THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE - LUXURY WALKING HOLIDAY

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.

One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of the accommodation. At each of the overnight

locations of Ambleside, Glenridding and Keswick we have specifically chosen the best possible hotel

accommodations. The 3 star and 4 star properties provide exceptional comfort and facilities along with first

class service. Ideally situated with panoramic views, well appointed rooms and quality dining you are

assured a relaxing stay. Each hotel offers a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious

local food.

With 5 walking days and 6 overnight stays this affords the perfect way to enjoy the Lake District. Spending

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

information pack as well as emergency support, should you need it.

Breathtaking panoramic view of Ullswater from the Grisedale Valley

Wandering ‘as lonely as a cloud’ as you traverse dramatic mountain passes

Hand picked hotels offering first class service and fine English Cuisine

Sharing John Ruskin’s view of Derwent Water, ‘the creation of the world for me’

Why choose a Self Guided Walking Holiday with us? Macs Adventure specialise in self guided walking holidays. As passionate and regular walkers we know

what makes for an unforgettable adventure and deliver outstanding holidays with every last detail taken

care of. Great routes, breathtaking scenery and warm, welcoming accommodation can be expected.

THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE

AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK

SUMMARY

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Accommodation: 6 nights in hand-picked 3 &

4 star country hotels.

Meals: A hearty breakfast is included. Dinner is

included on the first night at each of the 3

overnight locations. The second nights dinner

at each of the locations is not included and

neither are lunches but are always available at

accommodation or nearby.

Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door

baggage transfer.

Information Pack: Comprehensive maps and

route book will be supplied as well as an infor-

mation pack.

Is It For Me?

The perfect choice for those who prefer to

walk in style with comfortable hotels and fine

cuisine. Explore the fells, valleys and lakes

of the English Lake District in the footsteps

of the Lakeland writers and poets.

Tour: The Lake District In Style

Code: WESLDIS

Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday

Price: See Website

Single Supplement: See Website

Dates: April - October

Walking Days: 5

Nights: 6

Start/Finish: Ambleside / Keswick

Distance: Approx. 50 Miles

Grade: Moderate - Strenuous

HIGHLIGHTS

Walking Days: 5

Nights: 6

Average Daily Distance: 10 miles

Grade: Moderate/Strenuous

Day 1: Arrive Ambleside

Ambleside is a bustling lakeside town and a

great location for your starting point on your

adventure through the Lake District. The train

from London to Windermere takes approx 2.5hrs

and from there the frequent Lakeslink bus runs to

Ambleside or alternatively, it is just a 10 minute

taxi journey.

Overnight: Rothay Manor Hotel 3 Star Hotel -

Ambleside. Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis.

With a luxury country house setting in

landscaped gardens close to shores of Lake

Windermere this grade 2 listed early 19th

Century Regency property provides the perfect

place to spend your first 2 nights. Friendly and

informal with excellent service and spacious,

comfortable rooms you are assured a warm

welcome and a relaxing stay. The AA Rosette

awarded restaurant will surely appeal after a

good days walk.

Day 2: Ferry to Bowness/Walk to

Ambleside - 10 miles

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 is

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.

Overnight: Rothay Manor Hotel 3 Star Hotel -

Ambleside. Bed and Breakfast basis.

Day 3: Ambleside to Patterdale - 11.5

miles

From Ambleside the trail heads North through

Rydal Park gently undulating through trees to

Rydal Mount, home of Wordsworth. 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.

Leaving 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 Glenridding.

Overnight: Inn on the Lake 4 Star Hotel -

Glenridding. Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis.

The perfectly situated Inn on the Lake sits on the

shores of Lake Ullswater. Relax and enjoy the

menu in the award winning Lake View

Restaurant or sample the local real ale in the

Ramblers Bar. You may wish to rejuvenate in the

Leisure Suite jacuzzi and sauna or simply take in

the panoramic views of the Helvellyn peaks from

your room.

