38 days in Cumbria Itinerary

Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. Visiting Climbing Tours and Helvellyn will get you outdoors. Your inner history buff will appreciate Orrest Head and Wray Castle. Change things up with these side-trips from Windermere: St Sunday Crag (in Patterdale), Bowness-on-Windermere (Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House & The World of Beatrix Potter) and Radical Steps (in Kirkby Lonsdale). Spend the 10th (Mon) exploring nature at Lake District National Park Guided Walks - Walks to Inspire. There's much more to do: get your bearings at Brockhole on Windermere, examine the collection at Lakeland Motor Museum, steep yourself in history at Stott Park Bobbin Mill, and take in the dramatic natural features at Helm Crag.

Plan my Windermere trip by asking Inpirock to come up with tips and suggestions.

London to Windermere is an approximately 4-hour train ride. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and flight. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 20th (Thu) early enough to drive to Eskdale.

Eskdale is a glacial valley and civil parish in the western Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. Dove Cottage and Keswick Museum will appeal to museum buffs. Escape the urban bustle at Old Man of Coniston and Buttermere. Get out of town with these interesting Eskdale side-trips: The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop (in Grasmere), Alpacaly Ever After (in Portinscale) and Scale Force (in Buttermere). There's still lots to do: take in nature's colorful creations at Muncaster Castle, explore the ancient world of Hardknott Roman Fort, hike along Keswick Railway Path, and admire the sheer force of Stanley Ghyll Force Waterfall.

To find more things to do, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Eskdale road trip planning tool .

Traveling by car from Windermere to Eskdale takes 1.5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Penrith.

Penrith is a market town and civil parish in the county of Cumbria, England. Visiting Aira Force and Hallin Fell will get you outdoors. Get some historical perspective at Shap Abbey and Sizergh Castle. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Penrith: Carlisle (Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery & Carlisle Cathedral), Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum (in Threlkeld) and Soldiers in Silloth (in Silloth). The adventure continues: hike along Catbells Lakeland Walk, admire the natural beauty at Lowther Castle and Gardens, play a few rounds at Penrith Golf Centre and Driving Range, and contemplate the long history of Long Meg and her Daughters.

To find ratings, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, read our Penrith trip itinerary planning tool .

Drive from Eskdale to Penrith in 2 hours. In June, daytime highs in Penrith are 20°C, while nighttime lows are 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 14th (Sun) to allow enough time to take a train back home.