English Lake District Walking Adventure.

We bid a fond farewell to Pine Lake this morning and head north into the very heart of the Lake District to begin this walking tour. First we travel to the historical market town of Kirkby Lonsdale. This beautiful town is just far enough off the beaten track to have successfully retained it's indiviual character. We will have some time here for a gentle stroll along the river and to visit Devil's Bridge, to enjoy Ruskins View and to find the local ice cream parlour or cheese shop for lunch.

After lunch we will continue on to the 4* Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa, right on the shores of Lake Windermere to enjoy the spectacular views and settle in for the next few nights. Tonight we will enoy dinner together at the resort, to discuss the rest of the tour with your Big Journey Company tour leader and the rest of the group.

This morning we head across Lake Windemere by ferry (weather permitting) to Grizedale Forest. Here we will enjoy a Forest Segway session. The stand-on, self-balancing Segways are a brilliant way to discover the forest and it's breath-taking views of Coniston Water and surrounding mountains. There will be some time to explore some of the self-guided marked trails, most of which are loops starting and ending at the visitors centre.

For lunch, we will enoy some traditional Lakeland hospitality at The Drunken Duck Hotel. Legend has it that the pub got it's name in the 19th Century, when the landlady found a group of unconscious ducks in her cellar. They had gorged themselves on spilled beer. After she had plucked them ready for the cooking pot, they all regained consciousness and so she named her pub in their honour.

After lunch you may wish to return to Grizedale Forest to further enjoy the activities on offer there, which include Zip Trekking, zooming high along 7 ziplines running some 3km through the trees, or a high ropes obstacle course also in the treetops - not for the feint-hearted! (Additional charges apply locally). You may prefer to return to Low Wood Bay Resort to enjoy the spa facilities and treatments they have on offer. 

Walking distance - approx. 6km / 4 miles
Walking Time - approx. 3hrs
Terrain - Moderate walking on trails – uneven ground, rocky in places with short steeper uphill/downhill gradients.

We begin todays walk from Ambleside, a traditional Cumbrian town at the north end of Lake Windermere. Our second Cumbrian word, used a lot in this area, is 'fell', meaning a hill, or an area of hills. Loughrigg Fell is beautiful, a series of rocky knolls and heather-clad hollows that are very typical in this region of the Lake District. Lily Tarn, overlooking the length of Windermere, affords us a beautiful view of where we have travelled from this morning. The view continues as we walk on ahead, looking north towards Skiddaw and the Helvellyn range in perfect silhouette. We follow the shores of Rydal Water and then Grasmere, continuing into the village of the same name.

For the rest of the day, you will have free time in Grasmere village, called "the loveliest spot that man hath ever found" by William Wordsworth. You may want to stock up with some of the internationally renowned Grasmere Gingerbread for our walk tomorrow. You might also choose to visit Dove Cottage, once the home of William Wordsworth and now a very popular museum, located just a short stroll from the village centre. There are lots of excellent choices available locally for dinner this evening.

Walking distance - approx 10km / 6 miles
Walking Time - approx 5hrs
Terrain - Footpath with several rockier sections, which require a bit of easy scrambling. Gradual ascent early in the day, but steeper descent at the end back into the valley bottom.

Today we wander in the footsteps of the great English poet, William Wordsworth. We walk together out of the quaint and bustling village of Grasmere, through typical Lake District views with white-washed cottages and sheep grazing among the craggy peaks, views of the Langdale Pikes gradually rising up on the horizon.

Our walk today takes in Easedale Tarn and Stickle Tarn, beneath Pavey Ark. Easedale Tarn proves that you do not have to climb to the tops to enjoy true Lakeland - this tarn is set in a deep valley, scarred by a retreating glacier roughly 20,000 years ago. The retreating glacier has left an excellent selection of glacial erratics scattered like picnic tables right around the Tarn, an idyllic spot for a short break to get your breath back after the climb and take in the surroundings.

