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The Lake District Route in 5 days

5 Days

33 miles | 54 Km

Ambleside - Keswick

From 1,087 AUD

Personalized quotation

Luggage transfer

24h telephone assistance

Hotel accommodations

Your adventure through The Lake District will take you to the north-west of England where you'll find, precisely, 16 beautiful proglacial lakes surrounded by vast valleys and towering mountains, including the largest in the country: Scafell Pike. In this area, also known for being the residence and source of inspiration for numerous artists, such as Beatrix Potter or William Wordsworth, you'll find the charming Lake District National Park, being the largest in England and home to Wastwater and Windermere, which respectively, are the deepest lake and the largest lake in the country.

Discover Windermere, England's largest natural lake.
Visit Bowness-On-Windermere with the award-winning Beatrix Potter World, which brings classic children's stories to life.
Explore beautiful views of Ullswater and Grasmere.
Visit Belle Isle, the largest island of the 18 forested islands on Windermere.
Get to know one of Britain's oldest theatres, The Alhambra Theatre.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Ambleside

Discover one of the most popular cities in the Lake District, located at the northern end of Windermere, England's largest natural lake, which has been a settlement since pre-Roman times.

Tour the Roman fort of Galava from 79 A.D, Bridge House, built on the Stock ravine more than 300 years ago or St. Mary's Church with its stone needles and murals from the Second World War.

Overnight in Ambleside

Lacet House

Located in the heart of Ambleside, and within the scenic Lake District National Park, this property is surrounded by mountains and with the top of Windermere within walking distance.

It offers six double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom or shower, flat-screen TV, hairdryer, and complimentary refreshments. Enjoy a full English breakfast in the dining room with stunning views of the hills and free Wi-Fi in all areas.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 2 - Enjoy your day in Bowness-on-Windermere 9,5 miles | 15 km

Head towards Bowness-On-Windermere by taking a steamer, named after diesel-powered ferries, while admiring the beautiful views of Windermere and the mountains.

Admire the rural surroundings of this village developed around Queen Square and Royal Square. Climb to Orrest Head viewpoint and enjoy fabulous views of the wooded hills and Langdale Pike.

Visit the largest of the lake's 18 forested islands, Belle Isle, where remains from Roman times have been discovered. Before returning to Ambleside, climb to Wansfell Pike and pass the Stockghyll Force Waterfall, located in a tributary of the River Rothay.

Overnight in Ambleside

Lacet House

Day 3 - Ambleside to Patterdale 11,5 miles | 19 km

Start the walk through the conservation area in Rydal, a village scattered between Grasmere and Ambleside on the banks of the River Rothay. Head through forests to Mount Rydal before finding the old cabins in Rydal and Dove Cottage, home to poet William Wordsworth.

Visit Rydal Mount, another home of the poet from 1813 to 1850 and Dora's Field, a field of self-planted daffodils, before reaching Grasmere and traversing the village.

Follow the path on the banks of the River Rothay to Grisedale Tarn, high up in the mountains, and then descend along Grisedale Valley to Patterdale.

Overnight in Patterdale

Old Water View

Located on the banks of Goldrill Beck, it was the hotel where Alfred Wainwright stayed while creating the world-famous "Coast to Coast" walk, whose route passes 100 yards from the hotel.

It offers rooms with central heating, private bathroom, wifi, TV and other amenities. Enjoy the Wainwright C2C Bar and Patterdale Ales' own range, made exclusively for the hotel by the famous Tirril Brewery.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 4 - Patterdale to Keswick 12 miles | 20 km

Start your adventure today on the southern part of the Ullswater trail, crossing Grisedale Bridge to Glenridding, a small village near Kirkstone Pass. Admire to the south the views of Helvellyn, the third highest mountain in England, until you reach the headwaters of the Thirlmere Reservoir.

Admire the scenery through the green fields towards the northern hills, particularly towards Blencathra, the gateway to St. John's in the Vale glacial valley. Visit the small hillside church before heading through the valley to the north meandering the St. John's Beck River, in the midst of the views of Clough Head.

