5 Days & 4 Nights

4.5

The Lake District Short Break

Walk in the footsteps of Wainwright to admire Lake Windermere from Orrest Head
Breathtaking panoramic view of Ullswater from the Grisedale Valley
Wander "as lonely as a cloud" as you traverse dramatic mountain passes
Enjoying the famous Cumbrian hospitality
The rugged peak of Skiddaw which dominates the skyline

This route through the English Lake District follows trails along rugged fells, up dramatic mountain passes and past peaceful lakes and tarns. Every day includes exhilarating walks with spectacular views in every direction. Wainwright described Grasmere, one of the charming villages en route as, "the loveliest spot that man hath ever found" and not only is this true here, but of many other places you will come across on this tour. Climb up to Orrest Head for fantastic views over Windermere and witness glistening Ullswater, arguably Britain’s most beautiful lake. Delight in the multitude of sublime landscapes that have inspired many writers and artists over the centuries.

From £590.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Ambleside

Ambleside is a bustling lakeside town and a great starting point for your adventure in the Lake District.

Tonight you may wish to venture into town from your B&B and find a local pub in which to have dinner.

Overnight Ambleside

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Lacet House | Bed and breakfast

A warm welcome awaits you at Lacet House. They have 5 rooms in total all of which overlook White Platts recreational park. All rooms are tastefully decorated either traditional or contemporary design and have black out blinds, flatscreen TV, hairdryer and central heating.

Brantfell House | Bed and breakfast

Brantfell House provides accommodation set within a renovated Victorian house. The property has 5 rooms - all rooms have flat screen TV/ DVD players, tea and coffee making facilities and modern en-suite shower rooms.

Wateredge Inn | Bed and breakfast, Country Inn

The Wateredge Inn is a beautiful country inn offering comfy beds, great food and drink and wonderful views over Lake Windermere. All their rooms are stylish, modern and comfortable, with views of the lake available but they still retain the classic charm of the old building.

Day 2: Ferry to Bowness/Walk to Ambleside 9.5 miles / 15 km

Catch an early ferry from Ambleside to Bowness-on-Windermere before setting out from Bowness Bay and walking back to Ambleside.

After walking through Bowness-on-Windermere on footpaths, you will soon head into the hills on this delightful days’ walking. You will take in some of the most breathtaking views of the Lake District from vantage points such as Orrest Head (described by Wainwright after completing this walk as the ‘introduction to a dream.’) This walk is actually known as the walk that inspired Wainwright.

Combine this with the high point of Wansfell Pike and this really does make for an exhilarating days walking.

Alternatively, you can walk from Ambleside to Bowness, then return on the ferry. We've added both options to your itinerary.

Overnight Ambleside

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Lacet House | Bed and breakfast

Brantfell House | Bed and breakfast

Wateredge Inn | Bed and breakfast, Country Inn

Day 3: Ambleside to Patterdale 11.5 miles / 19 km

From Ambleside the trail heads North through Rydal Park and impressive Rydal Hall before joining the ‘Coffin Road’ named for the fact that it was originally used to convey the deceased to their final resting place in Grasmere. Gently undulating through trees the trail passes Rydal Mount, home of Wordsworth.

At White Moss Common at the north end of Rydal Water, the views ahead to Grasmere are spectacular and you will see why this was a favourite place of Wordsworth’s sister, Dorothy. Following the trail down into Grasmere you arrive at famous Dove Cottage, also home to Wordsworth, and you may also visit his final resting place at St Oswald’s Church.

Moving out of Grasmere, the trail follows the Grisedale Pass, with an exhilarating walk up to Grisedale Tarn affording wonderful views back down to Grasmere and North toward Ullswater. The impressive craggy heights of Helvellyn fill the skyline to your left as you descend along the valley into Patterdale.

Overnight Patterdale

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Old Water View | Country Inn

Located in the charming village of Patterdale, The Old Water View has welcomed guests for over 100 years amid stunning Lakeland scenery. Alfred Wainwright stayed here while writing his famous guides. Featured in Julia Bradbury’s Coast to Coast DVD, it remains an iconic stop on the route. All guest rooms are tastefully decorated with smart TVs, USB sockets, hair dryers, tea/coffee facilities, superfast Wi-Fi, and a drying room, offering comfortable, modern accommodation in a truly historic setting.

