Bassenthwaite Lake Tours and Tickets

Q: When is the best month to visit Bassenthwaite Lake?

The weather in the Lake District is typically warmest and driest in the summer months of June through August. However, summer tends to be the peak tourist season—spring and fall are equally lovely times to visit, and there will be less crowds. Pack a rain jacket at any time of year.

Q: Can you swim at Bassenthwaite Lake?

Yes, you can swim at Bassenthwaite Lake. It’s a popular spot for wild swimmers or those who enjoy swimming in natural bodies of water. Motorized boats aren’t allowed on the lake, just electric ones, so you won’t have boats zipping around you if you go for a dip. You’ll see kayakers, paddleboarders, and fishermen, though.

Q: Can you walk around Bassenthwaite Lake?

No, you cannot walk around Bassenthwaite Lake, but you can walk sections of it. It’s not considered a difficult area for hiking, so it’s good for all abilities. Head to Blackstock Point where there is parking and access to several trails. There are fells (hills) surrounding the lake to explore, too.

Q: Is Bassenthwaite Lake worth it?

Yes, Bassenthwaite Lake is worth it—it’s especially great for bird lovers, since it is a top spot for seeing duck, grebe, and osprey. There are a few viewing points along the lake, too. The Dubwath Wetland Nature Reserve is at the lake’s northern end and well worth a visit.

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8 Lakes and Magnificent Scenery - Afternoon Half Day Tour

Enjoy a seamless introduction to the Lake District and discover its scenic highlights on this half-day driving tour. Over the course of your tour, see numerous lakes (including Lake Windermere—the largest in the area); visit the Neolithic Castlerigg Stone Circle; discover the photogenic Ashness Bridge; chart the Kirkstone Pass; and much more. As you go, learn all about the region and its history from your guide’s commentary.

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8 Lakes and Magnificent Scenery - Afternoon Half Day Tour

4 hoursFree Cancellation

4.9

(219)

from $123

Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

See the Lake District in one day without missing a thing! Visit 10 of the National Park’s famous lakes and learn about their geological past and historic importance in culture, art and literature. Enjoy scenic drives through valleys and dales, spot waterfalls and explore ancient landmarks, like the stone circle at Askrigg. Take memorable photos at specially-chosen look-out points and hear tales about the local folklore of the fells and villages you pass by.

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Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

8 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(180)

from $256

See some of the Lake District's most beautiful lakes on this half-day tour around Windermere. Settle into an air-conditioned minivan as your guide takes you through the stunning scenery, passing Derwentwater and England's second-longest lake along the way. You'll also stop to sample delicious gingerbread from the famous Grasmere bakery and discover scenic spots you might struggle to reach alone. Choose departures from Ambleside, Bowness, or Windermere.

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8 Lakes in a Morning

4 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(24)

from $123

Eight Lakes and Scenery Afternoon Half Day Tour

Close your eyes and picture it: standing inside a 4,500-year-old circle of stones, mountains rising on every side, the wind the only sound for miles. That's Castlerigg, one moment in an afternoon built around views most visitors never find. While sixteen-seater minibuses queue along the main road, you gently ascend in comfort along the steep, narrow lane out of Ambleside instead — a quieter, wilder approach to the Kirkstone Inn, the highest inhabited building in the National Park, before the legendary descent unfolds beneath you. You'll see eight lakes, not the usual six, plus Ashness Bridge framed against the fells, Surprise View's sudden reveal of Derwentwater, and Dunmail Raise, where a king is said to sleep beneath the stones. With only seven guests aboard, your guide shows you exactly where Wordsworth saw the daffodils that inspired his most famous poem, pointing out the sheep grazing the fells, brings geology and legend to life, mile after spectacular mile.

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Eight Lakes and Scenery Afternoon Half Day Tour

4 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

(1)

from $109

Private Tour: Ultimate Full Day Scenic Tour visiting 10 Lakes

This is a perfect pick for nature lovers. Save time organizing car hire and instead, enjoy a full-day private tour that takes you to 10 lakes in a day. No need to worry about navigating— a private driver takes care of that, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful views. Highlights include Lake Windermere, the Kirkstone Pass, Ullswater Lake, the Castlerigg Stone Circle, Buttermere Lake, and Lake Grasmere.

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Private Tour: Ultimate Full Day Scenic Tour visiting 10 Lakes

8 hoursFree Cancellation

4.9

(28)

from $720

Price varies by group size

Ten Lakes Tour and Ullswater Cruise Experience

Other operators run a ten-lakes tour. None of them put you on the water. This is the only ten-lakes tour in the National Park that includes a genuine hour-long cruise on Ullswater — pre-booked, included, no extra cost on the day — aboard a steamer sailing this lake since 1859. While other tours drive past and point, you'll feel the lake from its surface, Place Fell rising sheer from the shore, the whole basin opening out around you. The same depth applies elsewhere: at Honister, your guide explains the centuries of industry carved into that cliff face, not just a photo of the mine. At Buttermere, widely considered the most beautifully proportioned lake in the district, you'll understand why it's been celebrated since the earliest days of Lake District tourism. With only seven guests aboard, every question gets answered properly, across four mountain passes and ten lakes most visitors never see in a single trip.

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Ten Lakes Tour and Ullswater Cruise Experience

7 hoursFree Cancellation

5.0

from $220

What are people saying about Bassenthwaite Lake

Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

Mary_j, Jul 2026

It was a great day out! ...

It was a great day out! Gillian and Sandra were wonderful…very knowledgeable and gave us loads of background information on Beatrix Potter, Wordsworth, history of the Lake District, geology…it was well worth doing!

Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

Robyn_C, Jul 2026

An informative and...

An informative and beautiful tour! Gillian and Sandra were fantastic, knowledgeable and kind. We only had 1 day to spend in the Lake District and this was a perfect way to see as many breathtaking sites as possible. I cannot wait to return!

Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

Zakira_B, Jun 2026

Highly Recommended

We did this tour the day after arriving in Keswick which was very helpful in getting oriented. Our guide, Tim, was friendly, efficient without being in a hurry, and amazingly knowledgeable. He has a varied background and was a font of fascinating stories about everything from geology to culture to language to sheep and beyond. We saw places and learned many things we were otherwise unlikely to encounter. Would definitely recommend this tour.

Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

Donald_G, May 2026

Guides make the experience

The tour was well organized but the most impressive part was our driver and guide. Both are historians and gave depth to eplanations about the region. This was a group of 5 so we were in a smaller van that was able to navigate the very narrow roads to some of the most scenic parts. Our driver and guide were just brilliant.

Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

Marilyn_L, Jul 2025

Wonderful tour!!

A full day, worth every minute to see the beautiful Lakes District. Our driver and guide, Tim, was friendly, informative, humorous, and a great driver! We saw so many fantastic views of lakes, lots of sheep, waterfalls, woods, and had exactly the right amount of time to spend at each site. The amount of walking was minimal, but advise wearing good hiking shoes! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of the Lakes District and much more.