Lake District Advanced Walking Tour - Guided
At a Glance
- 6 days, 5 nights
- 3* or 4* Hotels
- Guided
- Pickup: Penrith
- Carbon: 82kg CO2e
- Difficulty: Hard
From
£1979
✓ 25% Refundable Deposit
✓ Booking Protected by ABTOT
✓ 5* TripAdvisor Rated
Join us for this fully guided walking tour of the Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and England's largest National Park
Experience first-hand the stunning landscape that inspired famed English poet, William Wordsworth and beloved author Beatrix Potter. Conquer the towering heights of Helvellyn and Scafell Pike, some of the highest peaks in England, or stay lower down in some of the beautiful verdant valleys of the Lake District – the choice is yours. Explore vibrant market towns of Keswick and Ambleside. Marvel at the mirror-like surface of Buttermere lake and surrounding fells, widely regarded as one of England’s most captivating landscapes. Feast on fantastic cuisine from favourite local restaurants, refresh with a pint in atmospheric pubs, and rest up at the end of each day in the comfort of your hotel.
With an experienced local mountain leader guiding you every step of the way, join one of our Active England tours and discover the majesty of the Lakes.
- Explore the National Trust site of Derwentwater and an ancient stone circle
- Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Buttermere and tick of some of Wainwrights summits
- Conquer the famous Helvellyn and Catbells summits with an early morning sunrise hike
- Sample local ales and handmade treats in the bustling market town of Keswick
- Scale England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike
Your Itinerary
Arriving at Penrith railway station for 1.00pm, meet your local guide and make a short transfer to the bustling market town of Keswick. Nestled below the Skiddaw mountains, we begin our tour with an introductory walk to the Castlerigg Stone Circle. A fascinating spot, this local landmark is thought to be an incredible one-thousand years older than Stonehenge. After enjoying the awe-inspiring views over Derwentwater, one of the first National Trust sites in the UK, we walk back into Keswick for our first dinner together as a group.
We take to the fells and the Buttermere valley, walking the Buttermere ring and with the option to tick off several Wainwrights by climbing Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike, and Whiteless Pike. Upon reaching the summit, we’re rewarded with a breathtaking view of Buttermere, famous for its glorious setting among the northern fells. As a reward for your efforts, we’ll spend the late afternoon tasting delicious local gin and feasting on some well-earned Cumbrian dishes.
We set out at dawn, catching a magical sunrise from the summit of Catbells. We promise the view will be worth the early start! We’ll then make our way to Ambleside for lunch and a relaxing afternoon in one of the Lake District’s premier towns. For those wanting more of a challenge, your guide will be more than happy to take you up Helvellyn, the third-highest peak in England and often referred to as England’s greatest walk. We dine this evening at The Royal Oak, widely known to be Wordsworth’s favourite hideout.
We set out a little later today, allowing you plenty of time to enjoy Keswick’s many delightful shops and cafés. After picking up some lunch from Relish, a favourite local sandwich shop, we make our way to the imposing Langdale Fells. Not to be missed, Wainwright himself once said that “no mountain profile arrests and excites the attention more.” Along the way, we marvel at several different peaks, including the Langdale Pikes. We finish our day of fell-walking with a late afternoon stroll to Wainwrights, where we rest and recover with a perfect pint of local ale.
Today we tackle Scafell Pike. At 978 metres, it’s England’s highest mountain and a popular destination for fell walkers. Our local guide will lead you on a quieter but no-less stunning route, avoiding the crowds by approaching via the lush Great Langdale valley. After conquering Scafell, and enjoying a picnic lunch of Relish sandwiches, Kendal mint cake and Grasmere gingerbread, we make our way gently down to welcoming atmosphere of The Royal Oak for a celebratory dinner. This particular walk isn’t for the faint-hearted, but we promise it’s one of the most rewarding routes the Lakes has to offer. There are many different options on this day, and if you don’t fancy going all the way to the summit, your guide will take you an alternative route.
After a leisurely breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Penrith. Here we say farewell and provide any help you might need with your onward travel.
Map
Gallery
Handpicked Accommodation
Lacet House
This Bed & Breakfast with countryside views is set within the heart of Ambleside and offers a full English breakfast every morning. All the rooms have tea/coffee making facilities and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.
