What’s On?
From races, to concerts and exhibitions
We keep this page regularly updated with events, exhibitions and seasonal things to do, to help you make the most of your time in the Lakes. Feel free to ask any of our team for more details and suggestions. You can also check out Visit Cumbria’s what’s on page for a broad list of events:
Mountain Walks: Fairfield Horseshoe Guided Walk
Sunday, 12th April 2026
The Fairfield Horseshoe is an stunning multi-peak route that is widely renowned as the most iconic and loved horseshoe walk in the Lake District. This picturesque route involves an eight-summit circuit around the high-level ridge that encircle the stunning valley encompassing Rydal Beck, offering breathtaking panoramic views across the Lake District. This classic route provides an excellent opportunity to experience some of the most spectacular vistas in the Lake District while enjoying an unforgettable day in the mountains.
On this walk you will summit 8 peaks (Wainwrights), with the highest summit being Fairfield at 873 metres. You will be treated to sweeping panoramic views of the Lake District, including all the major summits and stunning vistas over Windermere. The Fairfield Horseshoe is undoubtedly the most renowned of the traditional Lake District circuits. It is a magnificent walk and an experience that will stay with you forever.
Mountain Walks: Langdale 7 Summits
Friday, 17th April 2026
The Great Langdale Valley is the most iconic and recognisable area of the Lake District. This unique walking challenge takes you on a high-level tour over 8 summits including the famous Langdale Pikes. You will complete a total of 8 miles and 1065m of ascent!
Guided by experienced leaders, you can fully relax and soak up the incredible surroundings. With their expert knowledge of the region’s history and geology, our guides will ensure this is more than just a hike—it’s an enriching journey through one of the UK’s most iconic landscapes. This is the ultimate way to experience the Lake District’s most loved mountain ranges.
Langdale 7 guided walks start at 9:00 am and finish around 4:00 pm, giving you a full day mountain experience in Langdale
Great Langdale 21
Saturday, 6th June 2026
21km | 850m ascent | 06 June 26 | Great Langdale | £50 | 10.00 Start | Max Allowed Time 5 hours
A beautiful, technical 21km route in and around Great and Little Langdale, based out of the Lanty Slees Stickle Barn, part of the Scafell Skyrunning Weekend
We are delighted to be offering this unique and beautiful 21km trail run around Great & Little Langdale as part of the Rab Scafell Sky Race weekend.
Scafell Sky Running Weekend
Saturday, 6th June 2026
A fell running weekend based at Lanty Slee’s Great Langdale with races and lots of events over the course of the weekend.
- SG650 – Stickle Grind 650
- SSU – Scafell Sky Ultra
- SSR – Scafell Sky Race
- GL21 – Great Langdale 21
Mountain Walks: Fairfield Horseshoe Guided Walk
Saturday, 27th June 2026
The Fairfield Horseshoe is an stunning multi-peak route that is widely renowned as the most iconic and loved horseshoe walk in the Lake District. This picturesque route involves an eight-summit circuit around the high-level ridge that encircle the stunning valley encompassing Rydal Beck, offering breathtaking panoramic views across the Lake District. This classic route provides an excellent opportunity to experience some of the most spectacular vistas in the Lake District while enjoying an unforgettable day in the mountains.
On this walk you will summit 8 peaks (Wainwrights), with the highest summit being Fairfield at 873 metres. You will be treated to sweeping panoramic views of the Lake District, including all the major summits and stunning vistas over Windermere. The Fairfield Horseshoe is undoubtedly the most renowned of the traditional Lake District circuits. It is a magnificent walk and an experience that will stay with you forever.
Mountain Walks: Langdale 7 Summits
Saturday, 4th July 2026
The Great Langdale Valley is the most iconic and recognisable area of the Lake District. This unique walking challenge takes you on a high-level tour over 8 summits including the famous Langdale Pikes. You will complete a total of 8 miles and 1065m of ascent!
Guided by experienced leaders, you can fully relax and soak up the incredible surroundings. With their expert knowledge of the region’s history and geology, our guides will ensure this is more than just a hike—it’s an enriching journey through one of the UK’s most iconic landscapes. This is the ultimate way to experience the Lake District’s most loved mountain ranges.
Langdale 7 guided walks start at 9:00 am and finish around 4:00 pm, giving you a full day mountain experience in Langdale.
Mountain Walks: Fairfield Horseshoe Guided Walk
Sunday, 16th August 2026
The Fairfield Horseshoe is an stunning multi-peak route that is widely renowned as the most iconic and loved horseshoe walk in the Lake District. This picturesque route involves an eight-summit circuit around the high-level ridge that encircle the stunning valley encompassing Rydal Beck, offering breathtaking panoramic views across the Lake District. This classic route provides an excellent opportunity to experience some of the most spectacular vistas in the Lake District while enjoying an unforgettable day in the mountains.
On this walk you will summit 8 peaks (Wainwrights), with the highest summit being Fairfield at 873 metres. You will be treated to sweeping panoramic views of the Lake District, including all the major summits and stunning vistas over Windermere. The Fairfield Horseshoe is undoubtedly the most renowned of the traditional Lake District circuits. It is a magnificent walk and an experience that will stay with you forever.
Langdale Horseshoe Fell Race
Saturday, 10th October 2026
The Langdale Horseshoe is an annual Lake District fell race that starts and finishes at the Old Dungeon Ghyll. The course climbs to Stickle Tarn before heading to Thunacar Knott, Esk Hause shelter, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and Pike of Blisco. The route is approximately 21 kilometres (13 mi) in length with 1,450 metres (4,760 ft) of ascent.
This race is over a rough, tough course with almost exclusively rocky and slippy ground. The weather in October is rarely ‘pleasant’ and the fells are often clagged in, making navigation difficult on a course with many pathless sections.
