Getting to Windermere on day 1 is each participant’s responsibility. It is easily accessible by train from London or Manchester Airport. The trip leader will provide additional information to registered participants. We meet at our hotel in the center of Windermere at 5pm for our trip orientation. Afterwards, we take a short walk to a relaxed and friendly bistro-styled restaurant with a homely feel for our first dinner together. D

Borrowdale is arguably the most spectacular valley in the heart of the Lake District. The lush scenery is testament to the very changeable weather in this part of the Lake District and Rosthwaite holds the title for the rainiest inhabited place in England. So don’t forget to pack your waterproofs even though May and June offer the best chance of dry weather. From the village of Rosthwaite, we head North on the Cumbria Way. Evidence of Borrowdale’s glacial past can be seen all around. We walk past scenic Castle Crag, the lowest summit on Alfred Wainwright’s famous list of Lakeland Fells. In the valley, we follow the river Derwent with dippers and herons through the woods to Grange. We stop for lunch at the local pub or the tea shop. Later on, we continue on the flanks of Catbells with wonderful views of Derwent Water and its many islands: a wonderful sparkling scene. Then it is a peaceful procession along the lake, through Newlands valley to Keswick, hopefully in time to catch the last hour of the weekly market.

Dinner at Keswick’s best restaurant, serving local cuisine, vegetarian and vegan dishes. B D

Today we head East and although we are still technically in the Lake District, this hike with gentle rolling hills, green valleys and charming rivers displays the character of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We follow the gentle meandering river Lune and marvel at examples of Victorian engineering featuring picturesque viaducts and bridges. A short ascent takes us to the birthplace of the Quaker movement where we enjoy our sack-lunch with great views of the whole valley. A gentle walk from there leads us into the scenic market town of Sedbergh, famous for its international boarding school. We should have time to explore the town and its 12th century Norman church. Early dinner at the town’s friendliest pub. British specialties with locally sourced ingredients. B D

Back to the Lake District and the intriguing area of Coniston, under the shadow of the Old Man. The sturdy slate terraced cottages with green copper roofs give Coniston a very distinctive character inherited from its mining and quarrying past. In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth 1st invited German miners famous for their expertise to work the mines in the area for lead and copper. The industry peaked in the 19th century and the remaining scars can still be seen in eery Coppermine valley. Coniston has attracted Victorian thinker, critic and social reformist John Ruskin and daredevil Donald Campbell who crashed with his famous Bluebird K7 in 1967 in the pursuit of the water speed world record.

From the start of the walk, a gentle track leads us to serene Tarn Hows, a famous beauty spot and the result of a series of landscape improvements started in 1862 by MP James Marshall, rich heir to an industrial fortune. We descend through the woods to his former mansion, saved from development by Beatrix Potter in 1930 and since owned by the National Trust, on the shore of Coniston Water. Then, it’s over the hills, in typical Lake District farmland, towards Yewdale fells. From there, we head straight into Coniston. In the afternoon according to your preference, you will have time to either self-explore the very interesting Ruskin museum, or discover the famous Coppermine valley above the village or even head over the Lake to Brantwood, the former residence of John Ruskin with its magnificent gardens. Dinner at a little bistro, restaurant of the year, per Cumbria Life Magazine Awards and renowned for the quality of its locally sourced produce. B D

Great Langdale is another glacial valley that runs deep into the heart of the Lake District. With the towering Langdale Pikes on one side and Crinkle Crags on the other, it is a scene both dramatic and enticing. Facing East, it is often protected from the worst of the weather that affects other parts of the Lake District. We follow the beck (stream) at the bottom of the valley before it widens towards Chapel Stile and Elterwater, a superb spot for a garden pub lunch. The next section alongside Elterwater is probably one of the most charming in the whole of the Lake District. Then a moderate ascent over Loughrigg fell brings us in view of Ambleside, a lively compact town nestled between mountains and lake. Since we will have more time later in the week to explore Ambleside, today is just a brief visit before returning to Windermere in time to refresh before our dinner at a renowned seafood restaurant. B D

A fantastic day above the shores and on the waters of Ullswater, the most beautiful ribbon lake, with its extenuated “S” shape, created by three separate glaciers descending from the surrounding mountains. We start at Aira Force with its landscaped arboretum and spectacular waterfalls in the woods noisy with the songs of migrant birds (wood warblers, chiffchaffs, pied flycatchers, cuckoo) just arrived from Africa at this time of year. A short but steep ascent on the edge of Gowbarrow fell is rewarded with extensive views of Ullswater and the hills to the South. The terrain keeps changing, from fell to woodland on to marshland, before opening again to fields and meadows overlooking the lake, an ideal setting for our sack-lunch. After this break, we descend gently through rolling green pastures to the shores of Ullswater and the village of Pooley Bridge for a well-deserved ice cream. We embark on the Ullswater famous Steamer for a gentle 1-hour cruise on the tranquil water all the way to Glenridding where we will enjoy dinner. B D

A most charming gentle walk in the romantic heart of the Lake District. We start just past Ambleside at Rydal Hall. We skirt Nab Scar, first step on the famous Fairfield Horseshoe, one of the Lake District’s most demanding walks, we rise above picturesque Rydal Water and progress to Grasmere, the chocolate-box village of the Lakes. In Grasmere, you have time for a light lunch and to self-explore: there are many places to choose from. You can elect to visit Dove Cottage, the home of poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, during nine of the most productive years of his career. In the afternoon, we depart and progress along the shores of Grasmere, Rydal Water and to Rydal cave: an inspiring walk for landscape photographers. We carry on past Rydal Hall on a level walk all the way to Ambleside for a more thorough visit this time, before capping the day and a fantastic week in the Lake District with Thursday night “Steak Night” for those with carnivorous appetites, or with succulent vegetarian and vegan dishes in one of Ambleside’s best restaurants. B D

Check out 10:30am.