Free Things to Do in the Lake District (and the Car Park Catch)
The Lake District is free. Parking in it is not. Here are ten things that cost nothing to enter, and a straight answer about where the money sneaks out of your pocket.
The short answer
Friar's Crag in Keswick, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Ambleside Roman Fort and Hardknott Roman Fort are all free to enter, and so is walking round Tarn Hows, Aira Force and Buttermere. What isn't free is parking: National Trust car parks charge non-members 7 pounds for two hours and 10 for the day at Tarn Hows and Aira Force, at the time of writing.
Let's define our terms, because the phrase 'free things to do in the Lake District' hides a trap. The scenery is free. The stone circles and Roman forts are free. Getting your car anywhere near them is a different matter. The National Trust car parks at Tarn Hows and Aira Force both list 7 pounds for two hours, 8.50 for four and 10 for the day at the time of writing, unless you're a member. So when a listicle tells you a walk is 'free', it usually means the walk is free and the parking bill arrives afterwards, like a sort of Lakeland tax.
Every place below costs nothing to get into or walk round. I've marked which ones come with a parking charge and which are a decent walk from town or a bus stop, so you can plan a day that really is cheap. I've checked each against the owner's own page (English Heritage, the National Trust, the Keswick tourism site) where there is one, and I've said where I'm leaning on a walking blog instead.
Free things to do in the Lake District: ten that cost nothing to enter
Friar's Crag
The best free half hour in Keswick. You head along Lake Road from Market Square, through Hope Park's gardens, and follow the shore past the boat landings on Derwentwater to the little rocky headland. Keswick's own tourism site says it's free to visit, and calls the view over the lake to the jaws of Borrowdale amazing, which is fair.
There's a monument put up in 1900 to John Ruskin, who wrote that the first thing he remembered as an event in life was being taken by his nurse to the brow of Friars Crag. I do like a memorial to somebody's earliest memory. It's a stroll, not a hike, so it works for small legs and for grandparents. The tourism site calls it a pleasant stroll but doesn't say whether the route is buggy friendly, so check before you push a pram down it.
- Good for
- Short, easy, lake view, a first Lakeland outing
- Cost
- Free (Keswick tourism site)
- Parking
- Not covered by the tourism page. Keswick town car parks are the usual answer
- Check first
- Buggy access if you're pushing one
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Thirty-eight standing stones, put up around 4,500 years ago, with Helvellyn and High Seat in the background. English Heritage says entry is free and the circle is open at any reasonable time during daylight. The postcode is CA12 4RN, on Castle Lane.
It's often busy at sunset and it's a very small field, so go at a strange hour. English Heritage says parking on site is limited and that walking from Keswick takes about 30 minutes, or you can get the Stagecoach bus. The ground is uneven and can be muddy and slippery. Dogs on leads are allowed, but sheep graze the site, which is a polite way of saying the sheep are in charge.
- Good for
- Big ancient thing, big views, children who like standing in circles
- Cost
- Free, daylight hours
- Postcode
- CA12 4RN
- Parking
- Limited on site; about 30 minutes' walk from Keswick
- Check first
- Mud, and sheep on the site
Ambleside Roman Fort and Borrans Park
A second century Roman fort on the shore of Windermere at Waterhead, built to guard the Roman road from Brougham to Ravenglass. English Heritage says entry is free at any reasonable time in daylight, and the site is looked after by the National Trust. You can see the large granaries and the layout of the fort marked out. The YHA's free things page adds that interpretation boards explain what life was like for the 500 or so soldiers based here, and Borrans Park next door has rocky outcrops and lots of benches with lake views.
The surface is uneven, there are sheer drops, and farm livestock can be about. Dogs on leads are allowed. Parking is available throughout Ambleside, and it's charged. There's no food on site, so bring a picnic or walk into Ambleside.
- Good for
- Roman history without a ticket, a picnic by Windermere
- Cost
- Free, daylight hours
- Postcode
- LA22 0EN
- Parking
- Charged, in Ambleside
- Check first
- Uneven surface and drops, not accessible for everyone
Stock Ghyll Force
A 70 foot waterfall in a wooded ravine just behind the Salutation Hotel in Ambleside. It's a proper short walk, about 1.4 km (0.9 miles) with 86 metres of climb, and WalkLakes reckons about 26 minutes at the quickest, starting outside the Tourist Information Centre. The route goes through Stockghyll Woods, over two footbridges, with some steps, and there's a railed viewpoint so you can see the falls safely. I couldn't find an admission charge on any of the guides I read, and it's a public path.
