Autumn Walking Holiday
October 21st - 26th 2012
The Lake District is particularly beautiful in the autumn, with its colourful woodlands, soft and rugged landscape. The pace of this holiday will be a relaxed one and will allow plenty of time for interest stops and photography.
For our special autumn walking holiday we have included some old favourite routes as well as some new ones. All routes are linear with comfortable transport provided. As usual there will be morning and afternoon options offering leisurely or more energetic routes, and pub lunches are included.
With walking routes of about 5 hours and daily options of between 6 to 11 miles they provide a perfect opportunity for a really enjoyable break, and are well within the capabilities of anyone reasonably fit, although some preparatory exercise would make the days even more enjoyable! Each evening we meet for drinks and discussion of the next days plans, followed by dinner.
Leave the car behind, along with the worries of route finding and have everything arranged for you. All you need are comfortable boots, a small day sack for a camera, spare pullover, waterproofs and possibly a hat and gloves.
WALKING ROUTES
Sunday
Our introductory walk takes us to the delightful summit of Todd Crag which gives stunning views down to Windermere.
Monday
We travel north the scenic shores of Ullswater Lake, Dockray and Dowthwaite Head. Striders have a strenuous walk across Matterdale Great Common and onto the 856 meter summit of Great Dodd with spectacular views of the northern fells. A superb ridge walk takes us onto Watson Dodd and Sty Barrow Dodd before descending via Sticks Pass (the highest pass in the Lake District) to our rendezvous point at Legburthwaite overlooking the shores of Thirlmere.
Strollers will also start at Dowthwaite Head and a gentler stroll takes us along the historic Old Coach Road under the sharp crags of White Pike and Threlkeld Knotts with fine views north across the valley looking towards Blencathra and Skiddaw. The final part of the walk is down the picturesque valley of St Johns in The Vale to meet up with the striders.
Tuesday
Striders will start at New Dungeon Ghyll in the magnificent Great Langdale Valley, the striders scale the heights up to Stickle Tarn and on to Blea Rigg with fantastic panoramic views of the central fells. Following the ridge eastward, the track leads down towards the inspiring Easdale Tarn and into Wordsworth’s Grasmere.
The Strollers begin their walk at the Old Dungeon Ghyll beneath the towering Langdale Pikes and follows the Cumbria Way to Elterwater for a pub lunch. The afternoon stroll takes us onto the fell above Elterwater with picturesque views looking in to the Vale of Grasmere, our destination.
Wednesday
After an early start we travel west to Cumbria’s fine West Coast. Striders will scale Muncaster Fell giving superb views of the Scafell Range, the Western and Central pikes and the Irish Sea. A welcome pub lunch awaits before a brisk afternoon walk to Blea Tarn deep in the memorable Eskdale Valley.
Striders will also start at Muncaster taking a more sedate stroll skirting the side of Muncaster Fell towards the lush Eskdale Valley for a pub lunch. The afternoon stroll takes us deeper into the valley with unforgettable views of the Scafell Range.
Thursday
Striders will travel north-east to the isolated and haunting Haweswater and start a strenuous climb up the sharp ridge of Rough Crag and onto High Street with memorable panoramic views of the finest of the eastern fells. Following the route of the ancient Roman Road we descend gently into Beatrix Potter’s Troutbeck Park and to the 17c historic village of Troutbeck.
Strollers will travel east into the scenic and isolated valley of Longsleddale to take a memorable stroll along one of Cumbria’s ancient pack horse routes. Half-way is the hamlet of Kentmere, with its church and ancient Pele Tower, which has been was used by travellers for centuries. After lunch we will continue westward over the famous Garburn Pass leading us to Troutbeck.
Walking Leaders
Tom McCafferty is a Blue Badge Guide based in the south west of Cumbria. He is a native Cumbrian, born in Maryport and since retiring as a Police Sergeant in 2000 he has been guiding professionally. As well as walking Tom is a driver guide and member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding, The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides, Cumbria Tourist Guides and The Association of Driver Guides. He possesses a dry West Cumbrian sense of humour and enjoys sharing his interest in local history, culture, poetry and the many literary connections with the Lake District.
Anne Strange has been guiding since 1992 and has led guided walks in the Lake District and Scotland. She has been a member of the mountain rescue team for many years and has travelled extensively - walking and climbing in the Himalayas and the Alps. She is a trained mountain leader & first aider, and her other interests are cycling and local history.
Comfortable walking boots are really essential together with a small day sack for camera spare pullover and waterproofs etc. The more strenuous routes do require greater stamina and a steady pace. It is ultimately the leaders decision as to who should attempt them, but an easier equally attractive walk is always offered with the second leader.
The 5-night Walking holiday runs from Sunday afternoon through to Friday morning, and the prices are per person and include full Cumbrian breakfast, 3 course dinner and VAT @ 20%. Lunch is provided Monday to Thursday, as well as all transportation.
Non-participating partners are welcome, and the cost for them is £80 less than above.
Non-Residents - A limited number of places is available for non-residents, with all items of the holiday and dinner each evening included.
We ask for a deposit of £150 per person for the holidays, which can be made by cheque or credit card. This is non-refundable unless the room is subsequently relet. Cancellation insurance is available.