Manchester to Glasgow Road Trip (via the Lake District) 🚗🏞️
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If you are travelling from Manchester to Glasgow, this road trip passing through the Lake District will be perfect for you.
Manchester to Glasgow Road Trip (via the Lake District) Itinerary Summary
📍 Manchester – Start your trip in Manchester, a city known for its industrial heritage, football and music scene. 🎶🏙️
📍 Brockholes Nature Reserve – A peaceful wetland and wildlife haven, featuring a floating visitor village. 🦆🌿
📍 Lancaster – Visit Lancaster Castle and Williamson Park 🏰✨
📍 Windermere – Enter the Lake District and head to Windermere. You can go for a scenic walk to Orrest Head or do a boat cruise on Lake Windermere from Bowness-on-Windermere. 🚤☕
📍 Ambleside – A charming Lake District town, perfect for a wonder. You can also walk to Stock Ghyll Force. 🌲🏡
📍 Keswick – Head to Derwentwater, have a walk around Keswick and visit the Castlerigg Stone Circle. 🏞️🪨
📍 Lowther Castle & Gardens – A stunning ruined castle with beautiful gardens, woodlands, and panoramic views, offering a mix of history and scenic walks. 🏰🌿
📍 Carlisle – A historic border city featuring Carlisle Castle, the Tullie House Museum, and the start of Hadrian’s Wall country. ⚔️🏰
📍 New Lanark – A World Heritage Site, this 18th-century mill village is the perfect stop before arriving in Glasgow. 🌊🏡
📍 Glasgow – Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow Cathedral, and the Riverside Museum. 🎭🎨
Total Distance: 🚗 Approx. 260 miles
📸 Photos & Info are located further down. Keep scrolling to see all these places. ⬇️
Get the FREE Manchester to Glasgow Road Trip (via the Lake District) Map!
🚗 Need a car for this road trip?
If you don’t have your own car, I’d really recommend renting one — it gives you the flexibility to stop at each waterfall and explore at your own pace.
I usually use DiscoverCars to compare prices and find the best deals across different rental companies.
👉 It’s really easy to use:
- Compare multiple providers in one place
- Cheaper than booking direct
- Free cancellation on most options
- Their 3rd party insurance is a lot cheaper
- They have a great customer service for claims (though I hope you won’t have to use it!
Additional Information & Highlights
📍 Manchester
📍 Lancaster
📍Windermere
Located about 1/2 mile from the Lake, Windermere is an excellent starting point for walks.
🗺️ Things To Do:
– Go up to Orrest Head (the views over Lake Windermere are breathtaking). The hike is 4.5km long and takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete.
– Get a meal in one of the local pubs
📍Ambleside
Situated at the northern end of Lake Windermere, Ambleside is a beautiful market town with historic landmarks and a waterfall.
🗺️ Things To Do:
– Visit the Bridge House (National Trust)
– Walk to Stock Ghyll Force (1.6 km – 30 to 45 minutes)
– Visit the Stagshaw Garden (National Trust)
– Go on a cruise from Ambleside Pier
– Visit the Ambleside Roman Fort
📍Stock Ghyll Force
A beautiful waterfall in Ambleside
🥾 This is a short 1-mile walk which takes about 45 minutes From Ambleside town centre, head to Stock Ghyll Lane and follow the signs to the waterfall.
It’s a beautiful woodland walk.
📍Keswick
A beautiful market town on the shores of Derwentwater.
🗺️ Things To Do:
– Walk through Hope Park and on the shores of Derwentwater (make sure to go to Friars Crag)
– Go to the Theatre by the lake
– Visit the Derwent Pencil Museum
– Go kayaking on Derwentwater
– Visit Keswick Museum
– Go canyoning
🅿️ Parking: Lakeside Car Park and Bell Close Car Park are good options.
📍Castlerigg Stone Circle
A very atmospheric stone circle located near the town of Keswick.
🅿️ Parking: You can park your car on the side of the road (there is a small parking area), cross the road, walk through the gate of the field and you will see the standing stones. There are only a few spots though which can make it tricky. Alternatively, you can walk from Keswick which takes about 30 minutes.
📜 It was raised in about 3000 BC, making it one of the earliest stone circles in Britain. There are some signs that explain the history of the site.
📍 Lowther Castle & Gardens
📍 Carlisle
📍 New Lanark
📍 Glasgow