The main car park is above the town on the A591 towards Rydal, and Miller Field car park is at the lower end. Both are charged.
- Good for
- Waterfall with almost no walking, an Ambleside wet-weather filler
- Cost
- No admission fee mentioned anywhere I looked
- Parking
- Charged town car parks (A591 car park or Miller Field)
- Check first
- Steps and ground softness after rain
Rydal Cave
An old slate quarry cave, big enough to stand in, above Rydal Water. It costs nothing, but the parking does. The Lakes Planner walking site says the White Moss car parks off the A591 use ANPR cameras and charge 24 hours a day, while Pelter Bridge car park at Rydal is pay and display, free before 9am and after 6pm. From White Moss Higher it's three quarters of a mile, 20 to 25 minutes, with one brief climb. The same guide says buggies can reach the riverside picnic area but not the cave.
Here's the safety bit. The entrance pool is described as barely shin deep, so paddling rather than swimming, and the slate and stepping stones get slippery when wet. There's no lighting, so a torch on a dull day is worth carrying. Children like it. I'd take wellies, not trainers.
- Good for
- A cave that small children can walk into, and a picnic beside the river
- Cost
- Free to visit; parking is charged (unofficial guide)
- Parking
- White Moss (ANPR, charged) or Pelter Bridge (pay and display)
- Toilets/buggies
- Buggies to the picnic area, not the cave
- Check first
- Slippery slate, and parking rules, which I'm taking from a walking site not the operators
Skelwith Force
A short, thundering waterfall in a mossy chasm on the River Brathay. The walk-and-photograph site Walk My World says there is free off-road parking about 150 metres away with room for around six cars, and a paid car park at Silverthwaite that's about 700 metres each way on flat ground. It's a free walk, with a Colwith Force extension of about 1.3 miles each way if you have the legs.
The warnings matter. The rocks near the falls can be very slick, the water is powerful, and the steps are a little uneven, so it's not somewhere to let toddlers run. After heavy rain some areas are inaccessible and the path collects giant puddles. The guide doesn't mention buggies, and given the steps I wouldn't push one.
- Good for
- Big noise for a very short walk
- Cost
- Free walk. Free parking for a few cars, paid parking at Silverthwaite
- Toilets/buggies
- Steps and uneven ground, buggies not mentioned as suitable
- Check first
- Slippery rocks, water levels, and whether the small free car park has space (about six cars)
Hardknott Roman Fort
The most dramatic free thing on this list, and the most awkward to reach. English Heritage says entry is free, open any reasonable time in daylight, and it's a well-preserved 2nd century fort with the headquarters building, commandant's house and bath house plus a parade ground. The postcode is CA19 1TH.
The warning is on the site itself: Hardknott Pass is narrow and steep and can be hazardous in bad weather. There's parking near the fort, with steep slopes and livestock. No climbing on the walls, and no barbecues or open flames. Go in dry, clear conditions, and don't take a car you're precious about.
- Good for
- Roman ruins on a mountainside, when the weather is good
- Cost
- Free, daylight hours
- Postcode
- CA19 1TH
- Parking
- Near the fort, off the pass
- Check first
- Road conditions on Hardknott Pass, and a weather forecast
Tarn Hows
A two mile (3.2 km) circuit round a very pretty tarn, described by the National Trust as level and accessible, with free Tramper mobility scooters available to borrow. It's the Lake District in one Instagram frame. But it's a designed landscape: James Garth Marshall joined three natural tarns into one in the 1860s to feed his sawmill and planted the trees around it. That's not a complaint, just a fact to bring out at the top.
The walking is free. The car park isn't: 7 pounds for two hours, 8.50 for four or 10 for the day for non-members at the time of writing, with members parking free through the JustPark app. There are toilets and JOEY's Cafe, open 9.30am to 4.30pm.
- Good for
- Level walk, pushchairs, mobility scooters, a first family walk
- Cost
- Free to walk; parking charged (members free)
- Toilets/buggies
- Toilets on site, level access, free Tramper mobility scooters
- Check first
- Parking prices and the JustPark app before you arrive
Aira Force
The National Trust calls it a thundering 65 foot waterfall, and there's a tea-room, small toilet block and accessible toilet. Walking round the woods is free. The main car park is the catch: 7 pounds for two hours, 8.50 for four and 10 for the day, members free, and the Trust says Aira Force car park usually fills by around 10am on holidays and weekends.
