Heart of the Lake District
7 Days & 6 Nights 4.2 Read 5 reviews- Relaxed walking in the beautiful surrounds of the Lake District
- Follow in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth
- The cosy tearooms of Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick
- Walk to the top of Helm Crag, to see the iconic "Lion & the Lamb"
- Views over the glimmering shores of Derwent Water from Cat Bells
Tour Type:
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Activity:
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 7 Years
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- National Parks
Activity Level & Terrain
This holiday is graded easy overall with all of the walks being fairly relaxed. Daily walks include ascents of between 94m and 378m, and are no longer than 13km. You will cover a variety of terrain including rocky terrain, some boggy sections and lakeside and woodland paths. The ascent of Catbells whilst not too strenuous is graded more as moderate, due to the fact that it is a short, sharp ascent and involves some light scrambling towards the top at the summit with a couple of steep drop offs. Of course, you can always turn back if this is not for you!
Navigation
Whilst not all of the paths will be waymarked on this holiday, we do provide comprehensive route notes, maps and GPS tracks through our smartphone app, which will greatly assist you in finding your way. All of the walks we have selected are fairly low level and therefore not too difficult to navigate. However, we do recommend that should the weather be inclement you should take extra care and only do the walks if you feel comfortable navigating.
Accommodations
Overnight in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses, specifically chosen to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers and traditional hospitality.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
If you require single rooms within your party we will try our best to accommodate your request. A single supplement is payable. This trip is available to solo walkers and a supplement is also payable.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Most guesthouses and B&B’s offer a continental and hearty cooked breakfast, which should keep you going for the day.
Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants.
- 6 Nights hand picked B&B, guesthouse and small hotel accommodation
- 6 Breakfasts
- Baggage transfers as per itinerary
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our UK office
- Travel to Ambleside and from Keswick
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Ferry crossings as per itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Personal equipment
- Entrance fees
- Additional nights anywhere along the route
When To Go
This tour can be enjoyed in the spring, summer or autumn/fall. Spring is great as it's not too busy and the daffodils will be in bloom! Summer is a bit busier, but still pleasurable and autumn/fall will again be quieter. September can often be overlooked but is quieter and a beautiful time of year in the Lakes! Rain can occur at anytime of year in the Lake District so come prepared with good waterproofs. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans subject to availability.
Getting to the Start
By Air - The closest regional airport to Ambleside is Manchester. From here you can take the train to Windermere (2h15m) and then a local bus to Ambleside (20min)
By Rail/Bus - Ambleside is easily reached by train via Windermere (approx 3hrs from London, 2hr from Manchester or 2hr from Glasgow). From Windermere, the Lakeslink 555 bus runs regularly to Ambleside or it is just a 10 minute taxi journey. You can find more information on the Traveline website.
By Car - Parking is very limited in Ambleside but you can buy seven day passes which can be used in a few of the car parks. More details are available here.
For more information on train times and schedules please visit the Traveline or National Rail websites.
Getting from the End
By Car - If you have left your vehicle in Ambleside you may return via the Lakeslink 555 bus from Keswick with a journey time of approximately 50 minutes.
By Bus/Train - From Keswick there are bus services to Penrith (40min) or Carlisle (1h15min) and from here plenty of train options to either Manchester, London, or Glasgow.
You can find more information for travelling to and from the Lake District by visiting the Traveline Website. The Trainline is also a great resource.
Luggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
General Information
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Equipment
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Ambleside Day 2 Beatrix Potter Walk to Wray Castle and Hill Top 9 miles / 14.5 km Day 3 Walk to Grasmere 4 miles / 6.5 km Day 4 Loop Walk to Helm Crag 4 miles / 6.5 km Day 5 Transfer to Keswick, Derwent Water Loop Walk via Walla Crag 6.5 miles / 11 km Day 6 Walk to Cat Bells 5.1 miles / 8.2 km Day 7 Onward TravelThe Macs Way
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