indulge in at least once on their holiday. It’s also a superb way to try out some local delicacies for the first time. Great picnics need not cost the earth either, they are a good way to enjoy some quality time with loved ones surrounded by some fantastic scenery. The Lake District is packed with wonderful picnic spots. Find out all of our best-loved places to have a picnic in the Lake District in our helpful guide below.


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Top 10 picnic spots

Collage of images; Tarn Hows on the left and Wray Castle on the right.

Find the perfect place to lay down a blanket and enjoy some food with friends and family with a backdrop of dramatic mountains and peaceful lakes. Here are ten of the prettiest places to have a picnic in the Lake District.


1. Buttermere

The shoreline of Buttermere.

For a completely unspoilt Lake District experience, take the 4.5-mile route around Buttermere. There's a particularly lovely spot at which to indulge in a picnic at the southwestern tip of the lake. Kids will adore the stone Hassness Tunnel on the east side of the lake. It was created as a passage through the rock to allow a former landowner the ability to walk around the water with ease.

Good to know

  • Parking: National Trust Buttermere car park, Buttermere, Cockermouth CA13 9XA, alternatively there are regular shuttle buses from Cockermouth and Keswick.
  • Nearest facilities: There are facilities including a public toilet in Buttermere.
  • Stay nearby:Yew Tree | Sleeps 2

2. Tarn Hows, near Coniston

Bank of grass looking out over Tarn Hows.

At the heart of the Lake District, Tarn Hows, near Coniston, forms a part of the Monk Coniston Estate, which is preserved by Beatrix Potter and the National Trust: it's a beautiful location with a short circular walk (2 miles) and there are several lovely places along the trail where you can set down your blanket and enjoy a spot of lunch.

Good to know

  • Parking: National Trust Tarn Hows car park, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0PP, alternatively you can park at Monk Coniston and walk to Tarn Hows
  • Nearest facilities: There are toilet facilities at the Tarn Hows and Monk Coniston National Trust car parks.
  • Stay nearby: Bobbin Mill | Sleeps 5 + 3 dogs

3. Easedale Tarn, Grasmere

Pathway leading to Easedale Tarn.

There's something magical about settling down to a tasty picnic lunch by this beautiful Lake District tarn. If you fancy working up an appetite with a good walk before you eat, Easedale Tarn, near Coniston, is the perfect prospect. The route up to the tarn takes you along Sour Milk Ghyll and past eye-catching, frothy cascades. It can be rather breezy at the tarn, so make sure you take an extra layer just in case!

Good to know

  • Parking: You’ll need to park in Grasmere and walk to Easedale Tarn, which is a 5.5-mile circular walk.
  • Nearest facilities: There are no facilities at Easedale Tarn, the nearest are in Grasmere village.
  • Stay nearby: Mews Cottage | Sleeps 4

4. Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater

Calm water at the shore of Glencoyne Bay.

It was on the western shore of Ullswater, near Glencoyne Bay, that William and Dorothy Wordsworth came across the fabled ‘host of golden daffodils’ that inspired his famous poem. Visit in spring to see the carpets of daffodils for yourselves. Many visitors come for Glencoyne’s pebble beach, which makes for an ideal picnic spot. While you tuck into your lunch, take in the view across the lake to Place Fell and down to Barton Fell; the scenery at Ullswater is truly dramatic.

Good to know

  • Parking: National Trust Glencoyne Bay car park, Glencoyne Bridge, Penrith CA11 0NQ.
  • Facilities: The nearest WCs are 1 mile away at Aira Force’s car park.
  • Stay nearby: Seldom Seen Hideaway | Sleeps 4

5. Muncaster Castle Gardens

Muncaster Castle perched on a hill near Ravenglass.

If you're looking for a great-value day out, a visit to Muncaster Castle, near Ravenglass, certainly won't disappoint you. Stroll around 77 acres of castle grounds during your visit, including The Hawk and Owl Centre, the Enchanted Trail and the Meadow Vole Maze. There is an endless choice of places within the estate to enjoy an impromptu lunch as well; the children's adventure playground is situated next to the playground lawn, which has lots of benches as well as picnic tables for a handy lunch stop.

Good to know


6. Wray Castle, near Ambleside

The gothic exterior of Wray Castle with Lake Windermere in background.

