Best viewed from the comfort of a heated vehicle, the Lake District is a huge expanse of untamed natural beauty in Cumbria, England. A Lake District road trip offers tourists windswept hikes, epic panoramas, quaint guesthouses on every corner and plenty of cosy village pubs to warm up in after a day in the great outdoors.
When All Seasons Leisure, a North East company based in Birtley who specialise in VW Transporter campervan conversions, reached out to ask if I’d like to borrow a campervan for a UK road trip, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.
Tom has been trying to convince me to let him invest in a campervan for a few years now and I’ve always been hesitant, so I was keen to find out if van life would suit me.
We decided to take our campervan rental on a three day road trip around the Lake District, taking in as many of the top attractions and pretty towns as possible.
Spoiler: I’m now a van life convert and we’ve bought our own campervan!
My Lake District road trip itinerary
Driving a campervan around the Lake District epitomised everything I love about adventure. The spontaneity of driving wherever the (rather strong) wind took us, the awe-inspiring landscapes and unexpected moments of joy took me back to my first ever backpacking trip: seeing New Zealand by bus when I was 21.
The Lake District is made for road trips. If you’re planning a long weekend break in the Lake District in a campervan, I’ve shared my full day-by-day Lake District road trip itinerary below.
But first, a few helpful tips for visiting the area.
How to get to the Lake District
If you’re driving to the Lake District from the North, you take the A1 and A66. From the South, come via the M4 and M6.
After picking up the campervan and loading it with our camping equipment, we set off on our mini-break.
Towards the end of the drive our grumbling bellies were crying to be fed, so we stopped for food at a rather grand looking restaurant called Romneys in Kendal. We chose the place simply because it was the closest to the Big Asda we’d stopped at to stock up on wine, crisps and tiger bread. (Well, what else would we feast on during a road trip?)
Romneys was a good choice. I’ll be publishing a guide on where to eat in the Lake District soon, so look out for that if you’re planning your own trip.
Suitably fuelled, we jumped back into the campervan to find our campsite.
The drive through the Lake District after dark isn’t one I’d recommend to less experienced drivers. There’s very little lighting and a lot of one-lane, two-way roads. It was a nail biting journey! I highly recommend getting to your campsite before nightfall if possible.
Where to camp in the Lake District
We had two nights booked at Low Wray Campsite in Lake Windermere. It cost £52 for a pitch for the campervan and two people. From Ambleside, you take the A593, turn left at Clappersgate on to the B5286. Turn left at the sign for Wray. The site is less than one mile on the left. They have pitches for tents, motorhomes, campervans and also offer glamping pods.
Reception had closed by the time we arrived. It was pitch black so we picked our way over to reception and found our name on a piece of paper along with our pitch number and a map. After that, finding our spot was easy.
The campsite has three toilet and shower blocks, laundry facilities and washing-up areas. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the loos were spotless and I enjoyed a lovely hot shower there!
It’s a ten minute walk from the campsite to Wray Castle and ten minutes drive to Ambleside. But it feels much more secluded than it is!
Day 1 of our Lake District road trip
After a surprisingly comfortable sleep on what I learned is called a ‘rock and roll bed’ in the campervan, we rose early but slightly groggy from the spiced rum we’d necked the night before.
Waking up and stepping straight out into the freshness of a late summer’s morning soon perked us up though!
After a quick breakfast of tiger bread, ham and cheese (is that not the quintessential holiday snack?), we drove over to our first stop: Coniston.
What to do in Coniston
We’d had grand plans to hike up to the Old Man of Coniston but quickly realised we wouldn’t make it back down in time for our lunch booking. A quick Google led us to a less ambitious one-hour walk.
The Tarn Hows circular walk is perfect for people who want to get a breath of fresh air and feel they can tick ‘Hiked in the Lake District‘ off their bucket list without getting too at one with nature, if you know what I mean.
Get full details about the Tarn Hows walk
Feeling like Outdoorsy Couple of the Year, we jumped back in the campervan and made the short trip into Consiton proper. It’s a small village but there is one indoor attraction: The Ruskin Museum, ‘an award-winning Cabinet of Curiosities which tells the Story of Coniston’.
There’s a smattering of shops to nose around in (providing that nose is covered with a mask, of course). Higgledy Piggledy sells the most gorgeous soaps and candles, so if you’re looking for souvenirs from your Lake District road trip that depart from the usual tourist tat, it’s a must-visit. There’s also a huge vintage shop called Antiques Atlas just off the main road that’s a treasure trove of trinkets and curious pieces.