Day 4: Ullswater Lake and Place Fell

circular walk - 8 miles

Today’s walk is one of the most beautiful in all

Lakeland, circumnavigating the peak of Place

Fell and following the lakeshore path of

Ullswater. The trail initially climbs to the grassy

coll of Boredale Hause framed by the mountains

of Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes. The walk

ahead down the Boredale glaciated valley is

superb and as you descend you experience the

magnificent view unfolding ahead. The route

turns to follow the lakeside of Ullswater, a real

highlight of the day, with unsurpassed views

across the quiet waters to the peaks beyond as

you walk back to Patterdale and on to

Glenridding.

Overnight: Inn on the Lake 4 Star Hotel -

Glenridding. Bed and Breakfast basis.

Day 5: Patterdale to Keswick - 12

miles

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 John’s in the Vale,

an arable area in a wide glacial valley at the

head of Thirlmere surrounded by perhaps the

THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE

AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK

ITINERARY: WESLDIS

Day Route Miles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Arrive Ambleside Ferry to Bowness and walk to Amble-side Walk to Glenridding Ullswater and Place Fell walk (overnight in Glenridding) Walk to Keswick Derwent Water and Walla Crag Walk Onward travel

0 10

12.5 9

12 6.5

Total Distance 50

DETAILED ITINERARY

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 on arrival at the market town of Keswick.

Overnight: Keswick Country House Hotel 3

Star Hotel - Keswick. Dinner, Bed and

Breakfast basis

This elegant Victorian country house hotel stands

in 4 acres of tended gardens with views of

Latrigg and Skiddaw mountains. At the end of the

day’s walk you may wish to have a game of

croquet on the lawn or simply enjoy the vista

from your well appointed room. You will surely

look forward to dining in the Lonsdale Restaurant

which overlooks the floodlit gardens.

Day 6: Derwent Water, Walla Crag and Friars Crag circular walk - 6.5

miles

Following a fairly steep climb up to the heather

clad summit of Walla Crag you are rewarded with

one of the finest views in all of Lakeland. The

sparkling surface of Derwent Water below and

the Skiddaw range rising behind Keswick are

sights to behold! Walking onward you skirt the

Cat Gill ravine before descending to reach

Ashness Bridge fording the torrents of Ashness

Gill. This much admired and photographed single

arched bridge is a reminder of once busy

packhorse routes across the Fells.

The Lakeshore path back to Keswick is a

delightful hike through woodland and along wide

bays. At the rocky outcrop of Friar’s Crag you will

find a memorial to John Ruskin who thought the

views some of the finest in all Europe.

Overnight: Keswick Country House Hotel 3

Star Hotel - Keswick. Bed and Breakfast basis

Day 7: Onward Travel

Your holiday finishes after breakfast although if

you feel energetic and suitably prepared you may

wish to tackle the peaks of the Skiddaw range to

the north of the town.

Additional Nights and Extensions

You can add in extra nights anywhere along the

walk to really take time out and enjoy the Lake

District!

Grade

This holiday is graded from moderate to

strenuous. You will cover a variety of terrain

including rocky mountainous terrain, some

boggy sections and lakeside and woodland

paths. Most days will involve a couple of steep

ascents and descents.

Navigation

Footpaths and bridleways are generally well

maintained in the valleys of the Lake District but

way-marking is almost non-existent in the high

fells and mountains, so we recommend carrying

a map and compass and knowing how to use it.

Accommodation

One of the highlights of this tour is the high

standard of the accommodation. We specifically

choose the 3 and 4 star hotels to ensure that you

enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a

warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality

and They offer a warm welcome to walkers,

traditional hospitality and delicious local food.

If the hotels mentioned in the itinerary do not

have availability we may use alternative

accommodation of the same or better standard.

We would always inform you of this before

confirming your booking.

