Active Journeys Britain Self-Guided Hiking Tour

Tour description Cumbria Way Lake District Hike Day 1 Arrive in Ulverston This delightful walk will take you through England's most rugged and mountainous land- scape: the Lake District National Park, celebrated by the poetry of William Wordsworth Day 2 24 km and the writing of Beatrix Potter. The trail leads past the peaceful depths of Coniston To Coniston Water and Derwentwater, two of the prettiest Lakes, as well as the incomparable Tarn Day 3 17 km Hows, set like a jewel in the wooded hills between Coniston and Langdale. To Langdale Day 4 14.5 km We spend one night in Coniston where copper was formerly mined: now it is a pretty vil- To Rothswaite lage of slate-roofed houses and historic inns nestling at the foot of Old Man of Coniston Fell (801m/2650ft) so named after the 'men of old' who once climbed it to mine the cop- Day 5 13 km To Keswick per. Discover the Old Man and explore surrounding fells (hills) dotted with 'tarns' (small glacial lakes), or take a trip across the lake to Brantwood on one of Coniston Water's two Day 6 22 or vintage excursion launches. Brantwood, Lakeland home of influential Victorian social re- To Caldbeck 27 km former John Ruskin, who identified himself with Coniston and its community, houses an Day 7 22.5 km exhibition of his life and work, together with attractive tea rooms and cultivated gardens. To Carlsle Alternatively, you can spend your spare day visiting the Lakeland village of Rawkshead Day 8 and the Beatrix Potter 'Hilltop' museum at Near Sawrey. End of services

Tour Details Daily March 31 to end September

Cost: $1795 per person

Single Supplement: On Request

Length: 8 days / 7 nights Fast Facts

Grade: Moderate / Intermediate Includes:  Waymarks: You will be able to follow  7 nights hotels with breakfasts Starts: Ulverston the trail easily as the route is very  Luggage transfers, route notes & maps popular and easy to follow. Ends: Carlisle  Local support  Take in the most stunning scenery

ACTIVE JOURNEYS Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email: info@acvejourneys.com ITINERARY

Day 1 Ulverston Arrive in Ulverston, a historic market town close to the shores of Morecambe Bay.

Day 2 Ulverston to Coniston 24 km Via Beacon Tarn. By the shores of Morcambe Bay and through 'Blawith.' Gently undulating farmland with enticing views of the superb mountains to come. There are frequent stiles and 'kissing gates' along the footpaths. It is a fairly long first day but on fairly flat terrain, across field paths as you enter the National Park, then follow the shore of Coniston water to the village.

Day 3 Coniston to Langdale 17 km Hike into the heart of Lake District, the path passes lovely Tarn Hows and crosses the River Brathay at Skelwith Bridge. The most interesting aspect of this is the glacial valley of Langdale, which is dominated by the surrounding peaks.

Day 4 Langdale to Rosthwaite 14.5 km Today the route takes you to the head of Langdale and then crosses the Stake Pass before descending into Langstrath Dale. Onwards then into Borrowdale to enjoy your overnight stop in Rosthwaite.

Day 5 Rosthwaite to Keswick 13 km An easy but delightful day in Borrowdale, following the shores of Derwentwater. There will be plenty of time for you to look around the town of Keswick, and perhaps even take a boat trip on Derwentwater.

Day 6 Keswick to Caldbeck 22 or 27 km Today, the path circles around back of Skiddaw to the isolated Skiddaw House, from where you have two alternative routes. The shorter goes up over the High Pike, while the longer keeps to the valley, passing the spectacular Whitewater Dash Water- fall. The route then rejoins for the last few miles.

Day 7 Caldbeck to Carlisle 22.5 km Now following the River Caldew as you leave the National Park you trail all the way into the pleasant small city of Carlisle and the end of the Cumbrian Way.

Day 8 End of tour Tour ends after breakfast. What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? The daytime temperature will be around 15 to mid-20 degrees C ( 60’s to 70’s F), Nearest Airport: Manchester - with moderate rainfall. It often rains making the countryside lush and green. It 2hrs. & 15 min by direct rail service is usually misty and not torrential downpours, but rain gear is still necessary, to Ulverston. The first hotel is a 5 both a jacket and a pair of pants. minute walk from the station.

How many hours of hiking a day? From London: Take the train from Be prepared to hike between 4 to 6 hours daily. This is not a supported tour, so London Euston via Lancaster to you must be able to get to the next destination en route. If you need to take a Ulverston. Journey time 5 hours. day off and rest, you can easily get to the next town by public transport. Hotel is a 5 minute walk from the station. How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, so you will be able to enjoy this active holiday. There are Carlisle offers both a train and bus some hills and some level terrain, rolling hills rather than any steep pitches. station with links to the rest of the country and it will take approxi- This tour provides an excellent introduction to the charms of English Lakeland, mately 4 hours direct to reach Lon- England’s most mountainous area, which require no recommendation. Walking don Euston. There are also direct is unquestionably the best way to see this celebrated landscape. The distances covered each day are fairly short so there is ample time to pause and admire the trains to Glasgow and Edinburgh . unsurpassed scenery. It should be noted that the Lakeland is the wettest region of England and the trails can be wet as well as rough and rocky; good hiking boots are a must.

What is the food like? We have included a full breakfast each day. For lunch, you can stop in a pub and local restaurant for a full meal or mid-day snack. For dinner, our notes will sug- gest a location, or you can eat at the hotel or discover the restaurants in town.

What are the hotels like? They are chosen for their charm and location. Properties are charming B&B’s, well- located in the towns. The rooms have private facilities.

How to book your holiday

 Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire process.

 Download the reservation form from our site and send in the completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and pre-departure packet will be sent.

 A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is re- quired 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & condi- tions are outlined in our Reservation Form. Extra Services  Plan your air travel as soon as possible. Please note that some of our guests have sug-

gested a rest day or days to be interspersed dur-  We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either ing your holiday. You can easily do this on this through us or a travel insurance provider directly. trip and make it a longer holiday.

 Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact We have a selection of hotels available for you, us for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and both before and after the tour. fitness requirements.