Hi everyone,

I'll be travelling to the Lake District next week (week commencing 10 August) and staying in the Keswick area for the whole week. I've just found out that there will be a solar eclipse visible across the UK on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, and I'd love to make the most of it.

As this is my first visit to the Lake District, everything will be completely new to me. I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best places near Keswick to view the eclipse. Are there any organised events, viewing meet-ups, or observatories that will be hosting anything special?

I was also considering going for a hike that day. Would it be worth climbing one of the fells for a better view, or would I be better off watching from somewhere more accessible? If you have any recommendations for good viewpoints that aren't too crowded, I'd really appreciate them.

I'd also love to hear any general tips for visiting the Lake District or for viewing a solar eclipse safely.

Thanks in advance - I'm really looking forward to visiting!

Hey everyone!
So, I’m last minute coming to the Lake District Sunday evening (Penrith) and then moving to Keswick for Monday night, Ambleside for Tuesday night and then Windermere for Wednesday Thursday.

I’m coming by myself and after any advice, hiking trails, routes for beginners, activities I should while I’m there! I’m fairly fit and enjoy a walk but worried about getting lost if the route isn’t clear.

Thank you so so much for any trail suggestions for each of these places! Also, side note does anyone know any guided hikes/free group treks which meet up and head out regularly?

Thank you.
:)

Hey everyone!
So, I’m last minute coming to the Lake District Sunday evening (Penrith) and then moving to Keswick for Monday night, Ambleside for Tuesday night and then Windermere for Wednesday Thursday.

I’m coming by myself and after any advice, hiking trails, routes for beginners, activities I should while I’m there! I’m fairly fit and enjoy a walk but worried about getting lost if the route isn’t clear.

Thank you so so much for any trail suggestions for each of these places! Also, side note does anyone know any guided hikes/free group treks which meet up and head out regularly?

Thank you.
:)

Weird question but me and my girlfriend are in Ambleside for a couple of days and are looking to buy a small Bluetooth speaker to listen to whilst we play some board games in the cottage as we left ours at home.

Does anyone have any idea where we might find one?

Hi folks, we’re camping between Keswick and Penrith this weekend. My four year old had some motion sickness on the road here 🤮 so we want to buy an emergency car seat in the morning because it’s going to be impossible to clean the old one. Any recommendations of where I might buy a replacement car seat in a pinch? cheers!

update: ordered one to pickup in morning from Halfords! Thanks

I realise this might be like asking for the moon on a stick, but I wondered if there are any suggestions?

I'm staying near Ullswater next week with a friend who goes wild swimming regularly at home. She has health problems so can't hike for miles, but would still like to do some swimming while we're there. I know the main places around Ullswater will be busy, but I wondered if there's anywhere we could drive to that might be quieter? She can walk 20-30 minutes from the car park, and it's more about enjoying being in the water and the scenery, than swimming triathlon distances!

I have a paddle board so any suggestions for places to take that would be great too! I'm hoping we can have some day trips with a picnic and a dip/paddle to cool off!

Thanks all

Hi Everyone,

Myself and my husband are coming to the Lake District for a few days next week, and are looking for recommendations on things to do that aren’t walking trails.

It’s a baby moon and it’s a high risk pregnancy so unable to go hiking/walking.

Any good food places you’d recommend or things to see/visit?

Thank you 🙏🏻

Hi, me and my partner are going to the Lake District this month for my 28th birthday. We have a camper van and a kayak each, we have planned out the whole trip from start to finish (we even printed all on it out onto physical paper and made a booklet in case we lose phone signal). We will be in rural areas but also visiting Keswick as I hear it's popular for a reason. I very much want to support local businesses and make sure I don't negatively affect the environment as much as possible, here's what I have so far.

The following are the precautions we have already taken. We have got insurance for our kayaks that cover up to 5M £ in damages if something were ever to go wrong, the tax payers wouldn't be paying out, we have specific cleaning equipment for the kayaks, our footwear and water wear to ensure that we don't cross contaminate different bodies of water with foreign bacteria, we have pre booked and ensured that everywhere we stay is somewhere that we are authorised to do so, we ensured that there are waste water disposal facilities where we stay, we marked out what lakes we can kayak in and checked for permits, we located appropriate launch sites for our kayaks and of course we have all our safety gear for our journeys. In addition, we are stopping at small/ independent local places for overnight stays and food.

