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15 Short Walks in the Lake District: Windermere Ambleside and Grasmere - Front Cover
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15 Short Walks in the Lake District: Windermere Ambleside and Grasmere

Discover 15 of the best short walks around Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. Each walk comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps, clear route description and lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means walks can be enjoyed by everyone.

The eBook is also sold by Google Play Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo.

Available in Cicerone Outdoor Adventures app

Quick facts

  • Location: Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and surrounding areas, Lake District, Cumbria, North‑West England, UK (including Bowness, Orrest Head, Hill Top, Wray Castle, Elterwater, Helm Crag, Rydal and more)
  • Total walks: 15 selected short walks
  • Typical duration: Under 3 hours each (mostly)
  • Distance per walk: 5–11 km (3–7 miles)
  • Walk type: Easy day walks with one longer challenge route
  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate; short climbs and gentle terrain suitable for most walkers
  • Navigation: Clear Ordnance Survey® maps and step-by-step route descriptions included
  • Highlights: Loughrigg, Elterwater, Orrest Head, Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top, Wray Castle, the Lion and the Lamb, Dove Cottage, Silver How, Easedale Tarn, Wordsworth’s Grasmere, panoramic viewpoints, waterfalls, and cosy tea rooms and pubs
  • Best season: Walkable all year round; enjoy wildflowers in spring, long days in summer, autumn colours, and magical winter landscapes (weather and conditions permitting)

Detailed overview

Discover the Lake District’s iconic beauty with this expertly curated collection of 15 short walks in and around Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. Each route has been handpicked for its stunning scenery, local interest and accessibility, inviting you to explore the heart of the Lake District National Park at a relaxed pace, perfect for families, newcomers and anyone seeking gentle adventure.

  • Each walk comes with a clear, easy-to-follow Ordnance Survey® map and step-by-step route description, making navigation in the Lake District simple and enjoyable for walkers of all experience levels.
  • Practical information is included for every route in the Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere areas, covering parking, public transport options, facilities and must-see highlights, so you can focus on making the most of your day.
  • Discover classic Lake District landscapes as you stroll through ancient woodlands, picturesque villages and along shimmering lakeshores, with panoramic viewpoints at Orrest Head, Wansfell and Loughrigg, the storybook charm of Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top, and the literary heritage of Wordsworth’s Grasmere.
  • Routes range from 5 to 11km (all under three hours), including an optional longer challenge walk (Helm Crag), and are graded easy to moderate, with short climbs but no technical terrain, ideal for a relaxed outing or walk with the whole family in the Lake District.
  • Enjoy the best of Lake District hospitality, with recommendations for welcoming pubs and cosy tea rooms along the way, plus expert tips for every season, from spring’s wildflowers and summer’s long days to autumn’s fiery colours and the crisp magic of winter walks.

Part of Cicerone’s trusted Short Walks series, this Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere guidebook is perfect for exploring the region’s most memorable walks. Whether you’re discovering waterfalls, caves and historic sites, or simply soaking up the views and vibrant village life, this guide offers everything you need for a rewarding day out in the Lake District’s most captivating corners.

Where and when to go

Seasons

Suitable for walking in all seasons, although generally the best weather is in spring, summer and autumn. Winter can be cold and wet, with snow and ice.

Centres

Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside and Grasmere

Difficulty

Lower routes are suitable for nearly all abilities; however, suitable clothing and footwear are recommended for the higher hill walks, and these are essential in winter months when paths can be icy, even at low levels. Basic navigation skills are valuable for the higher routes and in poor weather.

Must See

The lakes and tarns of Windermere, Grasmere, Rydal Water, Easedale Tarn, Loughrigg Tarn and Elter Water; Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount (former homes of poet William Wordsworth); Hill Top (former home of children's author Beatrix Potter); Galava Roman Fort; Townend farmhouse; Wray Castle; traditional Lakeland pubs and inns; waterfalls; viewpoints; woodland; ancient bridges; traditional farms; hardy fell sheep and lambs; lake cruises and ferries

Table of contents


Location of walks


Map key

Using this guide


Routes in this book


Clothing and footwear


Walk descriptions


Maps, GPX files and what3words


Walking with children


Dogs


Enjoying the countryside responsibly

Route summary table

Introduction


Walking in the Lake District


Things to see


Where to stay


Travel

The walks


Walk 1 Bowness, Windermere and School Knott


Walk 2 Windermere, Orrest Head and Holehird Gardens


Walk 3 Near and Far Sawrey, and Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top


Walk 4 Windermere’s western shore and Wray Castle


Walk 5 Troutbeck village and upper valley


Walk 6 Wansfell, Troutbeck and Robin Lane


Walk 7 High and Low Sweden Bridges from Ambleside


Walk 8 Lily Tarn, Windermere view and Galava Roman Fort


Walk 9 Loughrigg from Ambleside


Walk 10 Ambleside to Elterwater


Walk 11 Elterwater and Red Bank


Walk 12 Dove Cottage, Grasmere and Rydal


Walk 13 Silver How from Grasmere


Walk 14 Easedale Tarn


Walk 15 Helm Crag – The Lion and the Lamb


Useful information

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN9781786311528
AvailabilityPublished
Published27 May 2025
Reprinted30 April 2027
Weight 130g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

What is the Cicerone app?

The Cicerone App is your on-trail companion: GPS-enabled maps, route information and planning tools from our guidebooks, built for use on the move. Browse and buy guides directly in the app, then follow expert-curated routes, explore local landmarks and points of interest, and check facilities information as you go.

Find out more about the Cicerone App FAQs here, for further details.

Key features:

  • Expert-curated routes – Follow routes crafted by expert authors who know each area inside out.
  • Plan with confidence – Find detailed facilities information and discover local landmarks along the way.
  • Your adventure library, always with you – Access your purchased guides anytime and discover new adventures in our expanding digital collection, from local day walks to epic treks.

Get the app on the App Store or Google Play.

Please note: GPX files are downloaded separately and are designed for use in other mapping apps or GPS devices. They cannot be viewed within the Cicerone app.

Updates

Currently there are no updates for this book.

Meet the authors

Lesley Williams

Lesley Williams

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Originally from Oxfordshire, Lesley's lifelong passion for walking, trekking and, more recently, cycle touring has taken her to many corners of the UK, Europe and occasionally further afield. Although now mostly retired, she has been a director of Cicerone for over 25 years, leading its sales and marketing team. Lesley is a qualified marketing professional, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the author of Walking the Tour of the Lake District. Lesley shares a passion for alpine walking and trekking with husband Jonathan and together they have written several guidebooks. Based between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, they relish every excuse to spend days exploring and writing.

Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams

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A proud Yorkshireman, Jonathan first climbed a mountain before he was born. Although he first met Lesley at sea, they have spent many years exploring mountains and trails in Britain and Europe. After nearly 25 years as Cicerone's publisher and managing director, he now supports the team whilst exploring, updating and writing guides. He has developed UK guides and walked throughout Europe, but his special subject is the Alps and Switzerland. He has worked on guidebooks including Chamonix to Zermatt: the Walker's Haute Route, Trekking in the Vanoise, the Swiss Via Alpina and the Tour du Mont Blanc, as well as walking guides to Zermatt and Saas Fee, Arolla and Zinal and the Bernese Oberland.