Lake District Mountains & Water Circuit

England’s Lake District has drawn travellers since the Romantic poets first celebrated its beauty, and two centuries later it remains irresistible. This compact national park—you can drive across it in an hour—packs more scenic variety into its boundaries than regions ten times its size, making it ideal for motorhome exploration.

A logical circuit begins at Windermere, England’s largest natural lake, before climbing the Kirkstone Pass to Ullswater, widely considered the most beautiful of all the lakes. The western shore road offers spectacular fell views, while the Aira Force waterfall provides a leg-stretching walk. From here, head west through Keswick—the unofficial outdoor capital of the north—to Borrowdale, a valley so picturesque that the National Trust owns much of it.

The western lakes offer different character: Buttermere and Crummock Water see fewer visitors than their eastern counterparts, while Wastwater, beneath England’s highest peak Scafell Pike, provides the most dramatic scenery of all. The southern lakes—Coniston, associated with Ruskin and the land-speed record attempts of Donald Campbell, and the Langdale valleys—complete a circuit that encompasses virtually every landscape type the region offers.

Motorhome travel in the Lake District requires some planning. Several valley roads have weight and width restrictions, and summer traffic can be challenging. However, numerous campsites cater specifically to campervans, many in spectacular locations. The Camping and Caravanning Club site at Great Langdale, beneath the Langdale Pikes, ranks among Britain’s most scenic. Four to five days allows thorough exploration, though walkers could easily spend a fortnight tackling the Wainwright fells.