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 the 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.
- Challenging hikes and breathtaking views
- Scale England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike
- Explore the bustling town of Keswick
- Sample the original and world renowned Grasmere Gingerbread
- Climb Helvellyn & Catbells
- Scramble on Helm Crag
Your Itinerary
Make your way to your accommodation in the Lake District for 1pm. Your guide will be waiting to greet you and welcome you to the tour. After a brief introduction and explanation of the tour, you’ll head out for your first hike up Catbells. This is a short, sharp, steep climb richly rewarded by spectacular views of Skiddaw, Newlands Valley to the west and Derwent Water to the east. After your descent you’ll head back to your accommodation ready to dine with new friends and celebrate your first evening together.
Daily mileage: 4 miles / 1000 ft elevation
Today you’ll need to enjoy a hearty northern breakfast before setting off to climb Skiddaw mountain range. Taking approx 7 hours to hike, keep in mind the view from the top to keep as your reward! Skiddaw has the best 360 degree mountain views of the surrounding valleys and mountain range surrounding you. You’ll have a locally sourced packed lunch to enjoy on the mountain, ordered by you, collected by our guides from famous keswick handmade sandwich shops. Once you’ve descended you can head back to your accommodation for a well earned rest and recuperation with time to enjoy the town and eateries at your leisure.
Daily mileage: 6.5 miles / 2100 ft elevation
In the morning, we’ll transfer to Grasmere to complete a morning hike to Easedale Tarn and Helm Cragg. Nestled in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Helm Crag is a small but stunning peak that offers breathtaking views and a memorable hillwalking experience. Known locally as the “Lion and the Lamb” due to its unique rock formations, we will spend approximately 4-5 hours hiking with some ‘scrambling’ on Helm Cragg. Our lunch option today will be a locally sourced packed lunch and later, an afternoon treat in the form of some world famous gingerbread from Grasmere! Grasmere being the birthplace of the traditional gingerbread recipe. You’ll have plenty of time in the afternoon to enjoy the town of Grasmere at your leisure before transferring back to Keswick for the evening.
Daily mileage: 6.5 miles / 1500 ft elevation
Today sees us conquer the tallest mountain in England, Scafell pike. Taking most of the day to complete, this is a challenge that will earn you serious bragging rights and of course once at the top you’re essentially looking down over all of England! It goes without saying that on a clear day, you’ll have stunning views over the Lake District and beyond. There is a stone shelter at the summit making it edge just slightly taller than its neighbour peak, Sca Fell! But at 978m you can be sure you’ll have proudly stood on top of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike. Of course the evening will be yours to relax and enjoy at your leisure and celebrate a tremendous day.
Daily mileage: 5.5 miles / 3000 ft elevation
Last but not least, the final hike of the tour is up Helvellyn, the third tallest mountain in England and one of Wainwright’s Eastern Fells. Although shorter in distance to climb it still provides a challenging hike with scenery including three deep glacial coves and two sharp-topped ridges on the eastern side (Striding Edge and Swirral Edge). Following the final days hiking, you’ll return to your accommodation and enjoy a celebratory dinner in the evening, reminiscing with the group about the week’s accomplishments.
Daily mileage: 6.5 miles / 2500 ft elevation
Depart at your leisure upon checkout and breakfast. With our guide helping with transfer bookings or travel to a nearby station.
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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