The Lake District is a walker's paradise. With hundreds of walking routes, each with a myriad of variations, it has almost limitless possibilities. Whether you simply want to soak up the scenery from a gentle low-level stroll, or you want to scale the heights of Helvellyn, we can craft the perfect Lake District experience for you. We aim to give you a flavour of this World Heritage Site and include some of our favourite places. However we tailor-make all our Lake District trips to suit you, the customer. What you see on the itinerary page is a sample tour featuring mainly low level walks with a couple of more challenging days, but we suggest you drop us a line or give us a call to discuss your interests, needs, energy levels and more, and we'll put together an itinerary designed especially for you.
Perhaps you're interested in exploring the literary heritage of the Lake District, with its connections to Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Maybe you'd like to explore self-guided for a few days and then have a knowledgeable guide to lead you on a more challenging ascent and tell you about the local flora and fauna, history and geography en route. You might want to sample the area's famous haute cuisine restaurants like L'Enclume, or perhaps it's kayaking that tickles your fancy. Whatever it is, we're sure we can create a special Lakeland experience you'll treasure forever.
Please click on the photos above for more images of this holiday. For further details of your route, see luxury hotel itinerary.
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
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from £1,990 per person
- Luxury
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from £3,500 per person
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
7 nights - but we can tailor make to suit you.
Start & Finish
Starts daily
Hotels
- Classic
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3 characterful and traditional inns, set in ideal locations.
- Luxury
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3 Michelin starred hotels set in stunning locations
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
We have included one guided day in this itinerary.
Activity level
Gentle walking (variable from gentle low level walks to more challenging ascents) More info...
Mileage
to suit
Terrain
Varied; tailor the trip to suit your interests. There's leisurely low-level strolls and taxing high-level ascents, plus everything in between. See the itinerary for examples of sample walks
What’s included?
Ensuite accommodation every night with breakfast. The services of our friendly local Hosts. Luggage transfers between hotels. 24/7 phone contact number. Adventure Handbook with our local tips. GPS Routes on an App with waterproof phone holder. Guide Book or OS maps. Protection of your funds. Advice, help and guidance planning your trip.
Return transfers to and from the stations at the start and end of your trip. Return private transfers where needed at the start and end of each days walk. Boat tickets for Day 6 Derwent Water, and Days 7 and 8 Ullswater. Read About Our Trips for further details
Traffic-free
90%
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic & Luxury
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1. Day one
Arrive in Windemere
We will meet you at Oxenholme station to take you to your hotel near Windemere. This will be your base for the next 2 nights. Settle in, soak up the scenery and take a deep breath of that famous fresh air. Your host will meet you this evening to take you through your itinerary and share his local knowledge. Welcome to the Lake District!
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2. Day two
The Beatrix Potter Walk
Today you have a self-guided walk following in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter. Begin with a visit to the museum about her in Bowness, then cross Lake Windermere by ferry and walk up through the lakeside woods, fells and pastures to her home at Hill Top. There are stunning views of Lake Windermere, the longest natural lake in England at 10.5 miles long, and you pass a number of landmarks that feature in Potter’s books – Pigling Bland corner and Cuckoo Brow Wood for two. Enjoy Moss Eccles Tarn, a charming spot where the author painted in the evening whilst her husband fished. Return by ferry to Bowness.
8 miles (13 km)
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3. Day three
Loughrigg Fell
Begin your day with a short transfer to Ambleside a charming town just a short journey away, to start this lovely walk around Loughrigg Fell. A great feature of the walk is that you see all the scenery from the Vale of Grasmere followed by views up Langdale to Bowfell and across to the Coniston Fells, plus a view south the length of Windermere. This walk has some ups and downs with 342 ft of ascent. Finish your walk in Ambleside whose name is of Scandinavian origin meaning a 'summer pasture by a sandy bank' with a private transfer to your hotel for the next three nights in the lovely village of Grasmere, where your luggage will be waiting for you.
7 miles (11 km)
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4. Day four
Helvellyn-The Big One! (or alternative)
Today we recommend taking a guide (which we have factored into the cost) in order that you can venture a little further or a little higher and we have a choice of routes to suit. If you choose to tackle Helvellyn - England’s 3rd highest mountain at 3,118 ft (950m), there are a countless number of ways to approach and ascend this peak, but our chosen route avoids any edges as you press on to the summit for a celebratory photo up on top. There is also a less demanding and shorter option that skirts the summit. For those keen to explore a little more gently, one of our favourite circular walks takes you to Tarn Hows which also affords wonderful views and ends in Coniston village where we will meet you.
8 or 11 miles (13 or 17 km and 1940' or 3176' of ascent) or alternatives
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5. Day five
The Wordsworth Walk and Coffin Trail
This circular walk is one not to be missed by lovers of Wordsworth's poetry and landscape enthusiasts. Starting in the village of Grasmere, it passes the Wordsworth family graves in St Oswald's churchyard. From here you pick up The Coffin Trail, a gorgeous low-level walk which goes right past two of Wordsworth's homes, Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount, before reaching the shores of Rydal Water and Grasmere. Soak up the scenery that so inspired one of England's most famous writers as the route gently rises and falls, affording fabulous views of Rydal Water and Grasmere Lake down below. Pause and admire the view at White Moss common, and then descending back into Grasmere.
6 miles (10 km)
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6. Day six
Borrowdale
Starting with a transfer to Keswick, this walk commences with a short boat journey across beauiful Derwent Water to the western shore of the lake. The path climbs through woodland before traversing open hillsides high above the lake and eventually leads us to Grange a small hamlet at the head of the lake, with a chance to stop for a welcome cup of tea and a bite before the second part of the day. From here the character of the walk changes as it enters the steep sided valley of Borrowdale. A steady ascent leads out onto open hillsides once more with glorious views of the valley below before descending to the tiny hamlet of Seatoller where our walk finishes and we transfer you to your next hotel in the vicinity of Ullswater.
7 miles (11km) 2200 ft of ascent
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7. Day seven
Ullswater - Howtown to Glenridding
Begin today with a picturesque boat ride aboard the famous Ullswater Steamer from Pooley Bridge to Howtown on our favourite lake. Your route then winds its way to Glenridding combining fabulous views of Ullswater lake with the majesty of the Cumbrian fells. There's a real variety in terrain too, as the path moves through many different aspects of the countryside, from becks to valleys to woods and crags. There's also some pretty impressive local flora and fauna to discover en route too. Return by steamer from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge and a transfer back to your hotel.
8 miles (13km)
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8. Day eight
Aira Force and Depart
Make the most of your last day in The Lakes by taking the morning steamer (9.30 am) to Aira Force Pier and head towards the thunderous roar of the waterfalls. This walk will take you up the side of the falls with fantastic views down Aira Force before following the river upstream and out over to the summit of Gowbarrow Fell where – if the weather is clear – you can see bulk of Helvellyn, England’s 3rd highest mountain. Your route brings you back to the Tea Rooms for a light lunch from where we can meet you to take you back to the hotel to collect your luggage and transfer you to Penrith station for your onward journey.
4.5 miles (7km) (or less if you just head up Aira Force and back down).