Best Walkers' Cafes in the Lake District
When you're going for a walk in the Lake District, you need to know where the best walkers' cafes are. There's nothing to beat a coffee and cake at the end of a walk, unless it's tea and scones, that is.
Sometimes your walk might take you just as far as the cafe. In our view, that's fine. It's still exercise, and you've still justified the treat. Sometimes you want a coffee, but don't mind a bit of a walk to get there. And sometimes you set off on a big walk then only get as far as the cafe. That's fine, too, in our book.
So where are the best walkers' cafes in the Lake District? We've chosen our favourites. But we hope you might add your own comments if you know others we might have missed.
Force cafe
Force cafe
This is a newcomer to the scene, opened just this summer above Ambleside, opposite Stock Ghyll Force waterfalls. It is definitely a walkers' cafe as there's no parking, and it's on a minor road which only allows vehicles to access the few properties higher up the lane.
It's part of the redevelopment of the former Kelsick Grammar School which is now the HQ of the global leadership development and change management company, Impact. The founder of Impact, David Williams, is a man of vision and it was he who saw the potential to create something really special here as a community resource.
The cafe is big and bold, a minimalist interior giving way to a huge part-covered terrace with the most dramatic views of the fells. It's open daily from 10 - 5 for breakfast, brunch and lunch, or just a coffee and cake. If you were heading this way to walk up onto Wansfell, maybe save the treat for AFTER the walk or you might never get up out of your chair. This is substantial food, imaginatively presented by a great young team led by top fellrunner and cafe manager Gavin.
They sell beer and wine, the coffee is from Keswick-based Carvetti, and there's always soup, pastries, bread and cakes made from locally-sourced ingredients. Soon they will be starting pizza nights with dishes cooked on the big pizza oven on the terrace. To top all this, they aim to be a force for good, donating 1% of their turnover to charities that are involved in climate change and regenerative leadership.
Grove Barn
Grove Barn
We went for years without a walkers' cafe in Ambleside, and now we have two of the best on the same hillside! Just around 20 minutes' walk from the town centre, higher up above Stock Ghyll Force, is the Grove Barn cafe. This, too, opened only this summer, and has a more rustic feel, and a sense of being up among the mountains.
It lies just below Wansfell, on the track that leads ultimately to the head of Kirkstone Pass, with mighty Red Screes just across the valley. So it has to be in the list of best walkers' cafes in the Lakes.
Grove Barn has a south-facing sun-trap courtyard and a log burning stove inside, so you'll get a warm welcome anytime of year. The interior is all pale wood, with features made of the original barn windows, and there's tables on two mezzanine levels, along with a great selection of board games.
They serve hearty breakfasts, home-made cakes and drinks all day from 9am including local draught beer and wine. And they will open in the evenings for private events - and even help arrange transport back down to town.
Chesters by the River
Chesters by the River
From bold newcomers to a walkers' favourite, Chesters by the River has been feeding hungry hikers for many years. Open 9 - 4 seven days a week, the menu is entirely vegetarian, with lots of vegan options, which makes it all the more interesting. The cakes are big and hearty, the portions are always generous.
It's no longer table service, so it feels more homely and less formal, which is what makes walkers happy. There's also a big woodburning stove where you can stand and steam in your wet gear. The river in question is the Brathay which can be seen roaring past from the cosy terrace. Just a few metres further along the track from the cafe you'll come to Skelwith Falls, one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the Lake District.
It's a great place to start - or finish - the glorious walk along the river to Elterwater with fantastic view of the Langdale Pikes. But you might also want a bigger challenge, and just across the road is a footpath leading to one of our favourite mountains, Loughrigg.
Helvellyn Country Kitchen
Helvellyn Country Kitchen
If you're heading up England's third highest mountain, you need a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day. And if you've scaled this wonderful peak, Helvellyn, then you deserve a treat at the end of the walk.
That's where Helvellyn Country Kitchen comes to your rescue. Another relative newcomer to the list of best walkers' cafes in the Lake District, this one opened earlier this year in the lovely village of Glenridding. Yes, just at the foot of the mighty Helvellyn range of fells.
It's run by James and Abby, enthusiasts who are offering freshly prepared homemade dishes, delicious cakes and great service. They have lived and worked in the village for several years so they are popular characters among walkers and hikers. Both have worked at top hotels and restaurants.
Now running their own show, they're feeding the fell-baggers at this delightful cafe near the shores of one of England's loveliest lakes, Ullswater. They do Sunday lunches too, along with bistro nights.
Joey's Cafe
Joey's Cafe
You get two for the price of one here, as Joey has two cafes on the shore of Windermere. Joey’s Café at Claife is a hidden gem on the west shore of Windermere. The cottage in the courtyard has been an office, a home and a Victorian tea garden. Now it serves as a cosy pit-stop for those walking up to Claife Viewing Station or setting out on the longer stretch along the west shore.
You reach it by the ferry crossing from Bowness, not far from us here at Cedar Manor, if you're setting out on a walk or a bike ride. The cafe serves a range of snacks and drinks, with a menu that changes by the season. Grab a coffee and a freshly baked cake or pastry. Or carry on with your walk for four miles along this glorious lakeshore till you come to Joey's Cafe again.
This one is in the grounds of the historic Wray Castle, a National Trust gem. There's seats in the courtyard or out in the sun next to a tree allegedly planted by William Wordsworth, or plenty of room inside. Here too you'll find eco-focused, plant-based food, locally roasted coffees, hot chocolate, and a wide selection of teas.
The team at Joey's two cafes are set to show you how plant-based food can be delicious, healthy and utterly satisfying, even for the staunchest meat eater. Try the spicy pasties, the giant fruit scones, or just stand back and admire the artistry of the cake display. It's like being in a gallery, where you can eat the exhibits.
This is one of the best walkers' cafes in the Lake District for those days when you want a more gentle stroll along a lake shore rather than a mountain epic. You'll find hikers, cyclists, runners and happy families enjoying the best of all worlds here.