Ten Lakes tour of the Lake District National Park
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Windermere, England
- 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Avoid narrow roads, tricky navigation, and trying to fit the Lake District’s vast scenery into a short visit on this full-day small-group tour from Windermere. Travel by comfortable minivan with a guide who handles the driving and storytelling as you explore mountain passes, waterfalls, stone circles, and up to ten of the region’s most scenic lakes, including Buttermere. The route also takes in villages such as Grasmere and includes free time in Keswick.
- Pack lots of Lake District highlights into one experience—perfect if you're short on time
- Round-trip transport saves you the hassle of navigating unfamiliar roads
- Gain local insight from a guide who knows the area like the back of their hand
- Enjoy the freedom to explore independently at certain stops
What's Included
- Transport in a small mini-coach
- On-board commentary in English
- Food & drink
- Additional Entrance fees
- Drivers gratuity (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Windermere Tourist Information CentreVictoria St, Windermere LA23 1AD, UK
What 3 Words - ///treatment.overlaid.hides If arriving by car the best place to park is Broad Street Car Park, LA23 2AB. From here allow at least 15 minutes to walk to the Windermere Information Centre (0.2 miles).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.9:25 am
Itinerary
The Lake District is renowned for being the most beautiful corner of England and this full-day tour introduces you to just that; a magnificent scenery of mountains, valleys and lakes from the south to the north.
As you travel, admire the rolling countryside and craggy fells, and hear interesting facts from your guide about the Lake District's history and geology, and the people and events that have shaped this much-loved region. Follow a beautiful route in the Ullswater Valley until your first stop in the lovely village of Glenridding. Stretch your legs and then continue to Ullswater Lake (subject to no road closures).
After capturing the scenery around this mirror-glass lake, continue to the Castlerigg Stone Circle, an ancient circle of 48 stones. Take photos of this age-old site and learn how the stones were probably set here in around 3,000 BC to form a ceremonial site.
The route continues with a break in Keswick, followed by a chance to see Ashness Bridge and Honister. Next, pass by two beautiful lakes—Buttermere and Thirlmere, followed by a visit to Grasmere.
Back aboard your minivan, venture further to Rydal Water, and then finish your day with a drop-off back at the start point.
As you travel, admire the rolling countryside and craggy fells, and hear interesting facts from your guide about the Lake District's history and geology, and the people and events that have shaped this much-loved region. Follow a beautiful route in the Ullswater Valley until your first stop in the lovely village of Glenridding. Stretch your legs and then continue to Ullswater Lake (subject to no road closures).
After capturing the scenery around this mirror-glass lake, continue to the Castlerigg Stone Circle, an ancient circle of 48 stones. Take photos of this age-old site and learn how the stones were probably set here in around 3,000 BC to form a ceremonial site.
The route continues with a break in Keswick, followed by a chance to see Ashness Bridge and Honister. Next, pass by two beautiful lakes—Buttermere and Thirlmere, followed by a visit to Grasmere.
Back aboard your minivan, venture further to Rydal Water, and then finish your day with a drop-off back at the start point.
Windermere (Pass By)
Derwentwater (Pass By)
1
Keswick
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Borrowdale (Pass By)
2
Honister Slate Mine
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Thirlmere (Pass By)
3
Grasmere
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Castlerigg Stone Circle
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Buttermere Lake (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be over the age of 5 to travel on this tour
- There will be a designated lunch stop where you’ll be able to purchase lunch
- There are toilet stops on route
- Minimal walking is involved
- Our vehicles are not currently wheelchair accessible
- Luggage storage is available at the Windermere Information departure location
- Seats cannot be reserved
- Each passenger must have their own seat
- Please note, the tour starts from Windermere Information Centre @ 9.25am. It is not possible to be collected from a different location once chosen. If you are not at the correct pick up location and miss the tour, we cannot offer alternative arrangements.
