Monday is a bank holiday, so leave it to the crowds. Tuesday to Friday is the sensible bit of the week.
Late August into September is usually mild and changeable in the Lakes, with the first properly cool mornings and the odd wet day. Check the MWIS Lake District forecast before you set off, and especially before going high.
Monday is the August bank holiday, which means the honeypots will be rammed, so this week's plan is built around Tuesday to Friday. Gardens, castles and one very handy hill with a train station at the bottom.
Start: Start at the narrow lane beside the lower entrance of the Windermere Hotel, Windermere LA23 1AW
It's a small hill with a very big view: 360 degrees over Windermere and the central fells from 238m. The path climbs through woodland on a restored Victorian carriageway, and there are compass benches at the top so you can argue about which lump is which. Go on Tuesday or Wednesday, once the bank holiday crowds have gone home.
One tarmac stretch is as steep as 1 in 4, and the blue-marked route is graded for scooters and pushchairs while the red one has steps. Windermere station is about three minutes away, and toilets and the village car park are on Broad Street.
Mon 31 Aug (bank holiday) and Wed to Sun, 10am to 5pm
Cark-in-Cartmel, near Grange-over-Sands LA11 7PL See the admissions page, Adults
Holker is open Wednesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays in September, so it's one of the few places worth trying on Monday. I'd still aim for Wednesday if you can, when you'll have the gardens and the Courtyard Café to yourself a bit more. Details and booking
Open seven days until 8 Nov, gardens 10am to 5pm, house 11am to 3.30pm
Levens, near Kendal LA8 0PD At the time of writing house and garden £17.30, garden only £13.00, Adults
The topiary here is billed as the oldest in the world, and the house behind it grew from a pele tower built around 1250 to 1300. It's £17.30 for house and garden, so it isn't cheap, but you can do the garden alone for £13.00 and the kitchen does lunch. Details and booking
Station Road, Keswick CA12 4NF Check the admission page, All ages
A proper old-fashioned town museum in Fitz Park, and a sensible thing to have in your back pocket for a wet Tuesday. There's a technology-led exhibition called Outside In on at the time of writing. Details and booking
Castle Way, Carlisle CA3 8UR Book online to save 15%, 20% off if you arrive by bus or bike, Adults
Mary Queen of Scots was held in Queen Mary's Tower in 1568, and the place survived seven Scottish sieges between 1174 and 1461. Cumbria's Museum of Military Life is inside, so there's a wet-day fallback built in. I'm biased, it's my home town. Details and booking
The Battery, The Promenade, Maryport CA15 6JD Included with museum admission, All ages
Volunteers bring out real and replica Roman objects and let you pick them up. It isn't only for kids, and the Wednesday slot means you can combine it with a wander round Maryport harbour. Details and booking
Bowness, Ambleside (Waterhead), Lakeside and Brockhole Cruises from £14.80 at the time of writing, Adults
Cruises start at 45 minutes and run from four piers, and the company says it offers accessible cruises. Doing Orrest Head in the morning and a boat from Bowness in the afternoon makes a decent Thursday. Details and booking
Manor Road, Barrow-in-Furness LA13 0PJ Book online to save 15%, Adults
Big red sandstone ruins, a reconstructed night stairway you can climb, and an exhibition of carved knights' effigies. Barrow tends to get overlooked, so a Friday morning here should be quiet. Details and booking
Daily, 10am to 5pm, last entry 30 minutes before closing
Near Sawrey LA22 0LF Adult £17.00 at the time of writing, Adults
You need to pre-book to use the tiny car park, which has a two-hour maximum, and there are steps at the entrance and uneven surfaces. The garden is where Potter's illustrations come alive, and there's a needle-felted mouse exhibition running to 13 December. Details and booking
Temple Sowerby, near Penrith CA10 1SP Adult £11.00 at the time of writing, Adults
There are 165 apple varieties in the orchards and over 275 herbs in the walled garden, plus a Silent Space if you want a sit down away from everyone. Watermill closes at 3pm and the café at 3.30pm, so go for lunch rather than a late tea. Details and booking
Photography, drawing and other classes start from 15 September. Worth booking before the good ones fill up. Details and booking
Book ahead
Tip. Bank holiday Mondays swamp the car parks at the famous honeypots, and Tuesday to Friday is when they go back to normal. If Monday is your only free day, use somewhere you'd normally overlook, like Holker or Cartmel.