The Lake District has some amazing walks that can be enjoyed with your dog. With miles of footpaths, the Lake District is a dog walkers paradise. Here’s my guide to my top 10 best Lake District dog walks.
The Lake District is one of the best parts of the UK to go on holiday with your dog. There are miles of dog-friendly walks, ranging from gentle strolls to arduous mountain climbs. Whatever types of walks your dog enjoys, the Lake District has something for everyone. My top 10 best Lake District dog walks will give you a variety of different length walks of varying difficulties, so you can enjoy some beautiful views and walks with your dog.
Preparing for the best Lake District dog walks
To enjoy all of the best Lake District dog walks, make sure you’re prepared for your walk. Always check the weather forecast and take a good waterproof coat – it can rain a lot in the Lake District! It’s always good to have a map and compass as well, especially on the longer walks that aren’t as well sign posted. Make sure you’ve got plenty of food and drink – including plenty of water for your dog as well.
The Lake District is home to lots of animals, and lots of sheep. Many of the best Lake District dog walks will pass through fields of sheep. Or you might encounter sheep at any time, as they freely graze on the sides of the mountains. Make sure you always keep your dog on a lead around sheep. This is important all year round, but especially in the spring when there are lambs as well. And of course, take plenty of poo bags with you as well so you can pick up after your dog.
With some basic preparation like this, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy your day out. So here are my top 10 best Lake District dog walks.
1. Walk from Grasmere to Easedale Tarn
The first of my best Lake District dog walks is the walk from Grasmere to Easedale Tarn. This is considered a moderate walk in the Lake District, but it’s not too difficult if you and your dog have decent levels of fitness. The whole walk is about 5 miles long, with around 450m elevation gain.
The walk starts in the pretty village of Grasmere. Make sure you keep your dog on a lead to start with, as you’ll be walking next to the busy road in the village. You then take the well-signposted small road that starts to climb uphill, and then turn off to the footpath.
There are often sheep in the fields around the early stages of this walk. So make sure you keep your dog on a lead, even after you leave the road.
The path climbs uphill towards the waterfall called Sour Milk Ghyll. It’s a beautiful walk, and a great place to stop for some photos. The views back down the valley from this point are amazing as well.
Continue walking uphill, and continue to enjoy the views as you leave the waterfall and emerge into the higher mountain peaks.
Easedale Tarn lake
The lake at Easedale Tarn suddenly comes into view ahead of you. It’s a really pretty lake, surrounded by the mountains. There are plenty of beaches that lead right down to the edge of the water. So if your dog is fond of swimming and it’s a hot day, your dog can easily have a gently swim in the lake to cool down.
There are plenty of picnic spots around the lake as well, so take some time to relax here and enjoy the views. Then retrace your steps back down to the village of Grasmere. There are lots of dog-friendly pubs and tea rooms in the village of Grasmere as well, so you can head to one of these at the end of your walk.
2. Catbells
The walk up to the top of Catbells is definitely one of the best dog walks in the Lake District. It’s one of my favourite walks in the whole Lake District.
The walk up to Catbells is considered a moderate walk, but it’s a bit more difficult that the walk from Grasmere to Easedale Tarn. There’s a lovely circular Catbells walk that is about 5 miles long, with an elevation gain of 450m.
Taking the boat from Keswick to Hawes End
The walk up to Catbells starts at Hawes End, on the edge of Derwentwater. There’s limited parking here – so if you want to park here, you’ll need to get here very early. It’s usually easier to park in Keswick at the Lakeside car park and take the boat across Derwentwater from Keswick to Hawes End. The boat only takes about 10 minutes, and dogs are allowed on the Keswick Launch boats. Check out the boat times and prices here.
From Hawes End, the path up to Catbells begins climbing uphill quite steeply straight away. But you’re soon rewarded with some of the best views in the Lake District. From Catbells, you get amazing views down to Derwentwater, with the tall mountain Skiddaw to the north of the lake. Take the climb slowly, and make sure you have plenty of water for your dog if the weather is hot.
The top of Catbells
The path levels out for a while to walk along the top of the ridge. And then there’s the final ascent to the summit of Catbells fell. This final ascent is the most challenging part of the walk, as the rocky path requires some scrambling to get up. You’ll need to use your hands to balance on the rocks to climb up. Take care with your dog, as some smaller dogs might need to be lifted up some sections of the rock. But I climbed up Catbells on a busy day, and there were plenty of dogs. And on most of the scramble sections, the dogs seemed to be managing it better than most people!
