Golf in the Lake District
Cumbria pairs some of England's finest scenery with golf that runs from tumbling fell courses to a true championship links. Silloth on Solway leads the way on the coast, Windermere and Keswick offer mountain golf above the water, and the historic links of Seascale and Furness reward the journey. The courses that matter, the regions, the season, costs and how to plan it.
Photograph: Windermere Golf Club, via Google
Why golf here
Golf in the Lake District is really golf in Cumbria, and it comes in two distinct flavours. Up on the fells, Windermere and Keswick offer short, tumbling courses with mountain views to stop you in your tracks, perfect to weave into a walking and lakes holiday. Out on the Solway and west coast, the county turns to proper links: Silloth on Solway, a Willie Park Junior championship course with later Alister MacKenzie work, is the finest in Cumbria and a genuine hidden gem, backed by the historic links of Seascale and Furness.
It is a region that rewards the golfer who travels. The headline links sit some way from the central lakes, on remote, beautiful coast that few outside the county know, while the fell courses are far easier to reach from the tourist hubs. Add quiet, great value parkland inland around Penrith and Carlisle, and a Cumbria trip can mix world class links, scenic mountain golf and a Lake District holiday in a way nowhere else in England quite matches.
The regions
The central lakes
Fell golf above the water. Windermere's miniature, tumbling course and Keswick's high layout below Blencathra deliver golf with some of the finest mountain views in England, ideal for pairing with a walking and lakes holiday.
The Cumbrian coast
The county's real links country. Silloth on Solway, a Willie Park Junior championship links, plus the historic links of Seascale and Furness on Walney Island, where the golf is firm, fast and gloriously remote.
The Eden valley and the north
Quiet parkland and moor inland and around Carlisle. Penrith, Appleby, Brampton and Carlisle offer well kept, great value golf away from the tourist crowds, an easy add to a Lakes trip off the M6.
The courses that matter
Silloth on Solway
The finest course in Cumbria and a true championship links on the Solway Firth, laid out by Willie Park Junior with later input from Alister MacKenzie. Par 72 over around 6,641 yards of firm, heathery links land, remote, raw and brilliant, well worth the drive and the standout round of any Lakes golf trip.
Windermere
A delightful, quirky upland course often called a miniature Gleneagles, opened in 1891 high above the lake with tumbling fairways, rocky outcrops and tremendous fell views. A par 67 of around 5,122 yards that asks for placement over power, and one of the most scenic and enjoyable rounds in the National Park.
Keswick
An 18 hole course set above Keswick near Threlkeld, overlooked by Blencathra and the Matterdale fells, a par 71 of around 6,225 yards with mountain views in every direction. Friendly, well kept and welcoming to all standards, it is the natural choice for a round in the northern lakes.
Furness
One of the oldest links in England, founded in 1872 on Walney Island off Barrow and reached over the Jubilee Bridge. A historic, exposed seaside course laid out by migrant Scottish workers, firm and true, with views to the Lakeland fells and, on a clear day, the Isle of Man.
Seascale
A classic and underrated west coast links on the Cumbrian shore, full of humps, hollows and fine natural greens, with the Lakeland mountains rising behind. Remote and great value, a connoisseur's links that rewards the golfer who makes the journey out along the coast.
Ulverston
A mature, beautifully presented parkland course on the southern edge of the Lakes near the Furness peninsula, known for its superb greens and warm welcome. A gentle, scenic round and a good inland counterpoint to the coastal links nearby.
Penrith
A fine, well drained course on the edge of the Eden valley near the M6, mixing moorland and parkland with views to the Pennines and the northern fells. Excellent value, playable the year round and an easy stop on the way into or out of the Lakes.
Carlisle
A handsome, MacKenzie influenced parkland just east of the city near the M6, long used as an Open regional qualifying venue, with mature trees and true greens. The pick of the golf around Carlisle and a worthwhile round at the northern gateway to the county.
Designers, opening years and access verified June 2026 from the courses and leading databases; access rules change. The Lakes are the wettest corner of England, so the free draining coastal links hold up best in poor weather. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May to September | Long days, the driest months, fells at their best | Prime season; pair golf with walking and the lakes |
| April and October | Cooler, quieter, often clear and crisp | Good value shoulder golf with fewer crowds |
| November to March | Wet and cold, higher courses exposed | Coastal links stay playable and drain best; inland can be soft, check ahead |
Cumbria is the wettest county in England, so weather is the variable to plan around. The free draining coastal links hold up best, and May to September brings the driest, firmest conditions and the fells at their finest.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Silloth on Solway | Mid range for a championship links, superb value | Visitors welcome; book the best summer dates ahead |
| Windermere and Keswick | Modest fell course green fees | Friendly and visitor friendly, ideal for a mixed holiday |
| Coastal links, Seascale and Furness | Low to mid range, remarkable value | Remote; worth the drive for the golf and the solitude |
| Inland courses | Modest fees for well kept parkland and moor | The backbone of an affordable Cumbria week |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Green fees move with season and demand. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Cumbria runs along the M6, which is the spine of any golf trip, with Kendal and Penrith the junctions for the central lakes and Carlisle the gateway to the north and the Solway coast. The nearest major airports are Manchester to the south and Newcastle to the east, both around an hour and a half away, and a hire car is essential given the distances between the fell courses and the remote coastal links. Allow real driving time out to Silloth and Seascale, which sit well away from the tourist centre.
Where to stay
For the fell golf and the classic Lake District holiday, base around Windermere, Ambleside or Keswick, which put Windermere and Keswick golf clubs and the walking on your doorstep. For the links, the coast is the place: Silloth itself is a charming Victorian seaside town beside its links, and the west coast around Seascale rewards those who want golf and solitude. Many trips split a few nights in the central lakes with a coastal leg for the links. Book summer rooms and tee times together, as the National Park fills fast.
Plan your Lake District golf trip
Tell us whether you want the fell golf of Windermere and Keswick, a run at the Solway and west coast links, or a mix of golf and the lakes, and roughly when. One concierge secures the tee times, sorts the base and the car, and costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
Lake District golf questions
What is the best golf course in the Lake District?
Silloth on Solway is the finest course in Cumbria, a true championship links on the Solway Firth laid out by Willie Park Junior with later Alister MacKenzie work, firm, heathery and remote. For mountain scenery, the fell courses at Windermere and Keswick are the most enjoyable. All welcome visitors, so plan ahead and confirm access and fees before booking.
Can you play golf in the Lake District?
Yes. Cumbria has a strong spread of welcoming clubs, from the fell courses at Windermere and Keswick in the central lakes to the championship links at Silloth on Solway and the historic seaside courses at Seascale and Furness on the coast, plus good value parkland inland around Penrith and Carlisle. Most welcome visitors; always confirm access and fees directly before booking.
Where is the best links golf in Cumbria?
On the coast, well away from the central lakes. Silloth on Solway is the standout, a championship links on the Solway Firth, backed by the underrated west coast links at Seascale and the historic Furness links on Walney Island near Barrow. They are remote and require a drive, but reward it with firm, natural golf and real solitude. Confirm access and fees directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in the Lake District?
May to September brings the longest days, the driest weather and the fells at their best, though it is also the busiest season in the National Park. Cumbria is the wettest county in England, so the free draining coastal links hold up best in poor weather and stay playable the year round. Always check the forecast and booking windows for your dates.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, access and fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.