Chestnut Villa
Set in the heart of the Lake District National Park and surrounded by stunning fells, Chestnut Villa was built in 1850 as a coaching inn. Each room offers a beautiful view of the surrounding fells and has a smart TV and tea/coffee making facilities so you can relax in this tranquil haven with a warm welcome.
The George Hotel
The George Hotel is in the centre of Keswick and is one of the oldest Inns in the Lake District. Built in 1655 it is full of wonderful character with exposed beams & sashed windows. The dining room offers legendary pub classics, with delightfully fresh modern twists. An anthology of expertly crafted cask ales adorn the bar, juggling with expertly distilled gins and plenty of wine.
What our guides say...
The Lake District is a very special place and you can see why it has inspired so many authors and adventurers
What’s Included
- All accommodation as indicated on the itinerary
- All breakfasts and x2 dinners (excluding dinner drinks)
- Walking poles
- GPS routes, provided via RideWithGPS (app available for Apple or Android)
- All special events, iconic points of interests, expert guests and entrance fees
- All transportation from rendezvous to farewell locations
- All baggage transportation
- All gratuities for baggage, porters and hotel service
- Services of a professional local guide
Accommodation Types
We have handpicked the best family run, independent and country hotels, pubs and guest houses. Cosy and with informal dining, these country hotels are friendly and relaxed, with great menus with locally sourced food and ales. Our handpicked accommodation is 3* with the option to upgrade to 4* for an additional cost.
Difficulty Level
This tour is rated hard, meaning it’s appropriate for guests who enjoy a reasonably challenging walk and can handle a few inclines. We cover varied terrain, with a few steeper walks which are slightly more demanding. Your holiday, however, will be tailored by your guide to suit your individual preferences. Daily distances range from 4-10 miles, with varying elevation gain on different days. Rewarding views are guaranteed!
Equipment Provided
We’ll provide walking poles if required.
Pre & Post Tour Travel
Pick-up location: Penrith railway station. Our walking holidays are designed to be completely relaxing, with the start of our tours sitting within easy reach of London, Bristol or the Midlands. This tour begins from Penrith, a direct 3-hour train journey out of London, so that you can begin your holiday stress-free.
End-of-tour location: Penrith railway station.
FAQ's
Where is the Lake District?
The Lake District is in the North West of England, with rugged mountains (fells), dramatic lakes (meres) and deep valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers. It contains England’s highest mountain, and deepest lake, and is both a National Park and a World Heritage Site, in recognition of its natural wild beauty and cultural significance, having inspired generations of poets, writers and artists.
What is the best way to get to the Lake District?
The best way to travel to the Lake District is by train, approximately a 4 hour direct journey from London Paddington to Penrith.
You can also fly into Manchester and transfer to the start of the tour from there. We can also arrange pre and post accommodation at a range of different locations so you can arrive relaxed, refreshed and ready to start your tour.
Alternatively we can arrange a private transfer for you from London – the drive is approximately 5 hours.
How hilly is the Lake District?
The North of England is hillier than many of the other regions of England. However the Lake District has a variety of routes which makes the regions great walking country and suitable for those who are moderately fit and active. There are many hills, fells and moors but the incredible views from the top more than make up from the ascents! However, you will be able to miss out some of the steeper inclines – or add in some hillier walks for those looking to stretch their legs. There are routes for everyone and we can tailor your tour to your specific preferences.
Make this trip private
Our private tours are based on our tried and tested group departures with two key differences. They offer you the freedom to travel when you wish and with whoever you’d like to holiday with.
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Carbon Footprint
What’s the Number?
Nearly everything has a carbon footprint. Together with ecollective, we’ve measured the carbon impact of not only every tour we operate but our entire business. We’ve taken into account greenhouse gas emissions across the business including office, travel, website, vehicles, accommodation, activities, food, suppliers…
What does the number mean?
We’re going to improve this by measuring and reducing our footprint each year. That means working with our suppliers to make changes that have a more positive impact on us and the planet. What does this look like in reality?
- Redesign trips to reduce our carbon impact
- Working closely with all our suppliers across England to join us on our decarbonisation journey
- Switching up our vehicle fleet to electric
- Investing in projects that permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere for any emissions that remain.
We’ve got a long way to go but we’re on our way to net-zero
We’re committed to reducing our impact on the planet and working towards a sustainable future. We’ve taken ownership of our carbon footprint and are on a mission to reduce our emissions year on year.
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