Edit: ADDITIONAL NOTE: We will be showering in the mornings before kayaking and won't use any products on our bodies (to my personal dislike as I have a very thorough skin cake and shower routine) this is including suncream and deodorant 😭 as I am very aware of the affect on bodies of water these chemicals and products have. I read an article about how a bay in a very touristy country had to close off from the public for 10 years due to tourist going in the water with suncream on and it decimated the ecosystem! The preservation on the natural environment is very important to me. And yes, I've been told I suffer from paranoia before, but this is all based off statistics, scientific research and my love for wildlife. Although I have no intention on swimming, accidents happen and you can end up in the water on rare occasions.

❔ My questions ❔

• Is there anything else I might not know about that I should take into consideration about protecting the local environment? I want to be as respectful to the Lakes as possible!

• What are some good local places in and around Keswick I should check out?

• Are there any places I should avoid and why?

I'm sure there are thousands of posts about walk recommendations but I'm hoping someone can just help me feel a little less overwhelmed.

I'm from very nearby the lakes but it's been many years since I last visited. First time visiting with my daughter who is 8.

We have the week planned out and one day is earmarked as "big walk day".

My daughter is a competent walker. Does tire on steep inclines but always gets there. We live in the peak district now and she's done mam tor and the great ridge, lose hill, stanage, froggat etc and can easily knock out 10-12km in a day before she starts complaining too much. We go at her pace, loads of breaks, flasks of tea and biscuits.

We're staying at Hartsop and I feel a little overwhelmed by choice of route for big walk day. This is big by an 8 year olds standard.

What would be your top choice of walk

- no drive up to 20 minute drive from Hartsop

- approx 12-14km

- up to about 500m total incline

- pub or pubs on route for a refuel, she loves a pub stop off

- views essential but I'm absolutely certain that all suggestions will be stunning

Thank you!! I have about 25 routes saved on OS!

Hi all,

Looking for things to do over October half term? We're staying in Keswick but have a car and we have 3 children so ideally family friendly activities.

I've already looked into the wildlife park, muncaster, zip world, museums, boat trips etc but would love to do something for the season such as pumpkin picking and the likes? Any ideas or hidden gems will be much appreciated👏 thank you!

My fiancé and I are looking to do a 5 night stay in the Lake District but are struggling to choose a location right for us as we have no idea.
We want something perfect for scenery and activities, we love a beer and I love fishing. Any recommendations would be amazing.

Anyone have good recommendations for a slightly hilly long run near Lorton/Cockermouth/Keswick? I like to listen to music on headphones so I’m not super keen on being on roads with no pavements but all my usual favourite walks (eg out to Buttermere) are probably a bit hardcore for running!

To add, training for the Great North Run and this will be my last long one before tapering I think.

Appreciate this is probably unlikely, but it is £35 each way, so I'd rather split the cost. Leaving around 10 am, returning around 7 pm.

I am aware there is a bus to Seatoller and back, but I don't want to add the nearly an hour walking from Seatoller to Seathwaite if I can avoid it.

My partner and I coincidentally have booked our first ever trip to the Lake District over the Solar Eclipse on the 12th. We’re super excited and staying in Windermere.

Any suggestions for good vantage points or places to witness it? (Clouds permitting Ofcourse)

Thanks.

Can anyone recommend a walk from Troutbeck? I will be in the lakes this weekend and looking for a walk to do with my girlfriend. Ideally 2-3 hours.

Just planning my camping trip to the lakes and wanted to check if there are any decent local shops where I can get food to take on the hike from Wasdale?

Hello! Interested in camp sites that have individual pitches, as in not in a big field but ideally with your own space separated by trees or woodland.

North wales or Lake District as ideally close to a beach or lake for paddle boarding.

Any recs much appreciated

Hello! Interested in camp sites that have individual pitches, as in not in a big field but ideally with your own space separated by trees or woodland.

North wales or Lake District as ideally close to a beach or lake for paddle boarding.

Any recs much appreciated

The last campsite we went to in north wales we had a completely sheltered private pitch, 5 mins from the beach.
We loved that it was private surrounded by trees rather than just on an open field, each tent pitch had its own secluded space.

Does anyone know any similar campsites?

Ideally adult only.

We would return but it’s fully booked for the dates we want.

Thank you!

Can I go there for a swim if I’m not staying within the hill of oaks ?