With much of The Witcher’s second season being shot in the UK, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the film crew selected the Lakes as one of their key locations.
Home to a diverse, rugged and incredibly awe-inspiring landscape, the national park really does feel like it’s been pulled straight out of ‘The Continent’ (the fictional land where Netflix’s medieval fantasy hit is set).
All residing in the picturesque countryside of South Cumbria, the three main filming sites are:
Fans eager to visit these spots will be glad to hear that since they’re all situated relatively close to one another, it’s actually quite easy to visit all three filming locations in one round trip.
The perfect day out for any Witcher nerd!
Interested? Then check out our comprehensive guide below and be the envy of all your fellow Witcher obsessed pals 👇👇
Rydal Caves
Address: White Moss Carpark, Ambleside, LA22 9SE
An old slate mine dating back to the 19th century, Rydal Caves is now a hotspot for walkers who make the journey to explore inside the quarry, admire the surrounding craggy landscape and maybe even take a dip in its clear blue waters!
Hiding away on the steep slopes of Loughrigg Fell, I’m still perplexed by the fact that the cavern’s pool is teeming with fish! There are no signs of water flowing in from any other source…it’s really got me stumped!
Starting from White Moss Carpark in Ambleside, the walk to Rydal Caves is a nice relaxing 1-mile stroll through enchanted woodlands and picturesque open fell land as you overlook the sparkling Rydal Water lake.
At a reasonable pace, it shouldn’t take most ramblers longer than 30 minutes to reach the cave, plus the same again when heading back the way you came.
Please note however, the carpark does fill up quickly (as do all carparks on our list), so best to pick your visiting times wisely.
As an alternate route, you can also start the walk from Rydal Village which is a similar trail in length.
For more info, trawl through our Rydal Caves Walk guide.
Blea Tarn
Address: Blea Tarn Parking, Ambleside, LA22 9PG
Nestled high on the hills above the valley of Great Langdale, Blea Tarn treats visitors to some of the most epic and remote views of Lake District countryside.
Part of an ancient trade route according to the National Trust, the picturesque tarn offers a variety of walking options and has even been regarded as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of wild swimming spots in the Langdales.
One look at the mountain lake & surrounding landscape upon arrival and it becomes clear why Blea Tarn was chosen as a filming location.
While the carpark is conveniently situated directly opposite the tarn, it is worth noting that the roads you must drive to get here are winding and extremely narrow single track paths which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Likewise, the carpark currently only accepts coins as payment – no card or pound note option available.
So be sure to have some change handy!
The standard circular trail around Blea tarn comes in at just 3 kilomtres in length and can be completed within an hour, while those who don’t fancy the walk can simply head straight to the mountain lake from the carpark across the road.
For more info, be sure to check out our ‘Guide To Blea Tarn’ blog post.
Hodge Close Quarry
Address: Hodge Close, Coniston LA21 8DJ
The last spot on our list, Hodge Close Quarry was used for what Netflix describes as “a pivotal scene” in the second season of The Witcher.
Burrowed a few miles north of Coniston, the now disused slate mine is notorious for its dramatic skull-shaped rock formation visible from the water’s reflection.
Providing dramatic views from up above, many visitors are unaware that there’s actually a nearby hidden path which allows walkers to clamber down and explore inside the spooky caverns for themselves.
Under a mile in length, it’s certainly worth heading down provided you don’t mind a little bit of light scrambling!
For a step-by-step guide on how to reach the bottom of the cavern, you can head over to our detailed Hodge Close Quarry post.
While parking is free, there are limited available spots so it is perhaps best to avoid peak times.
Likewise, the road to Hodge Close Quarry is very narrow and only has a handful of designated passing places, so please drive with care.
Which episodes of the Witcher are these filming locations from?
- Rydal Caves appears in episode 7 – ‘Voleth Meir’ – when Jaskier takes a dip in the waters of the cavern.
- Blea Tarn can be seen at the beginning of episode 4 – ‘Redanian Intelligence’ – where Geralt and Ciri are seen training in the snowy rugged landscape.
- Hodge Close Quarry was used as a filming location in episode 3 – ‘What Is Lost’ – when Geralt and Vesemir take Eskel’s body to the cave to be eaten by wolves.
Discover more great walks in the Lakes
For more Lake District walks and outdoor excursions, why not click through to our latest blog post on the very best waterfalls to be found in the Lake District National Park?
Likewise, if you’re thinking of camping during your visit, be sure to check out our post on ‘5 Of The Best Campsites In The Lakes’ for all you need to know!
Happy walking 🚶🚶