3 Walks you can do from Ambleside

The Lake District is a stunning place and, rightly so, it can get incredibly busy. The last time we were there we enjoyed a lovely hike, but as we were walking on our way back to Ambleside, we saw lots of people struggling to find parking spaces. It was August Bank Holiday Monday and it was sunny, but navigating the traffic on small country lanes and finding a parking space can be tricky at any time. We experienced these issues when we did our Aira Force walk last year.

I thought to myself how lucky we were that we could walk from Ambleside with no need to get in the car. If you hate sitting in queues or finding elusive parking spots (and happen to be staying in Ambleside) here are 3 walks you can do from Ambleside.

Easy Walk: High Sweden Bridge

This is an easy 3 mile circular walk to the north of Ambleside. It follows clearly defined paths and is a perfect one to do with kids. The start of this walk is super easy to find, off the A591 opposite the Rydal Road car park, take Smithy Brow, which leads into Kirkstone Road, and then take a left onto the aptly named Sweden Bridge Lane, which you follow for while until it becomes a footpath.

Once you have crossed over the bridge, you start heading back to Ambleside, passing Nook End Farm and ending up on Nook Lane, which takes you back to Smithy Brow.

It was the first walk that Luke and I ever did together in the Lake District, way back in 2013 -you can read my account here: Easy Ambleside Walk

Easy Walk with Great Lake Windermere Views

This is the second walk that Luke and I ever did in the Lake District, and you can read all about it here. This walk has a short steep climb at the start, but then is largely flat. We did a 5 mile version, but you could cut it short and head back down through Stagshaw Gardens.

It starts on Lake Road, where you will find some stone steps marked as a footpath between Romney Grange and Lake House Hotel. These steps take you up towards Skelghyll Wood and to Jenkin Crag.

Heading through Skelghyll Wood Jenkin Crag offers great views over Lake Windermere

We then took the bridleway to High Skelghyll, before heading down towards the Lake. We had a stop at Brockhole Visitor Centre before heading back. We went a convoluted cross country route to head back to the footpath we started on, but you could follow the road here. You can see our route here if you’re signed up to OS maps.

A Harder Walk from Ambleside

If you fancy a bit more adventure, our recent Loughrigg Fell hike is a bit tougher and more rugged than the first two. It takes in the modest 335m summit of Loughrigg Fell, before heading over to Rydal Cave and back to Ambleside. In all we did 11.7km, however we started at our hotel and finished in the centre of Ambleside, so added a bit on. If you start and finish in Ambleside, it would be around 10km.

You can read our account here. I feel like I’ve gone on about it enough recently, so here’s our route and a few pics!

Rydal Cave The summit of Loughrigg Fell with Windermere in the background

We are heading back to Ambleside with the kids for a half term hostel adventure, so hopefully I will have more to add! Let me know your favourite Ambleside walks.

For these routes, you need OS Explorer map OL17 (amazon affiliate link)