- Due to a landslide, Kirkstone pass is currently unpassable. Therefore until further notice you will not visit Brotherswater or Ullswater on your tour. Our incredible driver guides will instead take you off the beaten track to a few other fabulous Lake District sites and lakes.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Alison_V
We had Tim as our guide and what a blessing. He kept us entertained for our entire day trip of the 10 lakes. He had many interesting stories and facts to share. His driving skills are on another level!!!! Thank you Tim. The Lake District is a beautiful beyond discription. It is really worth taking this tour and just relaxing while taking in the beauty of the Lake District.
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,746 reviews
Craig_C, Mar 2026
Tour was fantastic! Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable. Just a shame that tour guides can no longer talk while driving, so any questions you'll have to save for the many stops. We visited 10 lakes and some fantastic viewing points! Plenty of photo opportunities.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you Craig for your kind review! We are glad to hear about your great day on our Ten Lakes tour, with the knowledge and information being transferred in a different way. We hope to welcome you on another Mountain Goat tour in the near future!
Janak_P, Mar 2026
Excellent driver. Good experience. Adequate time given for each sight. Good time for lunch. Driver was very experienced
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We are delighted to hear about your great time on our Ten Lakes Tour as we carefully curate our itinerary for maximum enjoyment! We hope to welcome you very soon again on one of tours to Go Explore.
Sue_M, Mar 2026
An excellent trip. Our guide was informative, very friendly and helpful. It was a great way to see the area. Minibus was comfortable. Thoroughly enjoyed our day. Really good value for money.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you Sue for your very kind review! We are delighted to hear about your great day with ourselves, with the driver guide being a positive impact for your experience. Thank you for choosing Mountain Goat and we hope to welcome you on another tour very soon.
George_T, Mar 2026
Had an excellent day out across the Lake District and Tim was an excellent Tour guide who was very Knowledgeable about the Lake District and it's local history. He knows many great spots for photography and is very engaging with his tourists. Would highly recommend this day trip as you'll see a lot in one day. A +++++ Thanks for a great day out Tim.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you George for your lovely review and recommendation of our Ten Lakes tour! Tim will be delighted to hear about your great time on the tour, with influence from his great knowledge and passion of the area! We hope to welcome you back with Mountain Goat to adventure and Go Explore.
Siddharth_J, Mar 2026
We loved the tour, they take to beautiful places, our Guide and Driver Peter was very knowledgeable and gave a lot of information but we did not stop at a couple of locations which were very beautiful like Buttermere
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your review on our Ten Lake tour! Unfortunately we can't stop at every beautiful location due to road restrictions, time constraints and our curated itinerary for maximum enjoyment. We're glad you enjoyed our tour and we hope we will see you on another Mountain Goat tour in the future.
Victiria_C, Feb 2026
Fantastic trip with a great guide Steve, he was very knowledgeable and interesting guy great guide 10/10
Highly recommend
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank your for your kind review and recommendation! We will pass on your words to Steve, of whom will be delighted to know that your trip was elevated by his knowledge and personality! We hope to welcome you back on another Mountain Goat tour very soon.
BRIAN_L, Dec 2025
Peter the Driver/Guide was fantastic from start to finish. Very informative commentary throughout and very helpful and clear communication around pick up times etc. lovely guy!!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your lovely review Brian! Peter will be delighted to hear on his positive impact on your tour. We hope to welcome you on another Mountain Goat Tour very soon.
Dorry_L, Dec 2025
The guide was so nice! The drive was smooth and it was a great trip! Even though it was raining, everyone still had a great time.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that the temperamental British weather hasn't put a damper on your tour! We hope to see again, perhaps in a different season, with Mountain Goat Tours!
George_B, Dec 2025
Recommended, great value one-day minibus speed-tour of an extensive checklist of famous scenic spots in the Lake District. This tour is perfect if, like me, you've never visited and want to get a rapid sense of all the places you'll want to go back to when you have more time! If you are in the area several days then put this on your first day.