Take time at the top of Catbells to have a picnic and enjoy the stunning views.
Continue walking along the path to gently descend down the other side of Catbells. The path downhill is definitely a lot easier! When the path forks, you can take the path to the left to walk parallel to Derwentwater back to Hawes End. There might be sheep on this part of the walk, so be ready to put your dog on a lead if necessary. The views from this path are just as stunning.
Back at Hawes End, you can get the next available boat back to Keswick. And when you get back to Keswick, there’s an ice cream shop next to the beach that sells doggy ice cream (as well as human ice cream!). It’s the perfect treat for you and your dog after the long walk.
3. Castlerigg Stone Circle
Castlerigg Stone Circle is another great dog walk in the Lake District. There’s a small car park near the stone circle, so if you want an easier day in the Lake District, you can drive here and just go for a gentle walk around the stones. Alternatively, you can park in Keswick and walk up to Castlerigg Stone Circle in a 4 mile circular walk.
Castlerigg Stone Circle dates back 4000 – 5000 years. It’s a fascinating piece of history, set on a high plateau with amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. It’s a great place to let your dog explore while you enjoy the history and the views.
4. The Ullswater Way
For a more gentle Lake District dog walk, you can walk a section of the Ullswater Way. The Ullswater Way is a footpath that goes all the way around the pretty lake, Ullswater. The path is about 20 miles long in total, so most people choose to do a section of the path and then turn back. Alternatively, you can walk a section of the path and then take the boat back. The Ullswater Steamers run a regular timetable, with piers at various points around the lake, and dogs are welcome on the boats. Check out the timetable for the Ullswater Steamers here.
Some sections of the Ullswater Way footpath are next to the road. So on these sections of the path, you’ll need to keep your dog on a short lead. The section of the path from Glenridding to Aira Force is a popular section of the path, but this section of the path is quite close to the road and will involve a small amount of walking on the road. So if your dog isn’t keen on walking close to cars, it would be best to choose a different section of the Ullswater Way to walk.
All around Ullswater, there are lots of small beaches that lead down to the lake. These are perfect for dogs who enjoy swimming. The beaches are all dog friendly, with gentle gradients into the water.
This walk is also a great Lake District dog walk for days when the weather isn’t so great. If it’s too rainy or cold to be hiking high up into the mountains, then a lakeside walk is the perfect choice. I did this walk one time on a really icy, frosty day and the views were amazing, and the path felt safe and accessible.
5. Aira Force to Gowbarrow Fell
Another moderately challenging Lake District dog walk is the walk from Aira Force to Gowbarrow Fell. This whole walk is about 5 miles long, and involves an elevation gain of about 400m. Unlike Catbells, this walk doesn’t involve any scrambling over rocks, so it’s a more accessible walk for dogs who might not like to be climbing up rocks.
You can park at the National Trust car park at Aira Force. From the car park, follow the sign posted path up to Aira Force waterfall. It’s a really impressive waterfall, and you can walk up close to it. Keep your dog on a lead around here, as this path can be busy, and there are steep drops down to the waterfall.
Keep walking upstream past the waterfall, and continue walking up the river. After a while, you’ll emerge from the trees and see the sign posted path to your right, up to the top of Gowbarrow Fell. This is where the climb gets more steep. The path is good, so it’s an accessible walk as long as you and your dog have a good level of fitness.
Gowbarrow Fell summit
Keep climbing uphill until you get to the trig point that marks the summit of Gowbarrow Fell. The views from here are amazing, with especially good views down to Ullswater.
Continue walking the circular route that descends gradually from Gowbarrow. The path runs parallel to Ullswater Lake, with the lake on your left. The views all the way down are just stunning. The path slowly descends until you get back to Aira Force car park. You can find a more detailed guide to this walk here.
6. Grasmere Lake circular path
Another of the best Lake District dog walks for a more gentle walk is the Grasmere Lake circular path. Grasmere Lake is a really pretty lake, right next to the village of Grasmere. It’s a fairly small lake, so it’s possible to walk all the way around it in a fairly gentle walk. It’s a perfect Lake District dog walk for dogs who aren’t too keen on the idea of steep climbs.
Be aware that some sections of this walk will be walking on a pavement next to the road. So you’ll need to keep your dog on a short lead, as the pavement isn’t very wide. But there are other sections of this walk that aren’t next to the road, so your dog can have more freedom to explore here.
The views across Grasmere lake are lovely, in all weathers. This is another Lake District dog walk that’s easy to do even if the weather isn’t great. As long as you’ve got a good waterproof coat, and your dog doesn’t mind getting wet, you can enjoy this dog walk in the rain.