In dire need of a sit-down and a pint, we stopped at The Black Bull, a 400 year old coaching inn that houses the Coniston Brewing Company. We ordered their refreshing Infinity IPA and snacked on some super-sized onion rings.
If you’re going to hike the Old Man of Coniston, it makes sense to stay in Coniston itself. The mountain towers over the village, looking mean and majestic.
You can take a look at Coniston’s accommodation options here.
What to do in Ambleside
We then drove over to Rothay Manor in Ambleside. I had a PR invite to review their afternoon tea and it was truly scrumptious.
Read the full review of afternoon tea at Rothay Manor
We spent the rest of the day exploring Ambleside. One of the main tourist resorts in the area, there’s loads to see there: from busy pubs to cute bakeries and shops. Popular photo spots include a 70 foot waterfall called Stock Ghyll Force, and the quaint 17th century Bridge House that sits over Stock Ghyll beck.
If you aren’t camping, it’s a great base in the Lake District. Ambleside is the only place I’d previously visited in the Lakes. We stayed at a guesthouse called The Gables back then and I’d recommend it.
Check all Ambleside accommodation options here
By the time we pulled up back at the campsite and bedded down for the night, exhaustion was setting in. Don’t you just love that blissful drowsiness that only a full day outdoors can create?
Day 2 of our Lake District road trip
I’ll be completely honest with you – our second morning was a bit of a fail! Due to my lack of planning and failure to foresee complications due the increased tourism in the Lake District this year, we had a frustrating few hours.
What to see and do in and around Hawkshead
First, we thought we’d take a look around Hawkshead – but it’s a tiny place and the only parking we could find cost £4.20 for all day. We only planned to stay half an hour, so we skipped a visit to the quirky Little Ice Cream Shop and tried to ignore the mouthwatering scent of melted butter emanating from the Chocolate Factory.
Next, we stopped at Beatrix Potter’s house, Hill Top but it wasn’t open so early in the day and you have to book tickets ahead of your visit these days. Another fail.
Wordsworth’s former home Dove Cottage and the attached museum was also yet to open and we couldn’t see much from the pavement. Oh well!
After a pitstop at Haverthwaite Train Station to see the tea room, gift shop, playground and woodland walk, we made our way over to Kendal.
What to do in Kendal
Kendal is a traditional market town. It took us a while to find a place to park the campervan there. We were glad we weren’t in a larger motorhome because it was much easier to find a parking space in our VW than it would have been in anything bigger.
You can spend an hour or two walking around Kendal’s grey limestone streets. There are a handful of antique shops including The Silver Thimble antique store and Thomond Antiques & Gallery. Of course, you have to buy some Kendal mint cake while you’re in town!
We stopped for coffee at About Time Espresso Bar which is tucked away in a quirky narrow lane called New Shambles. They do a decent flat white and the decor is ultra unique.
If you’re spending longer in Kendal, head to Kendal Castle near the River Kent, Abbot Hall Art Gallery or the Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry.
We ate lunch at one of the UK’s top 50 gatropubs, which is a scenic drive from Kendal.
I had a PR invite – read my review of The Black Bull in Sedburgh for details.
What to do in Grasmere
After lunch we headed back into the Lake District to Grasmere – one of the most picturesque towns in the Lake District! It’s a must-see on every Lake District itinerary, so be sure to squeeze at stop in to your plans.
While you’re in Grasmere, one of the top places to visit is The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop. It was established in the 14th century. You can also see Wordsworth’s grave in St Oswald’s Church graveyard.
We wanted to experience wild camping and managed to find a sheltered spot in town. We paid for overnight parking but it wasn’t clear whether sleeping in your vehicle was actually allowed, so I won’t divulge the exact location!
From our campervan spot, we could walk to various pubs in town. We loved the ambiance at The Good Sport. Be careful with their rhubarb and berry pressed cider though. It’s stronger than I anticipated!
Day 3 of our Lake Distict road trip
What to do in Windermere
We woke early and drove into Windermere for breakfast at Brown Sugar. The decor in this place is so cool and the food was excellent! I bypassed my usual order of eggs benny and plumped for something local: a Cumbrian sausage, egg and mushroom sourdough roll. Tom had the breakfast waffle, which was equally delicious.
