With its rolling hills, dramatic skylines, and endless green spaces to run around in, it’s not surprising that you’ll want to take your pooch with you on your caravan trip to this beautiful part of England. Here are the best walks for you and your four legged friend, from long to short, hilly to flat.
Barrow Fell: 3 miles
Barrow Fell is one of those walks which has minimal effort, but throws up the epic rewards of an eight hour hike up a huge mountain. There are easy gradients on this beautiful stroll, as well as a 360 degree view from the summit. Along the way you’ll be able to see Bassenthwait Lake, Keswick, Causey Pike, and Derwentwater. And, most importantly, there are a good range of pubs to finish off your day in Braithite too.
Grasmere and Rydal: 5 miles
For more varied terrain and for a longer walk, try the circuit of Grasmere and Rydal. You can start your route in the village of Grasmere and head out to the lake, before dipping through woodland and coming out in Rydal, where there are, again, several dog-friendly pubs which are perfect for fuelling up and for a pit stop. When you are all fed and watered, you’ll head on to the ‘coffin trail’, called such because it was once used as a route for mourners to bury their dead, as there was no burial ground or cemetery in the village. You’ll see several large resting stones along the way, where those carrying the coffins would set it down for a rest!
Derwent Water: 9 miles
This is probably one of the most popular walks in the Lakes, but with good reason as it’s an absolute stunner! In the winter the peaks glisten with snow, autumn sees them burn in pinks and oranges, and summer they are so green they don’t even look real. If you manage to catch Derwent on a still day, these views all perfectly reflect in water below. This is an easy stroll around the lake, and you can choose to go either clockwise or anticlockwise from The Moot Hall in Keswick.
Ullswater: 8 miles
Start your work with a journey on a steam train from Glenridding to Howton, where both you and your pupper can enjoy sitting out on the deck watching the views roll by. Hop off when you get to Howton, and take the path to the right; this leads all the way to Patterdale without any difficulties with navigation. There are several miles of of path which are alongside the lake which are great for stick throwing and running. You can stop at Side Farm for a break, or carry on another half a mile to end your walk at the White Lion - one of the best dog friendly pubs in the whole of The Lakes.
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