The Best Things To Do In The Lake District According To Travellers
The Lake District has more than a thousand attractions.
You can climb mountains. Sail across lakes. Visit castles. Explore historic houses. Or spend the day wandering through some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain. So when we looked at Tripadvisor to see which attractions visitors rate most highly, we expected to find the usual names at the top.
Windermere. Catbells. Beatrix Potter.
Instead, sitting at number one was something completely different. A rescue centre full of alpacas and llamas. Not for a week. Not for a month. For years. That made us stop and ask a simple question.
Why has Alpacaly Ever After become one of the highest-rated attractions in the Lake District?
1. Alpacaly Ever After
Most visitor attractions are built.
Alpacaly Ever After grew from a rescue mission. Long before visitors arrived with cameras and walking boots, alpacas and llamas were arriving in need of help. Some had been neglected. Some needed new homes. Some simply needed a second chance. Today, those same animals help create memories for thousands of visitors every year. Many guests arrive expecting a pleasant walk. What they don’t expect is how quickly they connect with the animals.
Reading through nearly 2,000 five-star reviews, one thing quickly becomes clear.
People rarely talk about “the attraction”.
They talk about moments. The alpaca that made them laugh. The llama that refused to pose for a photograph. The guide who shared a rescue story. The animal they still remember months later. One visitor described their day as a “fantastic experience, brilliant day”. Another called it a “feel-good experience for all of us”. A returning guest described the experience as “happy, fun and memorable”. Perhaps that’s why so many visitors return. They’re not coming back to visit an attraction. They’re coming back to see old friends.
Our experiences take place across three beautiful Lake District locations.
Lingholm Estate
Imagine walking alongside an alpaca with Derwentwater sparkling beside you and Catbells rising in the distance. That’s Lingholm Estate. A place so beautiful that Beatrix Potter used it as inspiration for Mr McGregor’s Garden. It’s one of the most memorable alpaca walking locations anywhere in the UK.
Whinlatter Forest
If you’d prefer something a little more adventurous, our famous llama treks take visitors through Whinlatter Forest. Towering trees. Mountain views. Friendly llamas. And plenty of opportunities for photographs. It’s a side of the Lake District many visitors never get to see.
Basecamp North Lakes
Located on the A66 between Penrith and Keswick, Basecamp North Lakes is our award-winning farm shop, café and activity centre.
Many visitors begin their alpaca adventure here before exploring the wider Lake District. With local food, stunning views and rescued alpacas all in one place, it’s become a destination in its own right.
Why Visitors Choose Alpacaly Ever After
- Ranked as the Lake District’s highest-rated attraction on Tripadvisor.
- Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews.
- Award-winning social enterprise.
- One of the UK’s largest alpaca and llama rescue centres.
- Stunning Lake District locations.
- Every booking helps support animal rescue and welfare.
Booking is essential and many experiences sell out well in advance during weekends and school holidays.
Visit www.alpacalyeverafter.co.uk to check availability and book your adventure.
2. Lake Windermere
No list of the best things to do in the Lake District would be complete without Windermere. England’s largest lake attracts visitors from around the world.Some explore by boat. Others hire paddleboards. Many simply sit by the water and enjoy the view. Whatever you choose, it’s easy to see why Windermere remains one of the most visited destinations in the region.
3. Catbells
There are higher mountains in the Lake District. There are tougher climbs too. Yet Catbells remains one of the most popular and my personal favourite.The route is achievable for many families and the reward at the top is one of the finest views in Cumbria.
If you’ve only got time for one fell walk during your visit, Catbells is hard to beat and you never know you might see a herd of Llamas at the top!
4. Hill Top
Long before millions of visitors discovered the Lake District, Beatrix Potter had already fallen in love with it. Her former home remains one of the most visited attractions in Cumbria. Walking through the house feels like stepping into the pages of one of her books. The gardens, rooms and surrounding countryside all helped inspire the stories that generations have grown up reading.
5. The World Of Beatrix Potter
A favourite with families, this attraction brings Peter Rabbit and friends to life. Children love the interactive displays. Parents enjoy revisiting the stories they grew up with. It’s particularly useful on those occasional Lake District days when the weather decides not to cooperate.
So What Is The Best Thing To Do In The Lake District?
That depends on what sort of memories you want to make. If you want spectacular scenery, visit Windermere. If you want a mountain adventure, climb Catbells. If you love Beatrix Potter, Hill Top is essential.
But if you’re looking for the experience visitors consistently place at the very top of their Lake District holiday, start with Alpacaly Ever After.
Some visitors remember the views. Some remember the mountains. Some remember the lakes.
Most of our visitors remember the alpaca they walked.
To book your own adventure, visit www.alpacalyeverafter.co.uk.