Before arriving in Keswick and walking along the banks of the River Greta, explore Castlerigg's famous stone circle, a megalithic monument made of stones in 3,200 B.C. Tour this market town and visit Moot Hall, the Theatre by the Lake, and one of Britain's oldest theatres, the Alhambra.

Overnight in Keswick

Keswick Park Hotel

A Victorian-style building dating back to the 19th century, it offers spectacular views. In the vicinity, you can find the prominent city market, as well as numerous museums and restaurants.

*In case this accommodation is not available, you will stay at a similar category one.

Day 5 - Keswick

If you want to know much more about the Lake District, we invite you to take one of our 7- or 8-day routes.

If, on the other hand, you want to return home, you can take a bus to Carlisle or Penrith stations and, from there, a train to Manchester, London or Glasgow.

End of our services.

Itinerary map

Services

Included

Accommodation in en suite rooms in charming hotels
Daily Breakfasts
Luggage transfers between accommodations
Information dossier with maps and routes
24-hour telephone support
Sustainable travel, we compensate the CO₂ emissions of your trip
Taxes

Extras

Travel insurance
Cancellation insurance
Additional nights

Accomodation

General information

The accommodations with which we collaborate have a private bathroom and all the necessary services to ensure the best comfort available.

Our team checks in situ the quality of all the accommodations offered, so that you have an unforgettable experience during your trip.

The accommodation that we will book for your trip will be selected taking into account our commitment to you: guaranteeing comfort, calm and enjoyment throughout your trip.

We work with quality hotels and country cottages with limited capacity, so we invite you to confirm your reservation as soon as possible.

The name of each accommodation will be provided to you a few weeks before your trip begins.

Room types

It is possible to book this journey in single, double or triple rooms.

All rooms have private bathrooms.

Travel & transfers

To get to Ambleside, the best option is Manchester Airport, although you can also arrive at London Airport or Glasgow Airport. From Manchester, take a bus or train, via Windermere, to the city of Ambleside (approximately 3 hours).

For the return from Keswick, take a bus to Carlisle station or Penrith station, and from there a train to Manchester, London or Glasgow.

FAQs

Is luggage transfer included? What are the luggage requirements?

Absolutely! Each traveller has included 1 piece of luggage that we will transfer between your accommodations. It's important that this piece of luggage meets the following criterias:

Maximum weight of 40 lbs (18 kg).
Must be only 1 piece of luggage without any attachments or accessories.
Should not contain valuables, fragile items, food or medications.
Must be correctly identified (booking reference of your trip and the full name of the trip holder).

The approximate luggage delivery time will be at 4:00 PM.

How far in advance should I book my trip?

We recommend that you book as soon as you are sure about your dates, as accommodation can fill up very quickly in this area.

What is the best time of year to complete this route?

The route is available between April and October, so any time you choose between these months will give you an amazing experience, as the weather in spring is pleasant and cool for walking. In summer, the lakes and flowers create beautiful scenery along the route, and in autumn, the trails are not very crowded. Considering the typical lake climate, there may be persistent rain or strong gusts of wind, so we recommend taking good equipment such as windproof clothing and sunscreen.

Is this walking holiday for me?

Whether you're passionate about walking through World Heritage-listed settings, amid valleys, moors, majestic lakes and national parks, or extreme sporting experiences, this is the ideal route for you. If you enjoy outdoor experiences observing natural wonders, you will also love sighting migratory birds, visit villages and taste typical coastal food. In addition, you can enjoy adventure on cruises, motor boating, rowing, kayaking, canoeing or swimming.

What should my physical preparation be?

This route is rated as of moderate-strenuous difficulty, with some slightly demanding ascents and descents through steep valleys, mountains or moors and by lakes with rocky or swampy trails. We recommend having an active lifestyle and be in good physical condition. If not, we suggest preparing the months before starting the route by walking daily in mountainous terrain. You can also improve your endurance with cardio exercises.

What equipment do I need to bring?

Once you make your reservation we will send you all the detailed information about the specific equipment you need for this route, considering recommendations for shoes, boots, clothes and a day-to day backpack.

What if I'm not able to finish one of the stages?

You can call us to arrange a private transfer for you. If you prefer, you can also use public transport or local taxis to get to your next accommodation.