Our driver, Graham, was very friendly and knowledgeable and provided just the right level of commentary and explanations as we toured around. This includes driving between places and we got a very good sense of the overall geography and history. He also smartly adapted the route based on the weather, the tour party interests, and included a couple of unlisted bonus detours.
Lunch is up to travelers to find during a 1-hour stop in Keswick although with a bigger party and more daylight I'd imagine that could be a longer stop.
As there are several stops where there are good shops, most importantly the tiny one-of-a-kind Sarah Nelson Grasmere Gingerbread bakery, bring shopping money and a bag or two!
Some of the stops give you time to have quick walks around paths, viewpoints, lakesides, so consider wearing walking shoes or boots.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your lovely review and recommendation George. Wow, what a photo! Graham will be delighted to hear on his positive influence over your tour experience! We hope you got an opportunity to try some of the delicious Grasmere Gingerbread in between the breath-taking sights. Thank you for choosing Mountain Goat and we hope to welcome you again very soon!
Sathya_J, Dec 2025
Amazing Day out with the amazing tour guide cum driver Mark P. Witnessed breath taking views and hidden gems in Lake District. Mark was so accomodating and very informative 😇 We were so lucky to have this tour on a bright sunny day 🌸
Thank you Mark and the Goats Tours for this amazing experience. Highly recommended to everyone.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your kind review and recommendation! Mark P will be thrilled to hear how he made your tour more enjoyable and a memory to last for a lifetime. We hope to welcome you on another tour very soon!
Rochelle_S, Oct 2025
Enjoyed this trip. The driver and guide is friendly and knowledgeable and give us enough time for photos and just enjoy the scenic view.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re glad our friendly and knowledgeable guide made the trip enjoyable and gave you plenty of time for photos. Hope to see you again soon!
niallfritz, Oct 2025
Long day. Drove around a large area but with a number of good stops. Lots to see!
Andy is an excellent tour guide.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We’re pleased you enjoyed the varied stops and all there was to see. Andy will be delighted to hear your praise. We hope to welcome you back soon!
Frank_C, Sep 2025
A great experience with wonderful views of the mountains and lakes and excellent commentary from our knowledgeable and friendly driver and tour guide, David Edge.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted you enjoyed the stunning views and David Ebb's friendly and knowledgeable commentary. We hope to welcome you on another Mountain Goat tour soon!
Sydney_F, Sep 2025
We had a phenomenal experience on our 10 Lake Mountain Goat Tour!The scenery was incredible, but what made it truly memorable was our guide, David. His outstanding knowledge, passion & his explanation about the topography & historical background of the region , gave us a whole new appreciation for the area. It was both educational and fun, and we would recommend this tour to anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable adventure.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re delighted David’s knowledge and passion helped make your 10 Lake tour both educational and fun. It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed the incredible scenery and had a memorable experience. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
Soudamini_M, Sep 2025
Lake District is so scenic and this tour took us to places which we could not have visited on our own. Our tour guide was nice, friendly and knowledgeable. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your great review! We're so glad you enjoyed the scenic beauty of the Lake District and that our tour helped you explore places you might have missed on your own. We appreciate your kind words about our guide and are thrilled you had such an enjoyable experience.
Jomille_M, Sep 2025
What's good:
It was a great tour overall we loved the view of the lakes and the mountains! If you're looking for a tour around Lake District that can cover a lot in a day, this is the right tour for you! Michael, our tourgide, was very knowledgeable, friendly and attentive to all of us! He also drives very safely. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to give a tip to him cos I didn't have cash but I acknowledged him and was grateful!