Crookabeck | Bed and breakfast

Crookabeck Farm offers B&B accommodation in a stunning farm location in Patterdale. The B&B is in a converted old stone and slate farm building nestled under Place Fell. All bedrooms with en-suite shower room, with guest lounge and outside seating areas. Your welcoming hosts also offer a laundry service.

School House | Bed and breakfast

School House is a lovely B&B in the centre of Patterdale. Each room has tea and coffee-making facilities, complimentary toiletries, wifi and spectacular views from every window. They also have a drying room just in case you encounter a bit of rain on your walk.

Day 4: Patterdale to Keswick 12 miles / 20 km

You spend this day surrounded by the mountain peaks, crags and cliffs which epitomise the Lake District. Walking up Glenridding away from Ullswater you are rewarded with views back to the Lake and across the Eastern Fells. The trail follows a bridleway along the Sticks Pass with the peak of Helvellyn to the South.

A steep descent brings you out to St Johns in the Vale, an arable area in a wide glacial valley at the head of Thirlmere surrounded by perhaps the most striking of the Lakeland Fells. Here you follow the St John’s Beck river northward between the rocky flanks of Clough Head to the East and the rugged neighbours, High Rigg and Low Rigg to the West.

A real highlight of the day’s walk is the Castlerigg Stone Circle just East of Keswick, described as ‘one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain’. You finish this exhilarating day upon arrival at the market town of Keswick situated in an idyllic location on Derwent Water.

Overnight Keswick

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Fellpack House | 4 Star | Hotel

Fellpack House is a charming small hotel on The Heads, a picturesque Victorian street nestled just on the edge of Keswick’s vibrant centre. Each of the nine individually styled rooms offers its own unique character, featuring calming, colourful interiors and views that stretch towards the fells or over the town rooftops.

Downstairs, the welcoming lounge and bar provide the perfect spot to raise a glass to a day well spent in the Lake District, or to unwind with a good book from the handpicked library collection.

Grange Country House | 5 Star | Hotel

Grange Country House is a luxurious bed and breakfast. This elegant Victorian property offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Derwentwater. Known for its warm hospitality and attention to detail, Grange Country House provides beautifully appointed rooms, a relaxing atmosphere, and a hearty breakfast to set guests up for a day of exploration.

Skiddaw Hotel | 4 Star | Hotel

The four-star Skiddaw Hotel is set in the picturesque market town of Keswick. Each of the 43 en-suite bedrooms offers a high standard of comfort and has all the amenities you would expect from a good hotel.

Day 5: Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

If you are looking to explore the highlights of one of the most beautiful parts of England over the course of a few days amidst mountains, fells, valleys and lakes while walking in the footsteps of many of Britain’s famous writers and poets, this is the perfect choice. At the end of each exhilarating day of walking relax in your comfortable and welcoming B&B’s.

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Short Break

The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years

Grade & Terrain

As this is a self-guided walking tour, you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip. You should have a good level of walking fitness as there is ascent and descent throughout. You should also be capable of negotiating some tricky terrain and be comfortable walking on short sections where there may be no distinct path underfoot at times. There are small sections of high exposure, it is recommended that you have a good head for heights. The Lake District Trail is not waymarked specifically but does traverse many popular routes in the Lake District fells and you should navigate using the Macs App. During wet weather, the trails may get muddy and boggy, so it is important to be prepared for this and ensure you have suitable waterproof hiking gear and robust walking boots.

Please do not underestimate walking in adverse weather when in the Lake District – it’s, not uncommon for the weather to change rapidly in the North of England, where heavy rainfall or thick fog could very quickly disorientate you, therefore using the Macs Adventure Smartphone App is highly recommended for this tour. There are some sections where the path underfoot may become indistinct, but we provide comprehensive route notes, maps and GPX tracks through our smartphone app, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding your way. Make sure that you pay attention at any intersections and if you do not find a way marker at an intersection think back to the last junction and make sure you are on the right path.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

4 Nights in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses
4 Breakfasts
Door to door baggage transfer as per itinerary
Detailed Information Pack, Route Notes and Maps
Access to the GPX tracks via the Macs Smartphone App
Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem

Excluded

Travel to Ambleside and from Keswick
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
Ferry crossing to Bowness on Windermere
Travel Insurance - prerequisite for all bookings
Personal Equipment
Transport if you need to skip a stage

Extras

Extra nights

When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard cycling gear such as warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Dogs

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers do not accept pets.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.