7. Skelwith Force to Elterwater
The walk from Skelwith Force to Elterwater is another more gentle Lake District dog walk. Skelwith Force is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Lake District. I visited on a snowy day in the winter, with the rocks around the waterfall covered in snow and ice. The path was a bit slippery in the ice, but manageable. But in warmer weather, the path around Skelwith Force will be easily accessible. Just make sure you keep your dog on a lead, as there are some steep drops down to the water.
This walk continues past the waterfall and on to Elterwater. The rest of this walk is fairly flat, and mostly goes through fields and meadows. Make sure you check whether there are any sheep in these fields before you let your dog off lead. These meadows can often have sheep grazing, so keep your dog on a lead if there are sheep nearby.
Elterwater is a pretty, small lake. It’s a nice picnic spot in warm weather. Then, retrace your steps back to Skelwith Force.
8. Lake Windermere lakeside path
Another of the more gentle Lake District dog walks is the Lake Windermere lakeside path. Like the other lakeside paths, this is a flat and easy walk. Lake Windermere is the biggest lake in England, so it isn’t possible to walk all the way around the lake in one day. But you can still choose a section of the lakeside path to walk.
Bowness-on-Windermere is the most popular place in Windermere, and there’s lots of places to park here. Once you get to the lake, there’s a small beach where your dog can go in the water. But be aware that there are often a lot of ducks, geese and swans here. You’ll often find children feeding the ducks here, so the ducks, geese and swans came come right up onto the beach. If your dog is at all reactive to geese or swans, make sure you keep it on a short lead and don’t let it chase the birds here.
The rest of this walk is generally a lot quieter. So your dog will be able to swim in other parts of the lake even if it’s too busy on the beach at Bowness-on-Windermere.
Another great way to explore Lake Windermere is to take a boat on the lake. There are boat trips that go from Bowness-on-Windermere, and also Ambleside Pier at the top of the lake. Dogs are welcome on board the lake cruises. I always enjoy the ‘red’ route which goes from Bowness up to Ambleside and back again. This boat trip gives great views across the lake to the Langdale Pikes mountains. And it’s a great way to see the views if your dog is tired of walking!
9. Climb up Helvellyn from Thirlmere
One of the most impressive Lake District dog walks is the climb up the mountain Helvellyn. However, this is a long and challenging walk. So only attempt this walk if your dog is used to full-day walks with steep uphill climbs. Helvellyn is over 900m tall, and while it’s a great dog walk, it’s only for fit and experienced dogs (and people!).
To climb Helvellyn with your dog, take the path up from Thirlmere Lake. It’s definitely not a good idea to attempt to climb Helvellyn with a dog along the Striding Edge route. The route along Striding Edge from Glenridding is not a dog-friendly walk. It involves difficult scrambling along the top of a ridge, with steep drops on either side. It’s an incredibly challenging route. Instead, take the route from Thirlmere up Helvellyn. This path is still steep, but at least there’s no scrambling along the top of a ridge.
If you’re climbing Helvellyn with your dog, make sure you take plenty of water for your dog for the climb. Take your time, with frequent breaks to enjoy the views. Only attempt this mountain climb on a sunny day, where you’ll be able to enjoy the views and won’t end up lost in a cloud. But on a sunny day, this walk really is one of the best Lake District dog walks.
10. Scaffel Pike
The last of my top 10 best Lake District dog walks is the walk up Scaffel Pike. Scaffel Pike is the highest mountain in England. Like Helvellyn, it’s a long and challenging climb. So it should only be attempted by dogs and humans who are experienced in long walks and uphill climbs. If your dog normally does a 30-minute walk around the block at home each day, this walk is not for you. But if you’ve got a working breed dog with endless energy, you could try this walk.
As with so many of the best Lake District dog walks, you get amazing views as soon as you start climbing uphill. Take your time, and take breaks to enjoy the views and take photos. The views are best on a clear day, where you can see for miles. It’s an amazing sense of achievement to climb the highest mountain in England. And if you manage this walk, you’ll definitely deserve a drink at the pub that evening!
Hope you enjoy my top 10 Lake District dog walks! Make sure you also check out my detailed guide to the best walks in the Lake District, the best viewpoints in the Lake District, and also my guide to visiting the top things to do in the Lake District in winter. If you’re looking for more dog walks in the UK, check out my guides to the best dog walks on the Gower Peninsula, the best dog walks in the Forest of Dean, and the best dog walks around Bournemouth and Poole.
