Private 4×4 Lake Tour from Windermere

From the moment the air-conditioned Land Rover parks in front of your hotel, the adventure begins. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Windermere behind you, you ascend narrow roads lined with dry stone walls, and within minutes the driver turns onto an unpaved forest track where the suspension shines and the landscape opens up to glacial valleys.

The first stop is usually a viewpoint over Windermere and the Langdale peaks: here your guide serves a hot drink while explaining how the glaciers shaped the U-shaped valleys. Back on the road, the 4×4 climbs the winding Kirkstone Pass, a mountain pass that links two counties and offers panoramic views of chain lakes.

Further on, the vehicle enters lush oak forests to reveal the Skelwith Force waterfall or the emerald hues of Blea Tarn, depending on the weather and your preference. At Cathedral Quarry you'll walk for a few minutes through slate galleries where the light streams in at an angle and the photographs look like something out of a natural art museum.

The route continues past crystal clear rivers, stone bridges and villages of whitewashed houses with flagstone roofs. Thanks to the private format, you can request detours: perhaps pop into a historic pub for sticky-toffee pudding, or stop in an open field to let the little ones run around with Herdwick sheep.

When the clock strikes four hours - though you'll think it's been minutes - the Land Rover will descend towards Windermere. With a full SD card and a handful of anecdotes about whisky smugglers and romantic poets, you'll return to your accommodation ready for your next adventure on the lakes.