Heart Of Lakeland

Difficulty:

Either moderate or strenuous (participants' choice), depending on use made of public transport. On Day 4 when the walking distance would be more than 7 miles (11 kilometres), and no public transport is available, a taxi rendez-vous can be arranged at no additional cost, giving participants the choice of driving or walking the second half of the day’s itinerary.

Arrival in Windermere. Meeting with our representative, and practice in map reading can be given if required.

Walk to Coniston via Hawkshead and picturesque Tarn Hows, with public transport available from Hawkshead if required (7 miles or 12 kilometres to Hawkshead, 11 miles or 18 kilometres to go the whole way, with 350 or 500 metres respectively of height gain).

Day in Coniston. Sightseeing or walking available.

Walk to Eskdale via Seathwaite in Dunnerdale, which many regard as the most beautiful and peaceful of the Lakeland valleys. A taxi rendez-vous can be arranged if required at Seathwaite around lunchtime (7.5 miles or 13 kilometres to Seathwaite, 12 miles or 20 kilometres to go the whole way, with 600 or 800 metres respectively of height gain).

Day in Eskdale. Sightseeing or walking available, including a chance to climb Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain.

Walk to Wasdale Head via Burnmoor (6 miles or 10 kilometres, with 250 metres of height gain). There is a highly scenic (but longer) alternative for a fine weather day, through Miterdale and by the dramatic ridge of Illgill Head.

Walk to Lodore via Styhead Pass and Seatoller in Borrowdale (where public transport is available if required). At Lodore catch the launch service to Keswick (6 miles or 10 kilometres to Seatoller, 11 miles or 18 kilometres to go the whole way, with 500 or 700 metres respectively of height gain). A taxi can be booked from Keswick back to Windermere (at extra cost), or the regular service bus may be used. 

Participants wishing to extend the tour by one or more days can go from Wasdale Head to Keswick not direct but via Ennerdale, Buttermere, Loweswater and the Newlands valley, spending an additional night at Loweswater. This alternative is only possible at strenuous standard. The walk ends, as before, with a boat ride into Keswick. A second night can be arranged at either Wasdale Head or Loweswater to allow fuller exploration of the beautiful western Lake District. A free day at Wasdale Head is the best opportunity for an ascent of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain. For the cost of this extension, please refer to the price quoted in the tariff for extra nights.

This is transported to Coniston, Eskdale and back to Windermere at the end. It can also be taken to Wasdale Head, where night 6 is spent (see tariff), or to Loweswater if the extension is taken. Please bear in mind that if luggage is not taken to Wasdale Head or Loweswater there will be NO OPTION TO TRAVEL BY ROAD TO/FROM THESE POINTS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COST.

Group Arrangements: 

Many of the guest houses and inns we work with have only small numbers of bedrooms - often as few as 3 or 4. While we welcome small groups, early booking is advisable, and it will help if you can offer flexibility over dates. It may not always be possible to book all members of larger groups into the same accommodation.

If your enquiry is for a group of 5 or more, please contact us to discuss your tour arrangements. Special rates may be available for 5 or more people sharing accommodation and luggage transfers.

Prices for 2010:
(prices are per person, except as stated, and are in pounds sterling. They are for up to 4 people travelling together)