scenic highlights...
The Lake District's greatest asset is its natural environment and at 885 square miles, it is England's largest National Park.
The landscape is a real wonder of nature. Impressive peaks rise grandly, reflected in still waters. At their feet, intriguing Lake District valleys lie waiting to be explored.
Undulating hills are lushly decorated with every shade of green while moorland and peat bogs add their own colours and textures to the fabric of the fells. Woods and forests nestle in hillsides and, along the Cumbrian coast, sandstone cliffs meet sandy dunes, bathed by the ceaseless ebb and flow of the tide.
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Scenic highlights
Mountains & valleys
Explore the Lake District fells and mountains or wander along the valley floors. There is so much to see in Cumbria and so many views to enjoy.
mountains
borrowdale valley
Lakes & rivers
The lakes in the Lake District are England's longest and deepest, and there are plenty more all in different shapes and sizes.
lakes
Waterfalls
The inspiration of writers old and new. While fells and lakes define the Lake District landscape there are more wonders of nature to see such as waterfalls.
waterfalls
Forests & woodland
Home to a rare and thriving population. Nesting ospreys, red squirrels and red deer. The Lake District woodlands provide shelter for a micro-world of mosses and lichens.
forests & woodland
Oddities
Submerged forest
The remains of a submerged forest can be seen at low tide to the south of Beckfoot, near SillothBorrowdale Sop
The Borrowdale Sop is a small cloud that develops at the head of Borrowdale near Styhead Tarn. Weather watchers monitor its movements to predict the weather. If it goes towards St John's in the Vale, the weather will continue to be fair; but if it heads towards Langdale, rain will follow within a dayFrozen lake
In 1895, Windermere became ice-bound for 6 weeks, making it possible to walk across from one side to the other. Other frozen years were 1864, 1946 and 1963.Floating island
Derwentwater has a floating island that sporadically appears towards the end of summer. It consists of a mass of vegetable matter that rises to the surface on a cushion of methane gas.Orrest Head, Windermere
Orrest Head was the first summit visited by Alfred Wainwright and he later recalled that ‘those few hours at Orrest Head cast a spell that changed my life'.
Scenic highlights on a map
Using the map
The map shows the location of the scenic highlights in the county. The darker the sandy colour the more features there are in that area.More about this image
Favourite picnic spot
Fell Foot Park, Newby Bridge has been shortlisted for the UK's favourite picnic spot in this year's Warburtons Picnic Awards.
Plan my visit tool
Flora and forna
Cumbria has more wildlife sites of national and international importance than any other county. Although we hope you'll encounter some of these plants and creatures we also hope you will help us protect them and their homes.
Flora of the Fells
Wealth Of Wildlife
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
