Lake District Circular Walks

Lake District Circular Walks

A collection of circular walking holidays visiting the lakes and mountains of the Lake District National Park.

3 to 13 nights
12-74 miles
Easy / Moderate to Easy

From £360 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

Book your self-guided walking holiday in the Lake District. This UNESCO World Heritage site is England's only true mountain region and contains some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. It provides an enchanting mix of rugged mountains, deep valleys, shimmering lakes, powerful waterfalls and attractive stone-built villages.

Our selection of circular walking holidays in the Lake District National Park provide an enticing mixture of scenery, terrain and challenge. Whether you are looking for fabulous views, picturesque settlements, fascinating history or literary inspiration, each of these walks offers something different, and are ideal for an active but tranquil retreat into the Great British countryside.

Choose your route

  • Lakeland Three Passes Walk
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Lakeland Round
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options South Lakes Short Break
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options North Lakes Short Break
  • This route includes dog friendly tour options Derwentwater Round

Dog friendly tours available

Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.

About this route

4 to 7 nights
36 miles
Easy / Moderate to Moderate / Demanding
2nd January to 24th December
Includes Dog-Friendly Tours

From £505 per person

South Lakes Short Break

As well as beautiful scenery, the Lake District is also famous for its associations with a number of poets, novelists and essayists. This lovely short break option visits many of the places associated with some of its most famous writers.

Beginning at the iconic Lake Windermere, the trail meanders through valleys, over hills and along riverbanks, and enjoys spectacular views from the viewpoints of Orrest Head and Jenkin Crag. The countless beauty spots and charming villages along the walk have inspired numerous writers and artists through the years, including William Wordsworth, Arthur Ransome, John Ruskin and Beatrix Potter, to name just a few.

South Lakes Short Break

Enjoy a preview of the South Lakes Short Break walking holiday, filmed on a recent trip to check and update our route notes. This trail was devised by Contours Walking Holidays, and we think it's one of the best Lake District tours around - see if you agree!
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Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
SLSB1 A circular trail beginning at Windermere 4 nights, 3 days walking Moderate / Demanding £505
SLSB2 A circular trail beginning at Windermere 5 nights, 4 days walking Moderate £630
SLSB3 A circular trail beginning at Windermere 7 nights, 6 days walking Easy / Moderate £880

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
SLSB1 A circular trail beginning at Windermere 4 nights, 3 days walking Moderate / Demanding £505
SLSB2 A circular trail beginning at Windermere 5 nights, 4 days walking Moderate £630
SLSB3 A circular trail beginning at Windermere 7 nights, 6 days walking Easy / Moderate £880
"View over Higgledy-Piggledy Hawkshead" by Petra Cullmann (2024) "View over Higgledy-Piggledy Hawkshead" by Petra Cullmann (2024)
"Stepping Stones between Windermere and Ambleside" by Petra Cullmann (2024) "Stepping Stones between Windermere and Ambleside" by Petra Cullmann (2024)
"Dramatic View to Langdale and Dungeon Ghyll" by Petra Cullmann (2024) "Dramatic View to Langdale and Dungeon Ghyll" by Petra Cullmann (2024)
"Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck in Hawkshead" by Petra Cullmann (2024) "Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck in Hawkshead" by Petra Cullmann (2024)
"Grasmere by the Lake" by Lonna Ramirez (2024) "Grasmere by the Lake" by Lonna Ramirez (2024)
"Great Langdale" by Robert Hincks (2023) "Great Langdale" by Robert Hincks (2023)
"Feeding the Ducks" by Robert Hincks (2023) "Feeding the Ducks" by Robert Hincks (2023)
"Views from the Path" by Robert Hincks (2023) "Views from the Path" by Robert Hincks (2023)
"Looking Back on Grasmere" by Carolyn Hutton (2023) "Looking Back on Grasmere" by Carolyn Hutton (2023)
"Nearing Coniston" by Carolyn Hutton (2023) "Nearing Coniston" by Carolyn Hutton (2023)
"Blea Tarn" by Carolyn Hutton (2023) "Blea Tarn" by Carolyn Hutton (2023)
"Great Langdale Valley" by Carolyn Hutton (2023) "Great Langdale Valley" by Carolyn Hutton (2023)
"View of Lake Windermere" by Jim Bigelow (2019) "View of Lake Windermere" by Jim Bigelow (2019)
"Between Grasmere and Great Langdale" by Jim Bigelow (2019) "Between Grasmere and Great Langdale" by Jim Bigelow (2019)
"Between Langdale and Coniston" by Jim Bigelow (2019) "Between Langdale and Coniston" by Jim Bigelow (2019)
"River Stock Ghyll in Ambleside" by Jim Bigelow (2019) "River Stock Ghyll in Ambleside" by Jim Bigelow (2019)
"Packhorse Bridge" by Jim Bigelow (2019) "Packhorse Bridge" by Jim Bigelow (2019)
"Between Windermere and Ambleside" by Stephanie Gordon (2019) "Between Windermere and Ambleside" by Stephanie Gordon (2019)
"Sunset over Hawkshead" by Stephanie Gordon (2019) "Sunset over Hawkshead" by Stephanie Gordon (2019)
"Great Langdale" by Stephanie Gordon (2019) "Great Langdale" by Stephanie Gordon (2019)
"Tarn Hows Cottage" by Stephanie Gordon (2019) "Tarn Hows Cottage" by Stephanie Gordon (2019)
"Between Grasmere and Dungeon Ghyll" by Stephanie Gordon (2019) "Between Grasmere and Dungeon Ghyll" by Stephanie Gordon (2019)
"On the Way up Great Langdale" by Debby Allen (2018) "On the Way up Great Langdale" by Debby Allen (2018)
"At the Head of Little Langdale" by Debby Allen (2018) "At the Head of Little Langdale" by Debby Allen (2018)
"Climb out of Grasmere" by Debby Allen (2018) "Climb out of Grasmere" by Debby Allen (2018)

Customer reviews from the South Lakes Short Break

“It was a beautiful walk, and we were very fortunate with the weather. The accommodation was all well chosen and we enjoyed each place we got to.”
Mr Mawdsley, UK
“What an absolutely incredible few days!! We'll never forget it! Have already recommended the holiday to others. I'm getting tons of feedback and questions on my social media and am pointing everyone to you all.”
Ms Goss, USA
“Stunning scenery and lovely accommodation. We would never book with anyone else now!!”
Mrs Ellington, UK
“We had great weather, beautiful scenery to walk through and the arrangements ran smoothly.”
Mrs Crosbie, UK
“Lovely route – easy to moderate walking and wonderful scenery. Although the location were familiar, the paths were not so there was still a sense of adventure and exploration.”
Mrs Mackenzie, UK
“The countryside was beautiful.”
Ms Ames, USA
“Loved the variety of scenery on this walk. The baggage transfers worked exactly as they should have. Contours did a good job in general.”
Ms Gordon, USA
“We were very satisfied with the itinerary and the overall planning by Contours. It was a pleasure to walk through this beautiful landscape and the weather was good for walking. Mostly cloudy but little rain. As we are getting old, the six days walk we choose suited us well. I have already mentioned the good planning. It was an added pleasure how varied the accommodation was. It ranged from traditional English B&B, to inns, old hotels and one renovated. We were very satisfied with our walk and your arrangements. I have booked a few times before and would do it again.”
Mr Arason, Iceland
“Likewise, my companions and I (6 of us walked together) enjoyed our Contours Lakes District walk. The route and area where we walked are beautiful”
Ms Ames, USA
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