THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE - LUXURY WALKING HOLIDAY SUMMARY Walk the Lake District Trail staying in award winning hotels. Follow the route from the shores of Lake Windermere through the rugged Central and Eastern Lakeland fells to the market town of Keswick, an area noted for it’s literary pedigree. This self guided walking holiday starts in the bustling Lake District town of Ambleside situated at the head of England’s largest Lake, Windermere. The views here were noted by Wainwright as an ’introduction to a dream’, a fitting portent for the walk ahead. Moving northward through the Central and Eastern fells the trail passes through the charming village of Grasmere, once home to William Wordsworth who described it as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’. Moving on along the Grisedale Valley amidst the imposing, craggy, mountain peaks of the Helvellyn range, the trail brings you to the villages of Patterdale and Glenridding. Perfectly situated at the head of Ullswater this peaceful area provides much scope for exploring the lakeside fells. The Lake District In Style walk finishes in the market town of Keswick nestled on the shores of Derwent Water where the rugged peak of Skiddaw dominates the skyline. Tour: The Lake District In Style Code: WESLDIS One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of the accommodation. At each of the overnight Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday locations of Ambleside, Glenridding and Keswick we have specifically chosen the best possible hotel Price: See Website accommodations. The 3 star and 4 star properties provide exceptional comfort and facilities along with first Single Supplement: See Website class service. Ideally situated with panoramic views, well appointed rooms and quality dining you are Dates: April - October Walking Days: 5 assured a relaxing stay. Each hotel offers a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious Nights: 6 local food. Start/Finish: Ambleside / Keswick Distance: Approx. 50 Miles With 5 walking days and 6 overnight stays this affords the perfect way to enjoy the Lake District. Spending Grade: Moderate - Strenuous 2 nights at each location you may explore the best walks and relax in the comfortable Lakeland Hotels. We also include daily door to door baggage transfers, a route book, detailed maps and pre-departure Is It For Me? information pack as well as emergency support, should you need it. The perfect choice for those who prefer to walk in style with comfortable hotels and fine cuisine. Explore the fells, valleys and lakes HIGHLIGHTS of the English Lake District in the footsteps of the Lakeland writers and poets. Breathtaking panoramic view of Ullswater from the Grisedale Valley Wandering ‘as lonely as a cloud’ as you traverse dramatic mountain passes WHAT’S INCLUDED? Hand picked hotels offering first class service and fine English Cuisine Accommodation: 6 nights in hand-picked 3 & Sharing John Ruskin’s view of Derwent Water, ‘the creation of the world for me’ 4 star country hotels. Meals: A hearty breakfast is included. Dinner is included on the first night at each of the 3 Why choose a Self Guided Walking Holiday with us? overnight locations. The second nights dinner at each of the locations is not included and Macs Adventure specialise in self guided walking holidays. As passionate and regular walkers we know neither are lunches but are always available at what makes for an unforgettable adventure and deliver outstanding holidays with every last detail taken accommodation or nearby. care of. Great routes, breathtaking scenery and warm, welcoming accommodation can be expected. Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage transfer. Information Pack: Comprehensive maps and route book will be supplied as well as an infor- mation pack. THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK place to spend your first 2 nights. Friendly and skyline to your left as you descend along the ITINERARY: WESLDIS informal with excellent service and spacious, valley into Glenridding. comfortable rooms you are assured a warm Overnight: Inn on the Lake 4 Star Hotel - Walking Days: 5 welcome and a relaxing stay. The AA Rosette Glenridding. Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis. Nights: 6 awarded restaurant will surely appeal after a Average Daily Distance: 10 miles good days walk. The perfectly situated Inn on the Lake sits on the Grade: Moderate/Strenuous shores of Lake Ullswater. Relax and enjoy the Day 2: Ferry to Bowness/Walk to menu in the award winning Lake View Ambleside - 10 miles Restaurant or sample the local real ale in the Day Route Miles Catch an early ferry from Ambleside to Bowness Ramblers Bar. You may wish to rejuvenate in the on Windermere before setting out from Bowness Leisure Suite jacuzzi and sauna or simply take in 1 Arrive Ambleside 0 Bay and walking back to Ambleside. the panoramic views of the Helvellyn peaks from 2 Ferry to Bowness 10 your room. and walk to Amble- After walking through Bowness on Windermere side on footpaths, you will soon head into the hills on Day 4: Ullswater Lake and Place Fell 3 Walk to Glenridding 12.5 this delightful days’ walking. You will take in circular walk - 8 miles 4 Ullswater and Place 9 some of the most breathtaking views of the Lake Today’s walk is one of the most beautiful in all Fell walk (overnight District from vantage points such as Orrest Head Lakeland, circumnavigating the peak of Place in Glenridding) (described by Wainwright after completing this Fell and following the lakeshore path of 5 Walk to Keswick 12 walk as the ‘introduction to a dream.’ )This is Ullswater. The trail initially climbs to the grassy 6 Derwent Water and 6.5 known as the walk that inspired Wainwright. Walla Crag Walk coll of Boredale Hause framed by the mountains 7 Onward travel Combine this with the high point of Wansfell Pike of Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes. The walk and this really does make for an exhilarating ahead down the Boredale glaciated valley is Total Distance 50 days walking. superb and as you descend you experience the magnificent view unfolding ahead. The route Overnight: Rothay Manor Hotel 3 Star Hotel - turns to follow the lakeside of Ullswater, a real Ambleside. Bed and Breakfast basis. highlight of the day, with unsurpassed views DETAILED ITINERARY Day 3: Ambleside to Patterdale - 11.5 across the quiet waters to the peaks beyond as miles you walk back to Patterdale and on to Glenridding. Day 1: Arrive Ambleside From Ambleside the trail heads North through Rydal Park gently undulating through trees to Overnight: Inn on the Lake 4 Star Hotel - Ambleside is a bustling lakeside town and a Rydal Mount, home of Wordsworth. At the north Glenridding. Bed and Breakfast basis. great location for your starting point on your end of Rydal Water, the views ahead to Day 5: Patterdale to Keswick - 12 adventure through the Lake District. The train Grasmere are spectacular and you will see why miles from London to Windermere takes approx 2.5hrs this was a favourite place of Wordsworth’s sister, and from there the frequent Lakeslink bus runs to Dorothy. Following the trail down into Grasmere You spend this day surrounded by the mountain Ambleside or alternatively, it is just a 10 minute you arrive at famous Dove Cottage, also home to peaks, crags and cliffs which epitomise the Lake taxi journey. Wordsworth, and you may also visit his final District. Walking up Glenridding away from resting place at St Oswald’s Church. Ullswater you are rewarded with views back to Overnight: Rothay Manor Hotel 3 Star Hotel - the Lake and across the Eastern Fells. The trail Ambleside. Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis. Leaving Grasmere, the trail follows the Grisedale follows a bridleway along the Sticks Pass with Pass, with an exhilarating walk up to Grisedale With a luxury country house setting in the peak of Helvellyn to the south. A steep Tarn affording wonderful views back down to landscaped gardens close to shores of Lake descent brings you out to St John’s in the Vale, Grasmere and North toward Ullswater. The Windermere this grade 2 listed early 19th an arable area in a wide glacial valley at the impressive craggy heights of Helvellyn fill the Century Regency property provides the perfect head of Thirlmere surrounded by perhaps the THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK most striking of the Lakeland Fells. Here you Day 7: Onward Travel This independent walking holiday is not available follow the St John’s Beck river northward to solo walkers but if you require single rooms between the rocky flanks of Clough Head to the Your holiday finishes after breakfast although if within your party we will of course try to east and the rugged neighbours, High Rigg and you feel energetic and suitably prepared you may accommodate your request subject to a single Low Rigg to the west. wish to tackle the peaks of the Skiddaw range to supplement payable to cover the additional costs the north of the town. we incur. A real highlight of the day’s walk is the Castlerigg Stone Circle just east of Keswick, described as HOLIDAY INFORMATION Meals ‘one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain’. You finish this exhilarating A hearty breakfast is included each morning. day on arrival at the market town of Keswick. Additional Nights and Extensions Dinner is also included on the first night at each of the overnight locations of Ambleside, Overnight: Keswick Country House Hotel 3 You can add in extra nights anywhere along the Glenridding and Keswick. For the second night at Star Hotel - Keswick.