Rambles in England's Literary Lake District

Guided or Self-Guided Departures Available May Through October

Trip Overview

Join Bredeson Outdoor Adventures for rambles in the heart of England’s literary Lake District. The Lake District is the first and largest of England’s national parks. It is the land of William Wordsworth and other Romantic poets, and the inspiration for Beatrix Potter’s works. It lies in northwest England nestled between the sea and Scotland, and is a region of high mountains, deep valleys, and deep blue lakes formed 10,000 years ago by glaciers. Wild, rugged mountains contrast with charming villages and farms. The crowds will be gone when we enjoy this late summer cultural hiking tour.

This trip will be based in Windermere near the lake, enabling you to unpack and relax as you spend the week exploring this beautiful region. We’ll be staying in a luxury country house hotel in the finest English tradition. The hotel, a former Edwardian gentlemen’s club residence, enjoys panoramic lake views and is nestled in five acres of gardens in the heart of the Lake District. We’ll enjoy multi-course gourmet dinners in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, and be treated as if we were the esteemed guest in an English country house, which, by the way, we will be on this trip. We’ll be located a short distance from the hikes and cultural attractions, but will be away from the bustle.

You’ll enjoy this classic landscape and the creature comforts of your hotel under the expert and friendly leadership of an excellent guide, who lives in Windermere and knows the area inside and out.

Highlights 

Land Cost

$2750 USD (per person double occupancy). Single: no supplement but singles are limited in availability. $500 USD per person deposit is payable by credit card through PayPal or by check. Payment in full is required 90 days before departure and payable by check.

Details

Trip Rating

Moderate to moderately vigorous. 5 - 9 miles of hiking daily, with options to extend or choose higher energy walks. We will walk along trails that can be narrow, uneven, and sometimes rocky. Some walks will also pass through farm roads or paved back roads. Hiking boots with ankle support and practice on rocky trails prior to the trip are highly recommended. On any given day, guests always have the option of taking a day off from hiking to relax in the hotel garden, visit additional cultural attractions, or perhaps play golf or go fishing. We will be happy assist with these other arrangements.

For Additional Information or to Sign Up

Please contact Deborah Lewis at 866-533-4361 (toll free in the U.S.), 203-840-0295 or dlewis@bredeson.com with questions or click here for a copy of the full itinerary. To enroll in this trip visit our sign-up page.

Itinerary

Day 1: Trip Orientation and Welcome Dinner

Travel to Windermere (independent arrival) and meet your guide at 6:00 p.m. for an orientation and welcome drinks, followed by your first delicious dinner in your charming hotel.

Day 2: Beatrix Potter Walk

Today’s adventure is a Beatrix Potter Walk on the other shore of Lake Windermere and over the wooded fells (hills) to take in the sights that inspired her works. We’ll walk from the hotel to the ferry and take the boat across Lake Windermere, after perhaps strolling through the lovely woods of Cockshott Point which Potter bequeathed by Potter to the National Trust. Good that we’ll take the ferry by day since the boat was once the scene for the “night walker ghost." In near-by Sawrey we’ll visit her house, Hill Top, a time capsule of this amazing woman’s life, and then walk through the wooded fells of Claife Heights to Latterbarrow. The view from the top of Latterbarrow is stunning, and takes in Hawkshead, Lake Windermere, and Wray Castle where Beatrix Potter, at the age of 16, spent her first holiday in Lakeland.

After enjoying the Latterbarrow view we’ll drop down to the town of Hawkshead. Hawkshead is a delightful village, originally a medieval marketplace, and steeped in the history of William Wordsworth, who went to school here, and Beatrix Potter, who married a local solicitor, William Heelis. Potter, who was known locally as Mrs. Heelis, preserved thousands of acres of land, which she bequeathed to the National Trust. Several farms preserved by her are in the area. We may visit the Old Grammar School, which Wordsworth attended, leaving evidence of his initials carved into the desk. From here we’ll take the bus back to the ferry or the minibus back to the hotel.

Distance 12.5 km (8 miles), including walk to ferry.  Ascent 400 meters (1300 feet).  Time 5 hours, excluding any stops and visits.  It is possible to shorten this route. 

Day 3: Grasmere and our Wordsworth Day

After a hearty breakfast today we’ll walk from Ambleside to Grasmere via Loughrigg Terrace, enjoying wonderful views of Grasmere, Dunmail Raise and surrounding mountains. We’ll stroll around the idyllic hamlet of Grasmere, visit Wordworth’s Dove Cottage, and will stop for a treat at Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop. Grasmere is an intimate cluster of gray-stone houses on an old packhorse road along the River Rothay. With a population of under a 1000 and just a few roads, it retains the character of what the Poet Thomas Gray called the “white village” on the water in this “unsuspected paradise." His groundbreaking tour of the Lakes did much to attract broader attention. Grasmere is seen as the “eye of the Romantic storm." We’ll return to our starting point along the medieval Coffin Trail, the route over which coffin bearers struggled with their load on the way to church before there was a church in neighboring Rydal. (Our load will thankfully only be our day packs and our mood certainly much more cheerful than that of our predecessors on this pretty route.)