It's no coincidence that you can find so many of our favourite picnic areas by water in the Lake District. However, at Wray Castle, near Ambleside, you’ll have a few alternative location choices too. There are some picnic benches outside the faux-Gothic castle, with fabulous views across rolling fields to the hills. There are also further benches overlooking the stone pathway down to the lake. Although there aren't any seats by the lake itself, one of our favourite things is to take a rug and choose a spot along the expanse of grass and small stone beaches - it's so relaxing to listen to the peaceful sound of water lapping against the shore while you eat.

Good to know

  • Parking: Wray Castle, Low Wray, Ambleside LA22 0JA
  • Facilities: There is a play park and toilets for public use.
  • Stay nearby:Manor House Cottage | Sleeps 5 + 2 dogs

7. Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick

Castlerigg Stone Circle in the Lake District.

Prepare the ultimate picnic and seek out this wonderful situation set against a dramatic mountain backdrop; we think Castlerigg Stone Circle makes for an excellent stop-off. The light here is never the same two days running, and Castlerigg is one of Britain's earliest stone circles, dating back to around 3,000 BC! You can take a 2-mile walk to the stone circle from Keswick where you can pick up your picnic provisions from The Keswick Cheese Deli.

Good to know

  • Parking: Castle Lane, Underskiddaw, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RN
  • Facilities: The nearest facilities are at The Hungry Heifer Cafe at Keswick Climbing Wall.
  • Local information: There is a small amount of car parking at the stone circle. It's also possible to walk from Keswick.

8. Brandlehow Park, Derwentwater

Looking across to Derwentwater from Brandelhow Park..

On the western shore of Derwentwater, Brandlehow Park is recognised as the birthplace of the National Trust in the Lake District. The estate was purchased at the beginning of the 1900s with money raised through public subscription. The beaches along this edge of Derwentwater make it an alluring destination for a lakeside feast. Keep a watchful eye for otters; you'll need to be quiet and very patient to be in with a chance of seeing them, they are very timid and wild. You can also take a trip to the beach via the Keswick Launch to arrive in style.

Good to know

  • Parking: There is very limited roadside parking at Brandelhow Park, the postcode is CA12 5UG. You can also park in Keswick and take the Keswick Launch across Derwentwater to High Brandelhow Jetty.
  • Facilities: There are no facilities at High Brandelhow Jetty or Brandelhow Park.
  • Stay nearby:Mill Cottage - Newlands Valley | Sleeps 6 + 2 dogs

9. Fell Foot Park, near Newby Bridge

Fell Foot Park, near Newby Bridge.

At the southern end of Lake Windermere, Fell Foot Park is a fantastic place to take a family lunch, whilst having all the facilities you might need close at hand. Settle down to a delicious picnic on the park's grassy slopes, enjoy a paddle at the lake's edge, or hire a rowing boat if you're feeling particularly energetic! You can relax while children go wild on Fell Foot's adventure playground, and there's a café on-site if you forget anything.

Good to know

  • Parking: Fell Foot, Newby Bridge, Windermere, Cumbria, LA12 8NN
  • Facilities: Playground, toilets and picnic area.
  • Stay nearby:Swan View Railway Cottage | Sleeps 4

10. Ulpha Bridge, Duddon Valley

Ulpha Bridge crossing the Duddon River.

The Duddon Valley is a lesser-known area of the Lake District with pretty beaches, winding lanes, sea views and ancient woodland. Ulpha Bridge is something of a hidden gem for visitors to the Lake District and offers the intrepid adventurer some lovely, secluded spots for a picnic. Supplement your picnic with an ice cream from Ulpha Bridge’s post office after exploring the rambling ruins of Duddon’s old ironworks.

Good to know

  • Parking: Birks Bridge car park, Broughton-in-Furness LA20 6EF
  • Facilities: There are no facilities at Ulpha Bridge.
  • Stay nearby:Carter Ground Barn | Sleeps 8 + 4 dogs

Map of Lake District picnic spots

Discover ten perfect places to enjoy some alfresco food and drink with this map of the ten top Lake District picnic spots:

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What food and drink to include in a Lake District picnic

We’d be remiss not to talk about the goodies in a Lake District picnic in this blog, so here’s the low-down on some of the best locally made products and delicacies that you could include in your hampers and cool bags.