After breakfast we had a waddle around Windermere where we spotted the most charming little pub called The Crafty Baa.
Next, we hopped back into the van and drove along Lake Windermere to Bowness-on-Windermere.
What to do in Bowness-on-Windermere
I would have liked to do a lake cruise on one of the steamers from Windermere, but of course you have to book online ahead of time these days. I’m not one for forward planning so I wasn’t too bothered about missing out on this. If you’re planning your Lake District itinerary now though, I recommend booking stuff like this in advance.
Bowness-on-Windermere is a hive of activity: countless shops, pubs and a bevy of bold swans on the water’s edge. This is the most popular destination with tourists in the Lake District and it shows.
There’s an outdoor market called Glebe Market in Bowness-on-Windermere that happens twice a month. It’s worth a stroll around, especially if you want to pick up some local produce. Check their Facebook page to find out whether the market is on during your visit to the area.
You can take a boat trip on Windermere or visit the World Of Beatrix Potter Attraction. More active travellers might like to walk up Orrest Head to take in the views.
If I go back, I’m 100% having drinks in the elegant Laura Ashley Belsfield Hotel and a cocktail or two at The Fizzy Tarté.
The heavens opened while we were exploring the town so we hopped back into the campervan for a nap. Ah, the untold pleasures of van life!
Having refreshed ourselves and changed out of our outdoor gear and into something a little more civilised, we drove to the final stop of our Lake District road trip: Linthwaite House. We had a PR invitation to afternoon tea at this gorgeous hotel and it was a wonderfully memorable end to our three days in the Lake District.
Read my review of afternoon tea at Henrock Linthwaite House
Why you should consider taking a campervan to the Lake District
Our three day tour of the Lake District in a VW campervan was the ideal way to escape the daily grind and soak up some of England’s most stunning scenery and enchanting villages.
The freedom that having your own bed (and wardrobe) on wheels gives you isn’t something that can be replicated. On a road trip in a place like the Lakes, where lots of small destinations are a short drive apart, you can cover a lot of different places in just three days.
The campervan itself from All Seasons Leisure was fantastic and I loved the amount of storage space we had. I do enjoy an outfit change!
The front seats are comfortable for long journeys and we were pleased to realise that the campervan has cruise control. There’s no Sat Nav but we just used Maps on our phones. There are plug sockets and USB ports, meaning you can charge all of your electrics.
It was super simple to move the various parts of the campervan around: the bed is easily packed away, the passenger seat slides around with minimal effort and the back seats glide seamlessly into a lie-flat bed which has been M1 pull tested for safety.
Also, it didn’t feel claustrophobic at all! I think that’s partly because the furnishings were an oyster colour, so the light was reflected around the interior.
It had a pine worktop and table, fridge, mini grill, cutlery drawer and loads of storage space all around the rear of the campervan including under the bed.
For winter road trips, there’s a Webasto smart diesel heater. The pop-top roof can sleep two people and the material is water resistant, so it can be used in all conditions.
All Seasons Leisure’s rental campervan even has a bike rack which can carry two adult bikes and a sun canopy onto the side of the camper.
Don’t want to be behind the wheel? Check out these Lake District tours instead
Use my Travel Resources page to plan and book your future trips
I hope you’ve found my Lake District itinerary helpful! Though we were only in the Lake District for three days, we managed to pack a lot of different destinations in and enjoyed visiting a combination of large tourist resorts and smaller villages.
It’s busy there this year so if you’re planning a Lake District break, be sure to book in advance. Other than that, enjoy and let me know if there’s a place I missed in a comment!
More UK travel guides
Glamping sites in North East England
Alternative places to stay in Northumberland
The most magical glamping yurt in Scotland
Best group accommodation in Cornwall
Berwick-upon-Tweed visitor guide
Best spa hotels in North East England
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Deborah Patterson says
We love a road trip! We’re heading up to the Lakes in a couple of weeks, but driving up from the South so we’re staying put in Keswick for our trip. Glad you enjoyed the van. It makes for a really fun adventure.
Abigail Reagan says
I loved this! Great writing. I’ll definitely have to check out some of these spots on my next trip!!
Carley says
I love the van!! Awesome post, so detailed. Thanks for sharing!
Krista says
I love going on day trips to the Lakes, but haven’t been to some of these spots yet. Great road trip ideas!