The Lake District itinerary
7 nights, 8 days
Day 1. Leave Roscrea on Friday the 28th June at 6 am stopping at Belfast for breakfast at motorway services, for the 11.30 am crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan ferry ( 2.5 Hour sailing time ). Leave Cairnryan and head to Lake Windermere ( journey time 5 hours inc stop for lunch ). Check into our accommodation at Orrest Head Cottage and Orrest Head House and relax after a long day.
Day 2. After our breakfast we will head by bus to the nearby ferry point of Bowness and take the ferry across Lake Windermere to the start of our walk to the very popular village of Hawkshead where we should have an appetite for lunch among the many pubs and cafes in this beautiful village. You will be collected after your relaxed lunch and brought back to Windermere where you are free to explore the town at your own pace before your evening meal, Walk distance 9 km, Time 2-3 hours, Grade Moderate, Height gain 329 Mts.
Day 3. After our breakfast we will head into Windermere for a leisurely stroll around the village before heading to our short walk along The Blelham Tarn, Windermere and Wray Castle Loop. There is a short bus journey ( 20 min ) to the start of this low level walk which will take in a section of Lake Winsermere. Then its back to our accommodation for a relaxing afternoon before our evening meal. Walk distance 5.4 km, Time 2 hours, Grade Easy, Height gain 108 Mts.
Day 4. If the weather is kind we will be heading to one of our tougher walks to climb Helvellyn, Lower Man and Browncove Crags. If you fancy a day off from hiking you can give this walk a miss and stay local and have a relaxing day. If not this spectacular Lake District walk which starts from the car park in the hamlet of Wythburn and begins with a vigorous climb up to the Helvellyn summit before descending north and west to the Swirls and then through woodland and forest back to the start. Walk distance 11 km, Time 3-4 hours, Grade Hard, Height gain 890 Mts.
Day 5. After our breakfast we will head to Lake Derwent water and hike up onto the Cat Bells where we will if weather permitting get majestic viewss to Derwent Water, Keswick, Skiddaw and Blencathra. This area is probably the most walked area of the lower Lake District and a supberb place to catch an evening Sunset or early Sunrise if the weather allows, ( if weather permits this is the plan ). At the end of the walk we will walk into Keswick for lunch or an evening meal and after exploring this very popular Lake District town we will catch the Derwent ferry back to our bus and back to our accommodation..
Day 6. This can be if you wish a rest day where we will take some local tours like The Keswick Brewing Company. This is a craft brewery within two minutes walk of Keswick town centre. Enjoy the brewery tour which includes sampling a selection of their beers, The Lakes Distillery, the largest distillery in England, is set in an area of unimaginable beauty next to Bassenthwaite Lake. The Lakeland Motor Museum in the picturesque Leven Valley, at Backbarrow, close to the southern tip of Lake Windermere. William Wordsworth is Britain's best-loved poet and you can visit Dove Cottage and it's museum.
Day 7. This is the day weather permitting that the more energetic take on England's highest mountain "Scafell Pike". A very long day for anyone with the stamina to hike this iconic mountain. Walk distance 16 km, Time 6-7 hours, Grade Hard, Height gain 990 Mts. Depending on the day there are other routes to the summit and an alternative may be chosen. There will be a low level walk organised on this day if people wish to give this one a miss. The Southern lakeshore walk from Ferry House Pier to Lakeside Pier. Following the quiet western shore of Windermere and take the ferry back across Lake Windermere to Bowness. Walk distance 9 km, Time 2-3 hours, Grade Easy, Height gain 150 Mts.
Day 8. After breakfast it's time to pack up the bags and head the 5 hours drive to the Cairnryan/Belfast Ferry with a stop for lunch along the way. The ferry departs at 3.30 and we will arrive back in Roscrea at circa 9 pm.
The price for this trip is €750.00 pp with all transport bus and ferry, self catering cottage, all lake ferry crossings and breakfast. No baggage restrictions on the ferry. Packed lunches can be made with food bought from the local supermarkets.
It does not include personal health insurance, evening meals, hiking gear or entry to museums or brewery's.
Depending on weather some days hiking might have to be moved around but it is our intention to complete every hike if possible.
