Top 8 photographs of winter in The Lake District

With its acres of unspoilt landscapes, dramatic fells and glittering lakes, the Lake District is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. And the great news is that during the cold winter months, the scenery is perhaps even more breathtaking.

Here are some stunning photographs of our favourite Lake District beauty spots, as well as advice on the best ways to explore these picture-perfect, wintery landscapes.

Photo by Daniel_Kay

This fabulous photograph was taken at one of Cumbria’s prettiest lakes, Buttermere, and shows the famous lone tree against a backdrop of a beautiful winter sunrise reflecting in the water. The Buttermere circular walking route was recently ranked number 7 in the nation’s top 100 walks, and this easy, fairly flat route is the perfect way to soak up the dramatic winter scenery.

Photo by Stewart Smith Photography

This dramatic image of a walker admiring the view from the summit of The Old Man of Coniston demonstrates just how beautiful the Lakes can be. The mountain is popular with tourists and fell-walkers, and it’s easy to see why! The route is fairly short, making it the perfect choice for a crisp winter’s day, and it showcases lots of industrial archaeology, including old quarry workings and an aerial tramway tower.

Photo by Elliot Pannaman

This amazing photograph was taken on a snowy morning by Lake Windermere. We just love the way the surrounding mountains and trees fade into the pale wintery sky, and how the colours of the deep, dark lake contrast against the snow on the pier. The best way to explore Windermere is by water, and the Windermere Lake Cruises stop at several local towns including Ambleside, Bowness and Brockhole, and showcase stunning views of the dramatic mountain scenery.

Photo by Matt Heaton

Helvellyn is England’s third highest peak and the 16km mountain walk was recently named Britain’s favourite walk. The route is steeped in history, and Helvellyn’s Striding Edge was described by Wainwright as ‘the finest ridge there is in Lakeland’. We love this photograph of a Lakeland explorer against a snowy mountain backdrop, especially with the flakes of snow falling all around.

Photo by ATGImages

This calm and tranquil snowscape of Pooley Bridge at Ullswater sums up the Lake District perfectly. One of the best times to explore Ullswater is during the quieter, winter months, when you can enjoy uninterrupted views like these. We love the dusky, blue sky reflecting on the water, signifying the end of a beautiful crisp winter day.

Photo by Stewart Smith Photography

Castlerigg Stone Circle is amongst the earliest of British stone circles, dating back to 3000 BC. The trek up to the site is well worth it for the panoramic views of Helvellyn and High Seat. The mountains are infinitely more dramatic when covered in snow, and the great news is that the site is just a 30-minute walk from the nearby town of Keswick, making this the perfect outing on a crisp winter morning.

Photo by Daniel_Kay

This fantastic photograph was captured at Derwentwater – a beautiful lake which is just a 10-minute walk from the town of Keswick. If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk the 8 miles around Derwentwater’s perimeter, or, if you’d prefer to sit back, relax and get up close to the lake’s many inlets and islands, you can enjoy a 50-minute round the lake cruise courtesy of Keswick Launch.

Photo by Johann Knox

We love this colourful image of Herwick sheep grazing on the Coniston fells. While the rocky mountain terrain isn’t ideal for inexperienced hikers, particularly during the winter months, the nearby Tarn Hows lake path is perfect for walkers of all ages and abilities. The 2-mile footpath is surrounded by beautiful countryside, and there is a network of paths nearby, one of which takes you along the Tom Gill stream and past two tumbling waterfalls.

If you’ve captured any any amazing photographs during your recent stay in the Lakes, we’d love to see them! Simply tag @llcollectionuk on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for a chance to be featured.