The Lake District is known for being the largest national park in England and well… the vast amount of lakes in the area.

But…

It’s also known for having the tallest mountain in England, Scafell Pike. And when there are big mountains in the area, there are also some fantastic climbs out there.

Many of you have probably taken a hike around the Lake Districts; it’s a trendy tourist spot. But, you may not have had the chance to go climbing, or maybe you weren’t aware of the climbing in the area.

To start with, the Lake Districts can be split into seven main areas for climbing…

1. Borrowdale
2. Dow, Duddon & Slate
3. Buttermere & Eastern Crags
4. Langdale
5. Scafell, Wasdale & Eskdale
6. Kendal
7. Gable & Pillar

These areas will often have several crags for you to check out, and in total, are home to well over 5,500 routes.

By now, you probably want to learn a little bit about the area, and this is what we’re going to discuss in this article…

What does it look like?

Location & Parking

You’ll find the largest National Park in England in the county of Cumbria, which is the North West. Thanks to the stunning glacial lakes and stunning mountain ranges, it’s made the location a very popular place to be among outdoor enthusiasts.

Getting around to some of the climbing locations can be tricky due to how big the national park is. And with over 5,500 routes to choose from, you can often feel very spoilt for choice no matter which area you decide to hit up.

Due to having to drive to most places to make the most out of your trip, you’re going to need parking. And while there is free parking in some areas, it’s not suggested to use them.

Most of the free parking isn’t well maintained and has no one there to stop break-ins.

We’d recommend using the parking facilities provided by the National trust. How much you have to pay will depend on the area you’re climbing in and how long you plan to stay. But here’s a rough guide:

• Up to 2 Hours: £2.50 – £3.00
• 4 Hours: £4.00 – £5.40
• All Day: $5.50 – £8.00 (Only in Waterhead
• Weekly: £28 ( Only available in some locations)

If you live close and plan to hit up the area often, you can purchase a membership, which will entitle you to free parking in the area and 500 more locations.

Here’s a guide to how much that will cost for an individual:

• Adult (26+): £72 a year or £6 per month
• Young Person (18 – 25): £36 a year
• Junior (0-17): £10

If you choose to become a member, you have free access to 500 places, free parking in most National Trust car parks, and much more.

Good Climbing Spots

Okay, enough about the location; let’s talk more about the good spots to climb in the Lake Districts.

As we mentioned earlier, there’s over 5,500 routes to choose from and seven climbing areas to go to. Each site has many different crags, so it’s hard not to find a good location no matter where you go.

But, to help you narrow an area down, we’re going to give you three of my favourite locations, which should be on your list.

So, let’s take a look:

Borrowdale
The area Borrowdale is located just off the A591 and next to Derwent Water. In the Borrowdale area, you’ll find well over eight crags for you to check out, which include:
• Borrowdale North
• Borrowdale South
• Quaryfoot Buttress
• And Black Crag

Between all of these crags, which are all within walking distance, you’ll find well over 1,200 routes at your disposal.

You’ll find a vast mixture of grades and heights randing around 10 meters to 45 meters in this area.

Dow, Duddon & Slate
The area is in the Coniston Fells area, which is just to the side of the A593 and the small town of Coniston. You’ll find over 877 routes in this location, and many crags, which are broken down into smaller areas:

• Dow Crag
• The Coppermines Valley
• Yewdale
• And The Tilberthwaite Valley

Most of the climbs are Trad, so make sure you bring a good amount of gear with you. And when it comes to height, the crags range from 20 meters to 50 meters.

Langdale
Langdale is another excellent area to climb, which features a mixture of Trad climbing and bouldering. You’ll find the site to the west of Chapel Stile and just north of Dow, Duddon & Slate.

In this area alone, you’ll find 840+ routes and well over seven smaller areas to discover, which include:

• Crinkle Crags
• Easedale
• Langdale Boulders
• And Bowfell

If you’re looking for an area where you can test out your Trad climbing and bouldering, this is a great location to try out.

You have a fantastic mixture of climbs with varying grades, making it an excellent location to increase your skill level. As for the height, it ranges from 10 meters to 50 meters.

Where’s good for beginners through to advanced climbers?

We’ve told you a little bit about the good spots, but what climbs should you take a look at from these locations?

This section will list a few climbs from each of my favourite spots that we feel you need to try out.

Let’s take a look:

• Beginner Borrowdale Area: Borrowdale East – Little Chamonix VD
• Beginner Dow, Duddon & Slate Area: The Coppermine Valley – Gouldon Gully VD
• Beginner Langdale Area: Langdale Boulders – Left Crack Sans Break V0
• Intermediate Borrowdale Area: Borrowdale East – Cream HVS 5a
• Intermediate Dow, Duddon & Slate Area: Area: Dow Crag – Hopkinson’s Crack HS
• Intermediate Langdale Area: Langdale Boulders – Overhang Diagonal Left V2
• Advanced Borrowdale Area: Borrowdale East – The Bludgeon E1 5b
• Advanced Dow, Duddon & Slate Area: Area: Dow Crag – National Health E3 5c
• Advanced Langdale Area: Langdale Boulders – Traverse Link-Up V5