If you are at all unsure of your ability to complete the course safely, you should gain more experience and come back another year. Previous experience of similar races will be asked for as part of the entry system: 2 medium or long mountainous (Lakes, Scotland, N Wales) category A fell races in previous 3 years, or similar relevant experience (significant mountain experience). Entry remains at the discretion of race organisers.
Connect with us
Bring your group together around the breakfast table!
There’s something special about starting the day with good friends, good food, fresh coffee, and time to connect before the day’s adventures begin.
When you stay with us as a group, you can add our buffet breakfast served in a relaxed space to gather and plan the day ahead, perfect for walking groups, school trips, retreats, corporate teams, or friends exploring the Lakes together. Fuel up, slow down, and start the day right together.
Get in touch to add group breakfast to your booking!
Part 3: The Reveal
And here it is…..
Our new reception, bar servery and refreshed lounge/dining space are complete and we couldn’t be happier with the result.
Lighter, warmer colours, a more open layout and a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door.
It’s now a space to check in, grab a drink, sit back, and feel at home.
We’d love to know what you think and even better, come and see it for yourself.
Post 2: The Build, From idea to reality
With the old reception removed, work began on creating a new modern, multi-functional space – bringing together reception, bar servery and a more open connection to the lounge and dining area.
Behind the scenes there’s been a lot of careful planning, building (and a fair bit of dust!) as the new counter took shape. Every decision was about making the space more practical for our team and more welcoming for our guests.
Nearly there…
Refurb Part 1 - The Strip Out!
Big changes start with brave decisions… and this was one of them.
We’ve said goodbye to our original reception cubicle to make way for something much more open, flexible and welcoming.
It’s served us well over the years, but it was time to rethink how this space works for our guests today.
This was the first step in transforming our reception and lounge into a place that feels warmer, more relaxed and better suited to how people really use the space.
Watch this space 👀
We are very pleased to be ranked 1st in TripAdvisor top 5 Hostels in the Lake District.
With an average 4.9 out of 5, based on around 375 reviews,
Small, friendly and tucked away in one of the prettiest valleys in the Lakes, it draws rave reviews for its “relaxed”, “homely” feel and “big breakfasts”.
In November, one reviewer gave the hostel a five-star rating on TripAdvisor. “Excellent venue for outdoor activities,” they said.
“The hostel is clean, well-equipped, comfortable, warm, and all the staff are welcoming and most helpful.”
Read the whole article here:
https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/25809020.best-hostels-lake-district-ranked-tripadvisor/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1769961366
Think hostel food = sausage & mash? Think again…
Our GM may say he’s a great chef…
…but after this 40th birthday feast, we’re inclined to agree 👀🔥
🥩 Tomahawk steak
🍖 Lamb rumps
🥔 Dauphinoise potatoes
✨ Very happy guests
Got a group staying with us? Fancy something a bit special?
We love an excuse to get creative in the kitchen
Happy Birthday Alfred Wainwright
A man who shaped how we see and walk the Lake District, with a legacy deeply rooted in the Langdale Valley.
His love for the fells lives on in every path explored and every quiet moment enjoyed.
At Elterwater Hostel, we’re proud to be part of the landscape he inspired so many to cherish.
Cold, snowy days here in the valley but that hasn’t stopped us cracking on with a big project behind the scenes.
Lots of hard work happening despite the weather and it’ll all be worth it.
Keep an eye out for updates coming soon…
A new completion of the Elterwater Hostel Challenge 23 before tea was logged just before the end of the year.
Carlisle-based Adam Armata returned after being beaten by the weather last winter , this time though everything clicked.
Running solo and unsupported, he chose a longer, less conventional 60km route with 4,500m of ascent, echoing the original spirit of the challenge.
he said “his wasn’t about records., it was about adventure: sunrise on the first summit, icy descents, winter light, and even a head torch detour into Rydal Cave because why rush a perfect day in the hills? 11 hours 58 minutes. No shortcuts. Just mountains, patience, and joy”.
If you’ve ever thought about giving a winter round a go, take this as your sign. choose your day, respect the conditions, move at your own pace and savour every moment out there, and dont forget to knock on the hostels door and get your cup of tea when you finish!
Happy New Year from all of us at Elterwater Hostel
As another year comes to a close, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who stayed with us, walked the fells, shared stories, and made the hostel such a special place over the past year.
We’re incredibly grateful for all our guests, old friends and new, and for the memories made here in the Langdale Valley.
We wish you all a very Happy New Year and look forward to welcoming you back and meeting many more of you in 2026 for more adventures, cosy evenings and unforgettable moments in the valley.
See you soon
The Elterwater Hostel team
Merry Christmas from all of us at Elterwater Hostel
As the year draws to a close, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has stayed with us, shared stories over a coffee, braved the fells, paddled the lakes, and made Elterwater feel like the warm, welcoming place it is.
Winter in Langdale is something special, crisp mornings, snow-dusted peaks, quiet valleys and cosy evenings and we’re so grateful to be able to share it with you.
We wish all our guests, past and future, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Here’s to more adventures, muddy boots, stunning views and good company in 2026.
We’re absolutely delighted to share that we were commended in the Great Outdoors Awards, a huge thank you to everyone who voted and supported us, it really does mean the world to our team and community.
Massive congratulations to Kettlewell Hostel on coming first, we are both proud to be independent hostels, championing warm welcomes, great value, and memorable outdoor experiences.
And a special shout-out to all our wonderful customers who continue to choose and support independent hostels you make what we do possible. Huge thanks as well to Independent Hostels UK for their ongoing support and for championing independent hostels across the country.
We’re grateful to be part of such a passionate, outdoors-loving community.
#independenthostelsuk #kettlewellhostel