Bread

Many of the larger villages have their own bakeries: we’d recommend Bryson’s in Keswick for delicious crusty loaves and floury rolls.

Meat and fish

Stop by RB Woodall’s butchers for Cumberland sausages and hams. He is the official supplier for the Queen of England. If you love pate, then seek out Bessy Beck’s at the local supermarkets and village shops. We’d recommend the smoked trout pate but there are many different ones to choose from.

Cheese

The Lake District is well-represented for locally made cheeses. Check the delicatessens and cheese counters for the collection of wares that originate in the area, namely Appleby Creamery and the Lake District Cheese Company. The former are loved for their black dub blue, organic brie, and ewe’s milk cheese. Some cheeses are enhanced by chutney, so if you are a sucker for tracklements, then look out for Hawkshead Relish at the shops.

Pies

The Lake District is the place to go for an imaginative pie, from diminutive pork pies to giant pies with elaborate latticework on the top. The local posh pies come from Burbush’s and the locals vouch for Stillfield Farm’s delicious range of meat, vegetarian, and fruit pies. For quiches, try out the handmade ones from J&J Graham’s in Penrith.

Sweets and chocolates

How about a few after-dinner treats? Cumbria is chock-full of sweet and chocolate makers. Try Ye Olde Friar’s in Keswick for a wide selection of locally made chocolates, mint cake and traditional sweets. Kennedy’s in Orton is the ultimate place to go for the best chocolates around or you can try another one of the Queen’s favourites, fudge and toffee from the Penrith Toffee Shop.

Cakes and biscuits

Head to Grasmere where there is a shop that sells Grasmere Gingerbread®, it’s the only place in the world where you can buy it! Bryson’s the baker is the place to raid for freshly baked cakes and biscuits - we’d recommend the fruit cakes which are absolutely scrummy. Go back to J&J Graham’s for their endless selection of cheesecakes, Florentines, flapjacks, and shortbreads.

Butter and jam

There are lots of jam-makers in the area to top a scone to perfection – try Claire’s Handmade. Many Cumbrians would always go for traditional rum butter on their scone, so why not give it a try? Quiggin’s rum butter is our favourite.

Beer

The Hawkshead Brewery make a delicious and interesting selection of ales such as Lakeland Gold bitter and Red Ale. Jennings’ Beer has been brewed in Cockermouth for generations; try their Cumberland Ale.

Tea and coffee

If your picnic hamper is equipped with a flask, we’d recommend Farrer’s teas and coffees or Cumbrian Tea's Rambler's Brew. There’s nothing quite like a warming drink to invigorate you whilst out on the trail!

Where to buy your picnic supplies

  • Booths is the Lake District’s leading supermarket chain, and they are the main stockist for just about all of the local brands, from the smallest to the biggest. The main branches are found in Keswick, Kendal and Windermere. 
  • Also worth a visit is Cranstons Food Hall, in Penrith, Orton Grange, Carlisle or Brampton, and Rheged’s Taste shop. 
  • There are farmers’ markets in Cockermouth, Egremont, Kendal, Milnthorpe, Orton, Penrith, Pooley Bridge, Sedbergh and Ulverston.

Lake District picnic FAQs

There are lots of places you can enjoy a picnic in the Lake District: alongside a lake like Buttermere, up a mountain like Latrigg, in a park such as Fell Foot on Windermere, or even on a long sandy beach at Ravenglass. A picnic is a great way to enjoy the Lake District scenery and some local food.

Much of Windermere’s shores are private, but there are still lots of places for a picnic. Fell Foot park at the southern end of Windermere is a great place to enjoy an al fresco meal, as are the grounds of Brockhole or Wray Castle, which run right down to the water.            


You are not allowed to have BBQs or open fires anywhere in the Lake District because of the fire risk, as well as risk to wildlife, environmental risks and increased chances of littering. Instead, why not grab your picnic blanket and pick up some home-made food from a local café or shop? There are lots of tasty treats on offer!


Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage in the Lake District

At Sally’s we have some superb self-catering holiday cottages for you to choose from. Our collection of properties are located throughout the region in stunning remote situations or within the Lake District’s quaint villages and market towns. Browse our collection today to find the ultimate backdrop for your Lake District adventure.

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.

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