What needs to be improved:
Reason that 1 star was deducted because I was annoyed that prior to the tour, I already messaged Viator if pick up can be done in Bowness because we're coming from there, but I got a response that they're only doing Windermere pick up. Then I found out during the tour that most of the passengers were actually picked up from Bowness! I will not be annoyed if I didn't ask, but I asked I was told otherwise! Next time make sure these are clear and aligned with the staffs responding to these queries. Given that Bowness is a main tourist spot in the area and most people will be coming there, you should include that as the pick up place next time to avoid confusions like this.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and the view of the lakes and mountains. We apologize for the confusion and understand your frustration. We do offer pickups from Bowness however if you had called us directly and not Viator we could have resolved this very quickly. Make sure to contact us directly with queries about your booking! We hope to welcome you back on another Mountain Goat Tour soon!
Michelle_P, Sep 2025
Absolutely worth every penny, saw places we wouldn't have seen on our own and the information our driver gave us was fantastic. We got some great photo opportunities at places we stopped off at and even time for lunch in Keswick.
I say this trip is a must if you come to the lakes.
We had lots of laughs throughout the day and met some lovely people on our coach.
Will definitely be coming back and doing more tours with them.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear you had such a fun and memorable day, with great photo stops, lovely company, and time to enjoy Keswick. It’s fantastic that the tour helped you discover hidden gems of the Lakes. We can’t wait to welcome you back for more adventures!
kaushik_b, Sep 2025
Michael was awesome guide, he gave us enough time to explore on our own and explained the history of each part of Lake District in details. We started right on time and cane back to Windermere on time to catch our train back to London. A day full of fun and beautiful views, altogether a memorable trip.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds like Michael really balanced giving you freedom to explore with plenty of great history and keeping things on schedule. We hope to welcome you back on another one of our tours soon!
The Mountain Goat Team
Byron_P, Aug 2025
beautiful scenery. guide was fairly new to the job but not to the area. He gave top notch info and service.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed the beautiful scenery and appreciated the guide’s local knowledge and service. We hope to see you again soon.
The Mountain Goat Team
Deb_J, Aug 2025
There is more driving and less walking with this tour but ample stops to take in the scenery and also flexibility depending on weather. David was knowledgeable and respectful. The coach was comfortable and the hour spent in Keswick gave us an opportunity to explore and have lunch. My only comment is I would have liked some periods of silence to gather thoughts between places and absorb the scenery as not all commentary was relevant to the tour. I highly recommend this tour if you are short on time for your stay.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your detailed feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the comfortable coach, scenic stops, and time in Keswick. We appreciate your comments on the commentary and will take them on board to improve the experience. It’s great to hear you’d still recommend the tour for those short on time.
The Mountain Goat Team
Lorraine_W, Aug 2025
Long day on and off mini bus but well worth it; air conditioned and no stress of driving or finding parking at many popular visits, just enough time given at each stop. Peter our driver was very experienced and knowledgeable about the area, an excellent driver on some very tricky roads. He also took the time to interact with, and get to know each traveller on his bus, polite and friendly guy. Great day in the lakes!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed a comfortable, stress-free day with just the right amount of time at each stop. Peter’s experience and friendly approach make all the difference. Great to hear you had a fantastic day in the Lakes!
Best,
The Mountain Goat Team
Taunia_M, Jul 2025
The tour was really nice. The driver was very approachable, funny and knowledgeable. There were frequent stops for toilets, lunch and refreshments. We managed to capture some good photos.
Some of the roads were very narrow but I have to give it to the driver for such driving manouvering skills. He was also very accommodating dropping people off at desired stops on the way back.
As you have to stick to the schedule there may be bits you would have liked to explore more and this is the only reason I missed a star rating. Although, with this tour you familiarise yourself and can come back to do it differently and/or pick specific places.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for your thoughtful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour overall and appreciated the driver’s skill, humor, and flexibility with stops. You’re right—sometimes the schedule means a quick pace, but it’s great to hear it gave you a good overview to plan future visits. We hope you get to come back and explore more next time!