Distance 15km (9 miles), Ascent 350 meters (1140 feet), time 5 hours (excluding stops).  Possible to reduce by two miles if starting from Rydal.

Day 4: Easedale Tarn

Easedale Tarn is one of the must-do Lake District hikes. While not in the mountains, it provides an exceptional mountain feeling, with a climb up to Easedale Tarn. It was very popular with the Victorians and there even used to be a cafe there, though no sign of it now remains. Just before getting back to Grasmere there is a pretty stroll through the woods called Poet's Walk that Wordsworth and his wife Mary used to love. We’ll stop at an idyllic hotel to have tea (read scones and clotted cream) on the lawns with spectacular views. If we wish we can also hike Helm Crag (also known as The Lion and Lamb) on the way back.

Distance 8km (5 miles).  Ascent 270 meters (880 feet).  Time 4 hours.  If Helm Crag included, add an extra 1.5km (1 mile), 270 meters and 1.5 hours.

Day 5: Coniston Day: Coniston Old Man or Visit to Brantwood

Today we’ll either hike Coniston Old Man, or visit Brantwood, home of John Ruskin, the leading art critic of the Victorian Era, walking from here past Lanehead and Bank Ground, inspirations for one of Arthur Ransome’s "Swallows and Amazons” books, to the north end of the lake. (“Swallows and Amazons” is a series of 12 children’s books involving adventures by groups of children almost all during school vacations and mostly in England and Scotland, between the two World Wars. The series helped to create the national image of the English Lake District.) From here we pass through the grounds of the Monk Coniston Estate, once owned by Beatrix Potter, and continue through the woods to the beauty spot Tarn Hows. After walking around the Tarn we head back along a bit of the Cumbria Way, the famous long distance north/south Lake District hiking trail, to Coniston. In Coniston, if time permits, we can visit The Ruskin Museum (where Donald Campbell's Bluebird, the speedboat that was used to break world records in the Lake District, will hopefully be residing by then), or visit a local hotel where Donald Campbell stayed while attempting the water speed record on Coniston Water.

Distance 11.5km (7 miles). Ascent 370 meters (1200 feet).  Time 4.5 hours, excluding visits and stops.

Day 6: Keswick, Castlerigg Stone Circle and Wall Crag

We’ll hike from Keswick to Castlerigg Stone Circle by a disused railway following the river. Castlerigg is an evocative Bronze Age circle of massive stones, a beautiful, mystical, ancient site, and while soaking in the atmosphere we’ll make our own guesses as to the purpose of the stones. We’ll then follow a route to Walla Crag with stunning views over Derwentwater, one of the main and most scenic area lakes, to the mountains beyond, descending steeply to the lake and following it to Keswick, where there should be time to look around. Keswick is the major center of tourism in the northern Lakes and is known for its shops with outdoor gear. Granted its market charter in 1276, the market continues to this day. Another option for Day 6 would be a walk in Borrowdale returning on the west side of Derwentwater into Keswick along the Cumbria Way.

Distance 13.5km (8.5 miles).  Ascent 440 meters (1430 feet), Time 5 hours.

Day 7: Farewell to Lake District

After breakfast we say good-bye to the Lake District (independent departure) and head for home or other adventures.

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events or weather.  We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise.  Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience. We also always strive to provide a pleasant surprise or two.

Included in Price

• Transportation to/from daily hikes by boat, private van and possibly a bus or two
• All meals starting with dinner on day one and ending with breakfast on day seven:
• Six multi (five courses to be precise) course gourmet dinners in the hotel’s award winning restaurant
• Six full, hot breakfasts
• Five lunches: picnics and a pub lunch or two
• Five interpretive hikes led by our resident expert guide, a certified Mountain Leader with over thirty years experience hiking in the Lake District
• Admission to the cultural attractions visited in conjunction with hikes
• Use of swimming pool, sauna and steam room at a neighboring hotel
• Literary and historical information shared informally during walks
• Travel brochures and hiking maps
• The outdoor industry’s most comprehensive and user-friendly pre-trip information packet, including packing lists, joining instructions, conditioning guidelines, reading lists, historical information, etc.
• According to your needs, pre-trip email and telephone consultation. We are happy to spend time with you to help you prepare for this adventure and view consultation as a fun and important part of our job.

For Additional Information or to Sign Up

Please contact Deborah Lewis at 866-533-4361 (toll free in the U.S.), 203-840-0295 or dlewis@bredeson.com with questions or for a copy of the complete itinerary click here. To enroll in this trip visit our sign-up page.

We hope that you will join us on this grand adventure!

Contact us toll free (U.S.) at 866-533-4361 or

+203-840-0295 (outside the U.S.)

info@bredeson.com