The walk around the lovely Lake Buttermere claims our top spot. At just 1.24 miles (2km) long and 1,848 feet (570m) wide, dinky Buttermere offers one of the prettiest and most accessible hikes in the Lake District. The simplest option is to take the 4.2-mile (6.7km) path around its perimeter.

Along the way you’ll encounter the sound of rushing water at Sourmilk Gill, the moody black peaks of the Haystacks in the distance and – if you’re lucky – maybe even a red squirrel, which can be spotted in the woodlands around the mere. The walk can easily be completed in a couple of hours, but leave time for tea and cake at the Syke Farm Tearoom in Buttermere.

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The best one-day walking routes in the UK, ranked