Is the Lake District In Scotland? Complete Guide 2023

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Is the Lake District In Scotland? Where is the Lake District? This blog post explains everything you need to know geographically about the Lake District.

The Lake District National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK. But where actually is it? Let’s find out exactly where the Lake District is, and answer the question; is the Lake District in Scotland?

Visiting the Lake District? You may also like:

• Lake District Solo Travel: Ultimate Guide
• Getting Around the Lake District Without a Car
• 3 Days in the Lake District: Everything You NEED To Do
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide

Is the Lake District In Scotland? A Summary

So, is the Lake District in Scotland? No, the Lake District is not in Scotland. It is in fact, in England, roughly 38 miles south of the Scottish border.

Both the Lake District and Scotland are in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is an island nation in the north-west of Europe.

Therefore, the Lake District is in England, which is in the continent Europe. Other countries in Europe include Italy, Spain, Scotland and Wales.

To summarise, the Lake District is in England, not Scotland. Both England and Scotland are part of the United Kingdom, which is in the continent of Europe.

Where exactly is the Lake District?

If you are looking for where exactly the Lake District is, it is in the northwest of England, in the county of Cumbria. Cumbria borders Scotland and is famous for being the home of the Lake District National Park.

➡ Need a direct link to the Lake District on Google Maps? Click here!

Popular towns in the Lake District include Ambleside, Keswick, Bowness-on-Windermere and Windermere. All of these towns are in the Lake District, which is in Cumbria, which is a county in England.

What continent is the Lake District in?

The Lake District is in England, which is in the continent of Europe. Europe has 44 countries in total, including Italy, Spain, Scotland and Wales. Over 200 known languages are spoken in Europe. Europe is known for its diversity and beauty, and shares borders with both Asia and Africa.

What is the capital of the Lake District?

Keswick is known as the capital of the Lake District, although other towns such as Windermere and Ambleside are thought to be the ‘heart’ of the Lake District. However, the Lake District is in England, and the capital city of England is London.

How to get to the Lake District

🇬🇧 IF YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE UK

You can travel to the Lake District without a car from most places in the UK. The first stage would be travelling to a major city (London, Manchester, Carlisle, Glasgow etc) and then boarding a connecting train or two from there. Here are some of the easiest ways to get to the Lake District without a car by train:

• London > Oxenholme (direct)
• Manchester > Windermere (direct)
• Carlisle > Oxenholme (direct)

If you are travelling to the Lake District by train, be sure to book your tickets in advance to get the cheapest prices. From Oxenholme or Windermere, you can either board a bus to your accommodation, or jump in a taxi. There are taxi ranks outside the main train stations in the Lake District.

✈️ TRAVELLING INTERNATIONALLY TO THE LAKE DISTRICT

If you’re travelling to the UK for the Lake District, you will need to fly into Manchester Airport. From there, you can board a train to Oxenholme to reach the Lake District. The train takes roughly 1.5 hours and will need to be pre-booked in advance.

Is the Lake District worth visiting?

Yes! The Lake District is worth visiting if you are travelling to the UK. It’s a beautiful national park in England and offers some of the most incredible countryside views in the whole of the United Kingdom. As someone who lives in London, we make sure to visit the Lake District at least once a year!

Where to stay in the Lake District

If you’re only staying in the Lake District for a few nights, I recommend staying in Ambleside. Ambleside is known as the ‘heart of the Lake District’, and is one of my personal favourite areas, as it’s within walking distance of Lake Windermere.

If you’re only visiting the Lake District briefly, it’s an easy way to see some of the quintessential grey slate buildings, traditional pubs, and modern Lake District restaurants.

• If you’re a solo traveller in Ambleside, I recommend staying in the YHA Hostel. It’s a short distance from the centre of Ambleside, and you’ll be able to meet other solo backpackers. ➡ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
• Want a cute and cosy cottage in Ambleside? Our favourite is Grayling Cottage. It’s just a one-minute walk from Ambleside town centre and is beautifully decorated. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
• For a luxurious one-night stay in Ambleside, check out The Ambleside Inn. It’s an 18th-century hotel which will give you a true ‘English countryside’ experience. ➡ BOOK THIS HOTEL NOW!

