Best Places to Fly a Drone in the Lake District

Quick Answer: The Lake District National Park offers outstanding drone flying opportunities across its lakes, fells and valleys. Drone flying is generally permitted in the National Park, but significant portions of the land are managed by the National Trust, which generally does not permit drones without prior permission. Early mornings, quieter valleys and the western fells offer the best combination of legal access and stunning scenery. Always check the CAA Drone Safety Map before every flight.

Understanding Drone Rules in the Lake District

The Lake District National Park Authority does not impose a blanket ban on drone flying within the park. However, the practical reality is more complex than that suggests. The National Trust owns approximately 25% of the Lake District, including many of the most popular locations. Drone flying on National Trust land is generally not permitted without prior written permission.

Additionally, many lakeshores, fell summits and popular paths can be extremely busy, particularly during school holidays and bank holiday weekends. Maintaining the required distance from uninvolved people can be challenging at these times. The best strategy is to target quieter locations and fly early in the morning before crowds arrive.

For our detailed guide on the rules, see Can I Fly a Drone in the Lake District?

1. Buttermere and Crummock Water (Western Lakes)

Buttermere and the adjacent Crummock Water sit in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful and relatively quiet valleys. The ring of fells around Buttermere — including Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike and Red Pike — creates a natural amphitheatre that looks spectacular from the air.

Parts of the Buttermere valley are managed by the National Trust, so check the ownership of your specific launch location. The road along the eastern shore of Crummock Water passes through areas that are not NT land and may offer suitable launch sites. Early morning, before the car park fills, is the best time.

2. Derwentwater and Borrowdale

Derwentwater, near Keswick, is often considered the most beautiful of the English lakes. Its islands, wooded shores and mountain backdrop make it a prime aerial photography location. Borrowdale, stretching south from the lake, offers increasingly dramatic scenery as the valley narrows.

Significant portions of the Derwentwater shoreline are National Trust property, including Friar’s Crag and the western shore. However, some sections of the eastern shore and the Borrowdale valley floor may be privately owned farmland where landowner permission could provide a viable launch site.

3. Ennerdale (Remote Western Valley)

Ennerdale is the quietest and most remote of the major Lake District valleys. There is no through road, which keeps visitor numbers low. The valley is the focus of a long-term rewilding project, and its character is wilder and less manicured than the central lakes.

The Forestry England plantations on the valley floor may have their own policies on drone flying — check with them directly. The open fell land above the tree line is generally common land or fell land with different access considerations. The sense of isolation here is a significant asset for drone pilots seeking undisturbed conditions.

4. Wastwater and Wasdale

Wastwater is England’s deepest lake, set beneath the scree slopes of Whin Rigg and the peaks of Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Lingmell. The combination of dark water, vertical scree and high mountains creates some of the most dramatic scenery in England.

The National Trust owns much of the Wasdale Head area, so check land ownership carefully. The road along the western shore of Wastwater passes through areas that may not be NT managed. The small number of visitors compared to the central lakes makes timing less critical, though weekends can still be busy at Wasdale Head.

5. Ullswater and Aira Force

Ullswater is the second-largest lake in the Lake District and curves through the eastern fells in a distinctive S-shape. The southern reaches around Glenridding and Patterdale sit beneath the Helvellyn range, while the northern end near Pooley Bridge is more pastoral.

Aira Force waterfall is managed by the National Trust and drone flying there requires permission. However, the eastern shore of Ullswater around Howtown and Hallin Fell offers elevated viewpoints from non-NT land. The Ullswater Steamers add visual interest to aerial compositions — but maintain safe distances from vessels and passengers.

6. Tarn Hows (With Permission) and Surrounding Area

Tarn Hows is one of the most photographed locations in the Lake District — a picturesque tarn surrounded by woodland with views to the Langdale Pikes and Coniston Old Man. It is owned by the National Trust, so drone flying requires their prior written permission.

If you obtain permission, the elevated circular path around the tarn provides multiple angles. If not, consider the surrounding countryside around Hawkshead and Grizedale Forest. Grizedale Forest is managed by Forestry England and may have a more accessible policy for drone pilots — contact them directly.

Essential Tips for Lake District Drone Flying

The Lake District is one of the wettest parts of England. Weather windows can be brief, so be ready to fly when conditions allow. Mountain terrain creates its own micro-weather — a calm valley floor can have strong winds just a hundred metres above.

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