Walking
Half Board
All Highlights Included
Max Group Size 25
Day 2 Derwentwater
13km/8 miles - 5 hours
After breakfast, we’ll head to Derwentwater, one of the Lake District's main bodies of water, covering about eight miles along the Cumbrian Way from the village of Rosthwaite to Keswick.
We're going to take a wonderfully scenic route which takes us past rivers and through woodland. We'll enjoy plenty of rest stops as we go and take in some stunning views. These become even more breathtaking once we arrive at the shores of the lake, which is surrounded by wooded hills. About three miles long and one mile wide, the lake is fed by the River Derwent and is home to several small islands. Just one is inhabited and that's Derwent Isle, which is home to an 18th century tenanted residence owned by the National Trust. Another, St Herbert's Island, features in Beatrix Potter's Squirrel Nutkin story as Owl Island. This is a great spot in which to sit and eat our packed lunch.
We'll then carry on walking, reaching our final destination, the delightful town of Keswick. You'll find many charming cafés and traditional pubs if you'd like some refreshment, and some lovely shops if you'd like to hunt for a souvenir. We'll travel back to the hotel by coach, where we'll gather for dinner.
Day 3 Lake Grasmere & Rydal Water, circular walk
9km/ 5.5 miles - 3.5 hours
Today we will head out for a walk covering about five-and-a-half miles to Lake Grasmere and the smaller Rydal Water. These two destinations are linked to the poet William Wordsworth, who lived in the villages of Grasmere and Rydal in 1799 and 1813 respectively.
We'll pass the Wordsworth Museum and see Rydal Mount, the charming house where he lived until his death in 1850, and which remains in the Wordsworth family. A packed lunch will keep us going as we then walk to the shores of Lake Grasmere to take in beautiful views.
Our walk ends in the village of Grasmere, where you might choose to head to St Oswald's Church, one of the most visited literary shrines in the world. This is where Wordsworth and many of his family members are buried, as well as Hartley Coleridge, the eldest son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A trip to Sarah Nelson's Grasmere Gingerbread shop, within the churchyard, is also highly recommended!
Day 4 Hadrian's Wall
16km/10 miles - 6 hours
Today we're going to unravel the fascinating history of Hadrian's Wall on a walk covering about 10 miles. The north-west frontier of the Roman Empire for nearly 300 years, it was built on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian following his visit to Britain in AD 122.
Our starting point is Walltown, a beauty spot featuring tall crags, woodland, meadows and lakes. We'll follow the wall eastwards walking past Cawfields, where we'll see one of the highest standing sections, which features turrets along its length. We'll also take in one of the impressive milecastles, or fortresses, built at mile-long intervals along the wall.
Later, after we've stopped to eat our packed lunch, we'll pass the popular landmark known as the Sycamore Gap.
We come to a stop today at Housesteads, the remains of a Roman fort. The views from here are also pretty spectacular.
Day 5 Depart Wetheral
This morning you can take breakfast at your leisure before, checking out of the hotel and making your way home.
Meals included: BAdditional Information
We will walk at a manageable pace; all walks can be shortened if needed. Most walks take place on paths and tracks. Some will be slightly more strenuous and may involve moderate slopes, hills, stiles, and foot bridges, which may be rough underfoot. Sturdy walking shoes are essential.Car parking charges may apply – see the hotel's website for more details.