We continue to walk through the dramatic landscape of Great Langdale to our rest stop for this evening, The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. The Old Dungeon Ghyll is a rustic Lakeland instition. It has been offering traditional Cumbrian hospitality to fell walkers and climbers for more than 300 years. Located in the remote and unspoilt Great Langdale Valley, what the Old Dungeon Ghyll lacks in modern facilities is greatly overshadowed by the majesty of the surrounding Lakeland scenery and Langdale Pikes. Enjoy a traditional local ale and peruse the bar menu this evening in one of the best located public houses in England.

Walking distance - approx. 14km / 8.5 miles
Walking Time - approx. 4.5 hrs

Terrain - Tough. Steep climb, with two easier sections walking through valleys

The amazing Mickleden Valley makes up most the walk today, where we will be surrounded by Bowfell and the Pikes. We then make a zig-zag ascent up the fellside, before dropping back down into Langstrath Valley. The view down to Rosthwaite is one you won’t forget in a hurry! Here, we are ringed with mountains and the hustle and bustle of modern-day life feels very far away.

We will be collected by vehicle from Rosthwaite, Borrowdale and transferred along the road to our hotel for this evening.

Today is a rest day, to take some time to recover from several days walking and to prepare to continue on tomorrow. You may wish to relax and spend the day exploring what is on offer at the hotel, or you may wish to venture out and explore further by yourself.

Your Big Journey Tour Director is on hand to discuss the many options available. Perhaps take the lcoal service bus or Keswick Launch to the nearby town of Keswick. Alternatively, take a short walk to the picturesque village of Grange for ice creams (try the Knickerbocker Glory at the cafe by the river!), an exploration of the lakeshore or you may want to take a look at one of the optional excursions available for today.

Walking distance - approx. 9km / 5.6 miles
Walking Time - approx. 5 hrs
Terrain - Moderate, with a couple of rockier sections which require a bit of easy scrambling. Short, moderately steep ascent early in the day, undulating terrain across Haystacks, then gradual descent into the valley for a flat walk along the lakeshore into Buttermere.

To begin the adventure today, we travel by vehicle to Honister Slate Mine. Here we go deep underground to learn about one of the Lake District’s most traditional industries - slate mining. Slate has been mined in these valleys since Neolithic times and continues to be mined here today. Delve deep into the underground tunnels and caverns of the magnificent Fleetwith Pike to experience first-hand what life has been like for slate miners through the ages.

We then continue our journey on foot to Haystacks, Wainwright’s favourite amongst the Lakeland Fells, and down to the southern shores of Buttermere and the village of Buttermere itself. From here we will be transported by vehicle a short distance to our accommodation for this evening. 

Walking distance - approx. 8km / 5 miles
Walking Time - approx. 3.5 hrs
Terrain - Easy - along the shores of Buttermere then Crummock Water

Today we will enjoy more of the tranquil beauty of the valley of Lake Buttermere, walking along the lake shore and on to Lake Loweswater. Loweswater is one of the smaller lakes in the Lake District and the village of the same name is located at its eastern end. This peaceful spot is surrounded by fells and woodland. 

After a dinner in the pub together this evening, we will head out in the vehicle to Ennerdale, for a night-time stroll to view the dark skies above Low Gillerthwaite (weather permitting). This was once one of the largest and most important sheep farms in England, but it is now an internationally recognised location for its spectacular night-time visibility - the stars here are amazing!

This morning we will enjoy a more leisurely start to the day after a late night last night. After breakfast, we will be collected from our hotel to visit the Lakes Distillery. Here, they say that the nature of their art is whisky and the inspiration of their art is nature. In the setting of a beautifully renovated Victorian farmstead on the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, you can immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of this working distillery on a short tour.

We will make a stop at Lowther Castle and gardens for a late lunch stop and to explore the dramatic ruins and the gardens within gardens at this Cumbrian gem. We will be met by a local guide for an introductory talk, putting the castle and estate’s 850 year history into context and explaining the castle’s recent journey from ruins to riches.

After this very full day, we head back to The Low Wood Bay Hotel for our Farewell Dinner and our last night in the English Lake District this evening.

After a final breakfast at the hotel, today we say goodbye to the Lake District. There will be transfers to Manchester Airport to meet flights for the onward travel you have arranged.