Single Rooms

This independent walking holiday is not available

to solo walkers but if you require single rooms

within your party we will of course try to

accommodate your request subject to a single

supplement payable to cover the additional costs

we incur.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning.

Dinner is also included on the first night at each

of the overnight locations of Ambleside,

Glenridding and Keswick. For the second night at

each of the overnight locations dinner is not

included though is available at your

accommodation or at nearby pubs and

restaurants. Lunch is not included though your

hotels will be more than happy to provide a

packed lunch.

Baggage Transfers

Your bags will be transferred from your

accommodation as per your itinerary and moved

onto your next overnight accommodation. We

ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to

20kg per person.

Equipment

Your information pack has a detailed equipment

list which includes standard walking gear such as

good walking boots or shoes, warm and

waterproof clothes and a day pack.

Price

Please refer to our website for up to date prices

www.macsadventure.com.

Availability

This walking holiday can be enjoyed between

April and October and you may start on any day

of the week.

Summer is when you’ll find most people on the

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE

AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

trail and of course this can affect availability of

accommodation.

The Lake District is very popular and

accommodation can get booked up extremely

quickly, so it is best to book as far in advance as

you are able to. You can find up to date

availability on our website.

Included

2 Nights in 3*** Hotel accommodation in Ambleside in en-suite rooms on a bed and breakfast basis.

2 Nights in 4*** Hotel accommodation in Glenridding in en-suite rooms on a bed and breakfast basis.

2 Nights in 3*** Hotel accommodation in Keswick in en-suite rooms on a bed and breakfast basis.

3 dinners. Dinner on first night at each of the overnight locations - Ambleside, Glenridding and Keswick

Door to door baggage transfer as per itinerary

A detailed route book, maps and info pack.

Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of a problem.

Excluded

Lunches, dinners on second night at each of the overnight locations, snack and drinks.

Travel insurance..

Ferry crossing from Ambleside to Bowness on Windermere.

Transport when you need to skip a stage.

Getting to Ambleside

By Air - The closest regional airport to

Ambleside is Manchester. (approx 3h by train

and bus via Windermere.)

By Rail/Bus - Ambleside is easily reached by

train via Windermere (approx 3hrs from London,

2h from Manchester or 2hr from Glasgow.)

From Windermere, the Lakeslink 555 bus runs

regularly to Ambleside or it is just a 10 minute

taxi journey.

By Car - Parking is very limited in Ambleside but

if you need to you may be able to park your car

at your first night’s accommodation.

Onward travel from Keswick

By Bus - If you have left your vehicle in

Ambleside you may return via the Lakeslink 555

bus from Keswick with a journey time of

approximately 50 minutes. There are also bus

services to Penrith and Carlisle whereupon there

are onward train and bus ravel options.

You can find information for travelling to and from

the Lake District by visiting the Traveline

Website.

Travel Insurance

Adequate travel insurance to cover cancellation

or curtailment of your holiday is a perquisite on

all our trips.

Once you have read all the information in this

factsheet or on our website and decided on your

preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a

call to confirm availability. You can then book by

any of the following methods:

Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886

Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form

and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf,

Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845

527 5688

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on

+44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email:

info@macsadventure.com if you have any

queries and one of our expert customer service

team will be happy to help.

Financial Security

In accordance with "The Package Travel,

Package Holidays and Package Tours

Regulations1992" all passengers booking with

Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the

initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all

monies paid to us, including repatriation if

required (this insurance will not cover repatriation

to the country of origin for the passengers

outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or

curtailment of your travel arrangements due to

the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd.

ABTA Member

Statement

Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA.

ABTA and ABTA members help holidaymakers

to get the most from their travel and assist when

things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged

to maintain a high standard of service to you by

ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For more information

on ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the

arbitration scheme available to you if you have a

complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London

SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 0581 www.abta.com

.

THE LAKE DISTRICT IN STYLE

AMBLESIDE TO KESWICK

TRAVEL INFORMATION

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