Below is a selection of recommended places to stay along the Lakeland Way. For the best availability and prices it is advisable to book directly with each host where possible.
Accommodation in the small hamlets of Dockray and Seathwaite is very limited. However, short transfers to a nearby village or town using local taxi services can be a practical alternative — for example, Glenridding for Dockray and Eskdale for Seathwaite.
Minimum Stay
There may be a “minimum stay” policy at some places. However, this may change throughout the year, so it is best to ring and confirm. For example, although the National Trust’s policy is a “minimum stay of two nights” at their campsites, if you ring to book your pitch and explain that you only have a small tent and are walking a long-distance path, they will often be able to accommodate you.
The Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC)
With sites at Ravenglass, Braithwaite, and Keswick, the Camping and Caravanning Club have a policy of not turning people away, so you can generally just turn up, as all sites have spare areas dedicated to “backpackers” passing through. At the Braithwaite and Keswick sites, you cannot book your pitch in advance, whereas at the Ravenglass site you can.
“Backpackers are welcomed on Club Sites and, wherever possible, should not be turned away. Reduced fees are payable for their use of pitches. A backpacker is defined as a camper who arrives on Site by foot, by bicycle, or canoe, but not by any form of motorised vehicle.”
Official Route Stops & Nearby Alternatives
The Lakeland Way follows a natural line through the landscape, and the “official” stops reflect that journey. However, the Lake District offers no shortage of nearby villages and towns, and at times it may make sense to adjust a section or step slightly off-route — whether for availability, comfort, or simply preference.
For that reason, I’ve included a selection of unofficial stops that either lie on the route or are within easy reach of it, offering flexibility without losing the spirit of the walk.
Ravenglass (Official Stop)
A small coastal village with limited accommodation. Food is available at both hotels.
Cumblands Farm (camping)
The Inn at Ravenglass (hotel)
Ravenglass CCC (pods and camping)
Rosegarth Guest House (bed & breakfast)
The Pennington (hotel)
Muncaster (en route)
Muncaster Castle (hotel and bell tents)
Dalegarth (en route)
Dalegarth Hall (camping)
Boot (en route)
The Boot Inn (hotel)
Brook House Inn (hotel)
Eskdale NT Campsite (pods and camping)
Hows Wood (bed & breakfast)
Beckfoot (0.75 mile off route)
Stanley House (hotel)
Bleabeck (1 mile off route)
Woolpack Inn (hotel)
YHA Eskdale (hostel, pods and camping)
Lake Head, Wasdale (en route)
Wasdale NT Campsite (pods and camping)
Wasdale Head (Official Stop)
A hamlet at the head of the valley, with food available at the hotel.
Burnthwaite Farm (bed & breakfast)
Lingmell House (bed & breakfast)
Wasdale Head Inn (hotel and camping)
Stonethwaite (en route)
Chapel House Farm (camping)
Knotts View Guesthouse (bed & breakfast)
Stonethwaite Farm and Campsite (camping)
Rosthwaite (Official Stop)
One of four hamlets in the heart of Borrowdale, offering ample accommodation and places to eat.
Hazel Bank Country House (hotel)
The Royal Oak (hotel)
Yew Craggs (bed & breakfast)
Yew Tree Farm (bed & breakfast)
Longthwaite (0.5 mile off route)
YHA Borrowdale (hostel, pods and camping)
Seatoller (1 mile off route)
Glaramara Hotel (hotel)
Seatoller House (bed & breakfast)
Honister Hause (en route)
YHA Honister (hostel)
Gatesgarth (en route)
Gatesgarth Farm (seasonal pop-up campsite)
Buttermere (Official Stop)
A small village with limited accommodation. Both hotels serve food.
The Bridge Hotel (hotel)
Buttermere Court Hotel (hotel)
Cragg House Farm (camping barn)
Syke Farm (camping)
YHA Buttermere (hostel)
Braithwaite (Official Stop)
A small village, but with ample accommodation and a good choice of places to eat.
Braithwaite House (bed & breakfast)
Braithwaite Village CCC (camping)
Coledale Inn (hotel)
Fern Howe (bed & breakfast)
Howe View (bed & breakfast)
Middle Ruddings (hotel)
Orchard Grove (bed & breakfast)
Royal Oak (hotel)
Keswick (en route)
Keswick CCC (camping)
YHA Keswick (hostel)
Dockray (Official Stop)
Very limited, with just one hotel providing both accommodation and food.
The Royal at Dockray (hotel)
M & A Private Hire (taxi service)
Patterdale (Official Stop)
A small village with limited accommodation. Food is available at both hotels.
Old Water View (bed & breakfast)
The Patterdale Hotel (hotel)
School House (bed & breakfast)
Side Farm (camping)
The White Lion Inn (hotel)
Crookabeck (en route)
Crookabeck (bed & breakfast)
Troutbeck (Official Stop)
A small village with limited accommodation, with food available at both hotels.
High Fold Guest House (bed & breakfast)
The Mortal Man (hotel)
Queens Head (hotel)
Thickholme (1 mile off route)
YHA Windermere (hostel, pods and camping)
Ambleside (en route)
YHA Ambleside (hostel)
Salutation (hotel)
Rydal (en route)
Rydal Hall (hotel, bunkhouse, pods and camping)
Grasmere (Official Stop)
A village with ample accommodation, a wide choice of places to eat, and a small supermarket.
Beck Allans Guest House (bed & breakfast)
Chestnut Villa (bed & breakfast)
Dunmail House (bed & breakfast)
The Forest Side (hotel)
The Grasmere (hotel)
How Foot Lodge (bed & breakfast)
The Inn at Grasmere (hotel)
Raise View (bed & breakfast)
The Swan (hotel)
Tweedies Bar and Lodge (hotel)
Victoria House (hotel)
The Wordsworth Hotel (hotel)
YHA Grasmere (hostel)
Elterwater (en route)
The Britannia Inn (hotel)
Elterwater Hostel (hostel)
Elterwater Inn (hotel)
Little Langdale (en route)
Three Shires Inn (hotel)
Coniston (Official Stop)
A village with ample accommodation and a good range of places to eat.
Black Bull (hotel)
Coniston Sports & Social Centre (camping)
Crown Inn (hotel)
Meadowdore Cafe and B&B (bed & breakfast)
The Sun (hotel)
The Yewdale Inn (hotel)
YHA Coniston (hostel)
Seathwaite (Official Stop)
Very limited accommodation, with food available at the hotel.
High Wallabarrow (bunkhouse and camping barn)
The Newfield Inn (hotel)
Sim’s Travel (taxi service)
Turner Hall (0.75 mile off route)
Turner Hall Farm (camping)
Bleabeck (0.5 mile off route)
Woolpack Inn (hotel)
YHA Eskdale (hostel, pods and camping)
Boot (Official Stop)
A small village with limited accommodation. Both hotels offer food.
The Boot Inn (hotel)
Brook House Inn (hotel)
Eskdale NT Campsite (pods and camping)
Hows Wood (bed & breakfast)
Beckfoot (0.75 mile off route)
Stanley House (hotel)
Dalegarth (en route)
Dalegarth Hall (camping)
Waberthwaite (0.5 mile off route)
The Brown Cow Inn (hotel and camping)