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Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive during the morning and settle into your Lakeland hotel, where lunch is
available. In the afternoon, take a “get acquainted” tour round the village of
Troutbeck, which will be your first home for the next three nights. This will
include a visit to Troutbeck Church, and a look up the Troutbeck valley, where
Beatrix Potter owned land and practised traditional sheep farming methods. Return
to the hotel for the orientation meeting, followed by our Welcome Dinner. (D)
Day 2
After breakfast we walk directly from the hotel to the resort town of Ambleside
– an opportunity to pick up any last-minute items required for the tour. The challenging
hike takes a higher level route via the summit of Wansfell, a majestic viewpoint
in fine weather for the Central Lake District. In the afternoon we drive into
Grasmere for a visit to Dove Cottage, the home of the romantic poet William Wordsworth
for nine exciting years, and the Wordsworth Museum. Back at the hotel, over tea
and biscuits, there will be a talk about Beatrix Potter, and her life and work
in the Lake District. (B,L,D)
Day 3
Drive to Bowness-on-Windermere, with a detour past Lindeth Howe, a house (now
a hotel) where Beatrix Potter stayed frequently. Walk round Cockshot Point, and
take the ferry to the west shore of Windermere. Walk to Near Sawrey by way of
Moss Eccles Tarn, for a visit to Hilltop Farm, purchased by Beatrix Potter in
1905. Drive into Hawkshead for a pub lunch and short walk round this delightful
medieval village. From Hawkshead walk up to Tarn Hows, a beauty spot which Beatrix
Potter acquired as part of the Monk Coniston Estate. On the way back to Troutbeck,
visit Wray Castle, and enjoy a short walk on the lakeshore. (B,L,D)
Day 4
This day sees a change of base from Troutbeck to the delightful Borrowdale Valley
in the northern Lake District.
Drive by a mountainous road across Wrynose and Hard Knott Passes, with a stop
at Hard Knott Roman Fort. Continue to the tiny village of Boot, and visit Eskdale
Corn Mill, where packed lunches may be eaten. There is time to visit the original
Boot station on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, which will be familiar to
readers of the books by the Rev’d Awdrey. Then drive via Wastwater, Gosforth (famous
for its Viking cross), Loweswater and the Newlands Valley to Borrowdale. Check
into the hotel, which will be our base for the next three nights.
(B,L,D)
Day 5
Ethe easier option will stay on the boat and continue to Keswick and Nichol End.
The walk back to the hotel by the shore of Derwentwater passes by several houses
where Beatrix Potter stayed, and which influenced her stories. The challenging
option starts from Hawes End, and climbs up the ridge of Cat Bells, over the summit,
and across Maiden Moor and High Spy, before returning to the hotel by Rigghead
and the side of Castle Crag. (B,L,D)
Day 6
We drive to the top of Honister Pass, and visit Honister Mine. The easier walk
then follows the length of Borrowdale, descending gently via a delightfully scenic
path directly to the hotel. If the group wishes, we may detour to the top of Castle
Crag, a proud little peak with an Iron Age fort, set amidst the rugged grandeur
of the Borrowdale valley. The challenging hike climbs from the top of Honister
Pass, over high moorland, to the summit of Green Gable, possibly continuing from
there to the higher summit of Great Gable, the mountain symbol of the National
Park. Our Farewell Dinner rounds off a memorable week. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Departure after breakfast.(B) |
