Springtime brings with it bouncing baby lambs, tapestries of bluebells in the woodlands, and the daffodils that so inspired William Wordsworth, one of the Lake Poets, on a walk around Ullswater. April is the start of the main tourist season in England’s largest national park, with May your best chance of dry skies, although even then it’s never guaranteed.
June is a fantastic month for holidaying in the Lake District too, with long days, butterflies and bees in the hedgerows, and the summer crowds still a little way off.
The busiest months of the year in the Lake District are July and August, when school holidays coincide with pleasant temperatures up to around 19°C, and views from the fells seem to go on endlessly, as do the lines of walkers on popular routes.
Well-known destinations such as Bowness-on-Windermere, Grasmere and Keswick get intensely crowded in summer, so either pop by for the day or give them a miss entirely – other parts of Lakeland, such as Buttermere further to the west, are much less-visited but just as attractive, with great walks all around.
With the advent of autumn the crowds thin away like the leaves on the trees. From September it gets milder, you can expect temperatures around 9°C, but it’s a wonderful season for walking. Woodland foliage is ravishingly colourful in October, the days are still long enough to tackle the higher fells, and the promise of a crackling fire in a local pub every afternoon will keep you plodding along happily.
While most family activity holidays run through the warmer summer months, hardier souls can look at an October half term getaway. The Lake District weather, always predictably unpredictable, is even more changeable at this time of year, so instructors wisely keep their itineraries flexible. For instance, if rain makes rock climbing unsuitable, you might head for an indoor climbing wall instead.
By November the rain showers are getting heavier and more regular, but strong winds make umbrellas impractical. The onset of winter towards the end of the month brings with it cool, crisp days and bracing winds. It’s always advisable to check the forecasts if walking at higher altitudes and to advise people of your intended route – in late autumn and winter it’s crucial.
From December through to March, snowfall is likely. The lower-lying fells get around 20 days of the white stuff every winter, while further up there is a much heavier dusting. Hill sheep with their woolly fleeces are little bothered, but you’ll want thick jumpers, waterproofs and headgear to be comfortable. Crampons are recommended for fell walking.
The advantages of visiting the Lake District in winter are far fewer people around and stunning views on clear days. January and February get very cold, as low as -3°C at night, but when it feels as though you’ve got the whole place to yourself, who’s complaining?