Fay_C, Jul 2025
Very informative guide , very friendly lots to see , picturesque views with lots of photo stops. Could not have seen as much without the knowledge and expertise of a good guide!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We're so glad your guide helped you take in all the beautiful sights with plenty of photo stops along the way. Having a knowledgeable and friendly guide really does make all the difference. We hope to see you on another tour soon!
Alison_V, Jul 2025
We had Tim as our guide and what a blessing. He kept us entertained for our entire day trip of the 10 lakes. He had many interesting stories and facts to share. His driving skills are on another level!!!! Thank you Tim. The Lake District is a beautiful beyond discription. It is really worth taking this tour and just relaxing while taking in the beauty of the Lake District.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a wonderful day with Tim — he truly has a gift for storytelling and navigating those winding Lake District roads with ease! It’s great to know you felt entertained, informed, and able to simply relax and soak in the incredible scenery. Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you on another tour soon!
Hannah_S, Jul 2025
Very good trip, well arranged and knowledgable guide. Approximately 8 hour trip and time flies going through all lakes.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your kind review! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the trip and that the day flew by while exploring the beautiful lakes. It's always great to know the itinerary and guiding hit the mark. We hope to see you again soon for another adventure!
Summer_J, Jul 2025
A fantastic overview of the region that provides a solid grounding in the history, culture, and geography of the National Trust and its Lakes. Our guide was a genial fellow who handled the various traffic issues (a closed road, tight country lanes) with calm and aplomb. This is a great way to get a sense of the region and plan your trip accordingly afterwards.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for the thoughtful review! We're glad to hear the tour gave you a great overview of the region’s history, culture, and stunning landscapes. Sounds like your guide handled the tricky roads like a pro — calm and steady is definitely the way to go! Perfect that the tour helped you plan the rest of your trip. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your visit and maybe we’ll see you again for another adventure!
Bibi_S, Jul 2025
The advantages are that the driver/guide was very knowledgeable, the tour is excellent, the driver drives very skillfully along narrow roads with oncoming traffic, the views are breathtaking, picturesque farm animals, enough time at each stop, money well spent.
The disadvantages are that parking is very far from the pick up spot and uphill once you have parked, the doors open at 9.30 am for a 9.40 am start, the driver was 15 minutes late,
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're really glad to hear you enjoyed the tour overall — especially the stunning views, well-timed stops, and the expertise and skill of your driver. It’s great to know you felt it was money well spent!
We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the pickup logistics. We're sorry to hear about the parking distance and the late start — we understand how that can affect the beginning of your day. We'll take this on board as we continue to improve our service and communication.
Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future!
NaomiM, Jun 2025
This was a fascinating and memorable experience. Our tour guide, Jane, was not only an excellent driver on these sometimes narrow roads, but highly informative and helpful. She was indeed a fountain of knowledge!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you found the experience both fascinating and memorable. Jane will be pleased to know her driving skills and wealth of knowledge made such a positive impression. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
Anonymous, Jun 2025
Absolutely wonderful tour. It was my second time on it. Fully recommended :) Great opportunities to get beautiful views of the Lake district!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
So happy to hear you loved the tour enough to come back for a second time! Those Lake District views really are something special. Thanks for the recommendation—hope we get to see you again for more adventures soon!
Jackie_P, Jun 2025
Saw all 10 lakes in one trip!lovely small mini bus very comfortable great tour guide with Graham he was knowledgeable about the local area,funny,happy to stop to take pictures anywhere so long as it was safe to do so!chatty and happy it was him that made our day.and of course no rain?!!😂highly recommend this trip it's only a small group 15 of us so felt very relaxed and chilled
Response from Host, Jun 2025
So glad you enjoyed the comfy mini bus and that Graham made the day even better with his knowledge and good vibes. Sounds like the perfect mix of fun, photos, and no rain (winning combo! 😂). Thanks so much for recommending the tour, and we hope to see you again for another chilled-out adventure!
From $108.64
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Ten Lakes tour of the Lake District National Park
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