Accommodation will be at Orrest Head Cottage and Orrest Head House at Windermere and can be viewed on their website www.cumbrian-cottages.co.uk
Rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis and a deposit of €200.00 will secure your place on this trip. In the event that you cannot make the trip your deposit will be refunded on the re filling of your place.
Day 2. After our breakfast we will head by bus to the nearby ferry point of Bowness and take the ferry across Lake Windermere to the start of our walk to the very popular village of Hawkshead where we should have an appetite for lunch among the many pubs and cafes in this beautiful village. You will be collected after your relaxed lunch and brought back to Windermere where you are free to explore the town at your own pace before your evening meal, Walk distance 9 km, Time 2-3 hours, Grade Moderate, Height gain 329 Mts.
Day 3. After our breakfast we will head into Windermere for a leisurely stroll around the village before heading to our short walk along The Blelham Tarn, Windermere and Wray Castle Loop. There is a short bus journey ( 20 min ) to the start of this low level walk which will take in a section of Lake Winsermere. Then its back to our accommodation for a relaxing afternoon before our evening meal. Walk distance 5.4 km, Time 2 hours, Grade Easy, Height gain 108 Mts.
Day 4. If the weather is kind we will be heading to one of our tougher walks to climb Helvellyn, Lower Man and Browncove Crags. If you fancy a day off from hiking you can give this walk a miss and stay local and have a relaxing day. If not this spectacular Lake District walk which starts from the car park in the hamlet of Wythburn and begins with a vigorous climb up to the Helvellyn summit before descending north and west to the Swirls and then through woodland and forest back to the start. Walk distance 11 km, Time 3-4 hours, Grade Hard, Height gain 890 Mts.
Day 5. After our breakfast we will head to Lake Derwent water and hike up onto the Cat Bells where we will if weather permitting get majestic viewss to Derwent Water, Keswick, Skiddaw and Blencathra. This area is probably the most walked area of the lower Lake District and a supberb place to catch an evening Sunset or early Sunrise if the weather allows, ( if weather permits this is the plan ). At the end of the walk we will walk into Keswick for lunch or an evening meal and after exploring this very popular Lake District town we will catch the Derwent ferry back to our bus and back to our accommodation..
Day 6. This can be if you wish a rest day where we will take some local tours like The Keswick Brewing Company. This is a craft brewery within two minutes walk of Keswick town centre. Enjoy the brewery tour which includes sampling a selection of their beers, The Lakes Distillery, the largest distillery in England, is set in an area of unimaginable beauty next to Bassenthwaite Lake. The Lakeland Motor Museum in the picturesque Leven Valley, at Backbarrow, close to the southern tip of Lake Windermere. William Wordsworth is Britain's best-loved poet and you can visit Dove Cottage and it's museum.
Day 7. This is the day weather permitting that the more energetic take on England's highest mountain "Scafell Pike". A very long day for anyone with the stamina to hike this iconic mountain. Walk distance 16 km, Time 6-7 hours, Grade Hard, Height gain 990 Mts. Depending on the day there are other routes to the summit and an alternative may be chosen. There will be a low level walk organised on this day if people wish to give this one a miss. The Southern lakeshore walk from Ferry House Pier to Lakeside Pier. Following the quiet western shore of Windermere and take the ferry back across Lake Windermere to Bowness. Walk distance 9 km, Time 2-3 hours, Grade Easy, Height gain 150 Mts.
Day 8. After breakfast it's time to pack up the bags and head the 5 hours drive to the Cairnryan/Belfast Ferry with a stop for lunch along the way. The ferry departs at 3.30 and we will arrive back in Roscrea at circa 9 pm.
The price for this trip is €750.00 pp with all transport bus and ferry, self catering cottage, all lake ferry crossings and breakfast. No baggage restrictions on the ferry. Packed lunches can be made with food bought from the local supermarkets.
It does not include personal health insurance, evening meals, hiking gear or entry to museums or brewery's.
Depending on weather some days hiking might have to be moved around but it is our intention to complete every hike if possible.
Accommodation will be at Orrest Head Cottage and Orrest Head House at Windermere and can be viewed on their website www.cumbrian-cottages.co.uk
Rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis and a deposit of €200.00 will secure your place on this trip. In the event that you cannot make the trip your deposit will be refunded on the re filling of your place.