When is the best time to visit the Lake District?

You can visit the Lake District 365 days a year; as it’s an ‘any kind of weather’ destination in the UK. However, if you want the cheapest accommodation prices, visit in the shoulder season (autumn and spring). During the winter months (November – February), you can expect layers of snow to be covering the trails and paths.

Summer months in the UK (June – August) are always the most expensive months to visit the Lake District, as well as being the busiest. But of course, it’s when you’ll get the best weather, with dry, hot and sunny days.

➡ Visiting the Lake District in winter? Check out this detailed guide on what to do during the colder months.

Need to know: Visiting the Lake District for the first time

🚗 Hire a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to spend hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

⚠️ Don’t try to do too much. There’s a lot to see and do in the Lake District, and if you try and do it all in three days, you’ll end up burning out. Pick just a few activities and towns to explore.

🥾 Pack hiking boots. Even if you’re not planning on hiking Scafell Hike or one of the larger peaks, it rains often in the Lake District. Hiking boots give you extra grip. Plus, you’ll notice most people in pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes wear their hiking boots everywhere. It’s the done thing there!

☔️ Expect rain, even in the summer months. But don’t worry, there are still lots of things to do in the Lake District in the rain.

🗺️ Carry a physical map. Unfortunately, there are a lot of areas where wifi and mobile data will not reach. If you’re hiking some of the famous summits, you will need a map for directions. It’s easy to get lost, and they’re serious mountains!

📲 If you’re not from the UK, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. This also helps with GPS. ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

🏊🏼‍♀️ Wild swimming isn’t allowed in every lake in the Lake District. Be sure to check before you start swimming.

🗣️ The Lake District has a lot of its own words. For example, you may see the words ‘pike’ and ‘crag’, and have no idea what they mean! For reference, here are some of the most popular Lake District terms:

Pike: a rocky, pointed summit (like Scafell Pike)

Rigg: a ridge or edge

Fell: a hill

Dale: a valley

Tarn: a small (and usually cold) lake. They can be found all over the Lake District.

Is the Lake District In Scotland? FAQs

1) Is Lake District in Scotland or England?

The Lake District is in England, not Scotland. It is in the county of Cumbria, which is a county that borders Scotland.

2) Does the Lake District border Scotland?

No, but the county it is in – Cumbria – does. England is made up of 48 counties, with one of them being Cumbria; which is the home of the Lake District. The county of Cumbria spans over 6,767 km² and is in the northwest of England. It borders Scotland to the north.

3) What is the Scottish equivalent of the Lake District?

If you would like to explore the Scottish countryside that is similar to the Lake District, head to the Cairngorms. The Cairngorms is a beautiful National Park in Scotland, with incredible mountain and forest views. Not sure where to stay in the Cairngorms? Check out my post all about Aviemore here.

4) Is Cumbria English or Scottish?

Cumbria is in England, therefore it is English. It is a county in England. England is made up of 48 counties, and Cumbria is the home of the Lake District.

5) Is Lake District in Edinburgh?

No, the Lake District is roughly 126 miles away from Edinburgh. Edinburgh is in Scotland, whilst the Lake District is in England. They are in two entirely separate locations in the United Kingdom.

6) What language does Cumbria speak?

English. English is spoken across England and all countries in the United Kingdom. However, as Cumbria is in the north of England, there is a slight dialect and accent difference from the south of England.

Is the Lake District In Scotland? In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! The answer to “is the Lake District in Scotland?” Hopefully, now you know the answer to this question, and can begin planning your Lake District trip! When you’re planning to visit the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Lake District posts:

• Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (Essential Guide)
• BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
• Getting Around the Lake District Without a Car (+ Solo Travel Tips!)