The path near the waterfall gets steep with steps, many without handrails, and the Trust says the falls themselves aren't wheelchair accessible. Dogs on leads are welcome. Go early, or catch the ferry from Glenridding, which Wikipedia says has a jetty here. One walking blog puts the main circuit at around an hour with photo stops, and the parking is the boss of your day.
- Good for
- A properly big waterfall with woodland paths
- Cost
- Free to walk; parking charged (members free)
- Postcode
- CA11 0JS
- Toilets/buggies
- Small toilet block with accessible toilet; steep paths, not wheelchair accessible
- Check first
- Parking fills around 10am at busy times
Buttermere lakeshore
The National Trust describes an easy, level round-the-lake walk, with Sourmilk Gill and a Victorian tunnel along the way. The valley is free to explore. Parking is the cost: three National Trust car parks (Buttermere village, Lanthwaite Wood, Honister Pass), pay and display, cash only, members free. There's a public toilet in Buttermere for a small fee, and the Trust names an accessible path on the far shore.
Dogs are welcome but the Trust asks for close control to protect stock and wildlife. I'd bring coins, because the machines are cash only, and I'd bring a flask, because I couldn't find a cafe on the Trust's page. Ring the visitor centre on 01768 774649 for current refreshment options.
- Good for
- A flat lake circuit with fells all round it
- Cost
- Free; parking charged (cash only, members free)
- Toilets/buggies
- Public toilet in Buttermere (small fee); accessible far-shore path
- Check first
- Bring coins, no overnight parking
How to actually do the Lake District cheaply
Take the bus where you can. English Heritage points Castlerigg visitors to Stagecoach, and the National Trust lists Bus 516 from Ambleside to Langdale. Get to the popular car parks early, since Aira Force is full by about 10am on busy days. If you're a National Trust member, most of the parking here is free, and it pays for itself in a couple of visits.
Take a picnic, since the tea-rooms are where the money goes. And keep a plan B, because free things in the Lake District are mostly outdoors, and the weather will do what it likes. Skelwith Force is billed by one walking guide as a rainy day option, though the rocks get slick, and Rydal Cave suits kids in wellies. For a properly rainy day with a bit of budget, see our indoor guide.
The scenery is free. The 10 pound car park is where they get you.See what's on in The Cumbrian Almanac
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Questions people ask
What is the best free thing to do in the Lake District?
For an easy first outing, Friar's Crag at Keswick is free, short and has a famous view over Derwentwater. For history, Castlerigg Stone Circle and the Roman forts at Ambleside and Hardknott are all free through English Heritage or the National Trust.
Is Aira Force free to visit?
Walking to the waterfall is free, but the main car park charges non-members 7 pounds for two hours, 8.50 for four or 10 for the day at the time of writing. National Trust members park free.
Are Lake District car parks free?
Not usually. National Trust countryside car parks are pay and display, free for members, and some, like Buttermere, take cash only. Free walks often still mean a parking fee.
Are there free Roman sites in the Lake District?
Yes. English Heritage lists Ambleside Roman Fort and Hardknott Roman Fort as free to enter during daylight hours. Hardknott is up a narrow, steep pass that can be hazardous in bad weather.
Is Tarn Hows free?
Walking round Tarn Hows is free, but the car park is charged for non-members and free for National Trust members. The circuit is about two miles and level.
Is Castlerigg Stone Circle free?
Yes, English Heritage lists entry as free at any reasonable time in daylight. Parking on site is limited, so consider walking from Keswick, which takes about 30 minutes.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked against these pages on Tuesday 29 September 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm with the venue.
- Friars Crag, Keswick Tourism
- English Heritage, Castlerigg Stone Circle
- English Heritage, Ambleside Roman Fort
- YHA, Ambleside Roman Fort
- English Heritage, Hardknott Roman Fort
- Visit Cumbria, Stock Ghyll Force
- WalkLakes, Stockghyll Force walk
- The Lakes Planner, Rydal Cave
- Walk My World, Skelwith Force
- National Trust, Tarn Hows
- National Trust, History of Tarn Hows
- National Trust, Aira Force and Ullswater
- National Trust, Buttermere Valley
- National Trust, Lake District countryside car parks
- National Trust, Stickle Tarn trail
