The Most Instagrammable Places in The Lake District

It’s no secret that one of my favourite places in the UK to visit is The Lake District. Stefan and I have actually visited every year for the past 6 years, so it’s become a little tradition. Hopefully, we will be able to take our little Walter for a UK staycation this year.

The Lake District is one of the most beautiful places, and there is no denying it makes for a great Instagram photo. Armathwaite Hall, a luxury hotel and spa located in Cumbria, has collated data from Instagram hashtags and location tags to find out which locations are most worthy of your Instagram grid!

Lake Windemere

#Windermere hashtags: 1,000,000

Location tags: 231,000

For me, Lake Windermere is the main hub of the Lake District. The town of Windermere and the neighbouring town of Bowness-on-Windermere are full of shops, bars and restaurants. They both offer striking scenery of the lake, guided walks and boat trips in this area. There is truly something for everyone. Bowness-on-Windemere is my chosen destination in the lakes and we’ve garnered a few bars and restaurants which have become our usual haunts.

Lake Windermere is 10.5 miles long and a mile wide which makes it the largest lake in England. On several trips, we have actually taken a boat trip where we drove around in a little boat across Lake Windermere. This was a great opportunity to snap a few photos of the scenery. We’ve hired boats from both Waterhead and Brockhole (which is an activity centre with everything from crazy golf to tree top trails).

Keswick

#Keswick hashtags: 495,000

Location tags: 243,000

Coming in second place is Keswick, which is another favourite place of mine in the Lake District. It’s pretty much a market town with lots of cafés, bars, shops and restaurants. The Round is a burger place which is a must-visit whilst in the Lakes. I’m obsessed and dream about their burgers daily.

However, not too far from the town centre is Derwentwater, which is where you’ll have seen the iconic shots of rowing boats and geese lining the shores of the lake. More on Derwentwater later though…

I also need to mention the Castlerigg Stone Circle, which is on the outskirts of Keswick. It’s a National Heritage site and thought to be over 5,000 years old. I like to think of it as the Lake District’s version of Stonehenge. Whilst the circle of stones are pretty incredible, the views from the site are also breathtaking.

Ambleside

#Ambleside hashtags: 244,000

Location tags: 109,000

Right at the top of Lake Windermere, you will find Ambleside. You probably have seen photos of Ambleside on Instagram if you are searching for the Lake District. The grey stone buildings make it really stand out from other destinations in the lakes and the bridge house is one Ambleside’s most famous buildings. The bridge house is also a popular source of inspiration for artists and is now owned by the National Trust .

We actually usually park up at Rothay Park and head up Loughrigg Fell for spectacular views of the Lake District. I’m not really a huge hiker but find this route a pleasant. So much so that we have done this route three times.

Ullswater

#Ullswater hashtags: 179,000

Location tags: 116,000

Ullswater is the second largest lake in England and it is pretty impressive. This is such a beautiful area of the Lake District and it’s a place that we’ve had a few picnics on the lake side whilst taking in the stunning views.

Nearby is Aira Force Waterfall which stands at a magnificent 60 feet tall. This is another must see of mine for the Lake District and is certainly perfect for taking a few photos for Instagram. The trail around the waterfall is also a pretty pleasant walk. Aira Force Waterfall is a National Trust site so there is a charge for parking there.

Derwentwater

#Derwentwater hashtags: 167,000

Location tags: 112,000

Finally, Derwentwater is just a few minutes walk from Keswick town centre. This lake is a 3 mile long and it is known as the Queen of the lakes due to the way the water is a cradle by the surrounding fells. You can enjoy a pleasant walk along Derwentwater starting from Keswick and it’s truly a stunning walk.

We went to the Friars Crag which is one of the best places for a stunning landscape shot. John Ruskin one said that the view from this point was one of the finest in Europe. There is a monument erected in recognition of his work next to the beautiful view of the breathtaking lake. We were really lucky that the weather was in our favour and it was perfect for that Instagram shot.

In the centre of the lake, you can see four islands featuring varied flora and fauna which you can get an up close look at from a boat tour. I’ve got to say Derwentwater really is so tranquil and peaceful.

My other recommendations that I have for the Lake District for some shots perfect for Instagram would be to visit Hawkshead and also Hill Top. Both of these locations are connected to the author, Beatrix Potter. Hill Top is actually a National Trust property and was Beatrix Potter’s former home. Just looking round the house, you can see where a lot of her stories were inspired by.

Have you visited any of these places in the Lake District?