Arrival – Penrith. Askham to Pooley Bridge; 3.5 miles, easy. Afternoon walk Dockray to Aira Force; 2 miles, easy

The George Hotel is your meeting point, and you immediately transfer to the village of Askham to walk through the Lowther Estate, owned by Lord Lonsdale. Continuing on over the fell and into the Lake District National Park, you pass ancient prehistoric settlements and enjoy first views of the Cumbrian Mountains and Ullswater. Descending to the village of Pooley Bridge at the edge of the lake you pause for lunch in a local pub. This village was one of the earliest settlements on the lake, dating back to the Celts.

Following lunch, you transfer to the hamlet of Dockray, overlooking the lake, and walk by Aira Beck toward Aira Force, probably the most famous of the Lake District’s waterfalls. Here you admire the views and are regaled with tales from your guides about the romanticism that the region has long inspired.

The short drive to the hotel just a few miles outside of Keswick allows plenty of time to settle in before meeting for a pre-dinner drink and a fuller introduction to the week ahead. The hotel restaurant features local produce whenever possible, so tonight’s dinner promises excellent cuisine.

Walking in the footsteps of the men of Borrowdale; 5.8 miles, easy to moderate

After a breakfast buffet consisting of cereal, fruit, pastries, and cold meats, or a traditional hot Cumbrian breakfast, you follow in the footsteps of the men of Borrowdale, quarrymen and miners of yesteryear. In this valley there were many working slate mines, most of which are now closed. Beginning at the head of the valley you follow a rambling trail along the side of the dale before descending to the hamlet of Grange.

This village is noteworthy for its double arched bridge of 1675 that crosses the River Derwent. Stone and whitewashed cottages sit snugly in this village set in the heart of the Borrowdale Valley. After lunch, take a lakeshore path which provides a relatively flat walk and traverses the pretty woodlands revealing glimpses of the lake. Finish the afternoon in Hawes End for a fun ride on a Victorian ferryboat back to town.

Dinner tonight is at the Lyzzick Hall Hotel located on the lower slopes of Skiddaw Mountain, with stunning views across the vale. The restaurant here prides itself on using freshly prepared local ingredients and herbs from their own garden.

Whinlatter Pass to Buttermere Valley; 5 miles, easy to moderate

Today you cross Whinlatter Pass, which connects the beauty of the Keswick Valley to Buttermere and beyond. Here magnificent nature predominates, and as you take a walk which skirts Crummock Water, you can see the stirring views of the high mountains surrounding this pretty vale.

Completing the walk at the hamlet of Buttermere, you enjoy a pub lunch and afterwards walk along the picturesque shore of Buttermere Lake, before boarding the coach to ride over Honister Pass and back to the hotel via Borrowdale.

There is time to refresh at the hotel and enjoy its beautiful surroundings, before heading back into Keswick, where you enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

The Vale of Grasmere, Rydal Mount; 5.5 miles, easy to moderate. Optional Loughrigg Fell walk; 1 mile, moderate

Today you meander through one of the region’s prettiest dales, walking in the area around two of the smaller lakes, Grasmere and Rydal Water and in the footsteps of William Wordsworth, one of England’s most famous poets of the early 19th century. You begin the walk around the valley along level tracks enjoying lovely views along the way. If you are feeling more adventurous, you ascend Loughrigg. This wooded fell hill was the backdrop for scenes filmed in the latest Beatrix Potter film. A free lunch is taken in the village of Grasmere, where you approach Dove Cottage, Wordworth’s first home. The day is complete with a walk to his last home at Rydal Mount, where you take a tour and admire the views and the gardens he designed.

At day’s end, you transfer to the next hotel on the itinerary, located on the edge of the lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere. Here a warm welcome awaits, and later enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by the hotel’s chef. Local favorites such as steak and ale pie or delicious Cumbrian beef are presented.

Beatrix Potter’s Tarns over Windermere; 5.5 miles, easy to moderate

Following a full English breakfast, you set off for a walk that provides superb vistas across Lake Windermere—the region’s second deepest lake—snaking its way between the hills of the Southern Lakeland. Departing on foot from the hotel, you board the ferry to cross the lake, and once on land, amble up an easy path past small mountain tarns with open distant views of the undulating and treeless central hills. At the highest point of Latterbarrow, a maximum of about a 650-foot elevation gain, there are superb 360-degree views of all of the Lakeland. From this point, you descend to the charming village of Hawkshead for lunch in a traditional 18th-century pub featuring home-cooked fare. Not only the home of the poet William Wordsworth, Hawkshead was also the home of Beatrix Potter, and there is time to visit the gallery of her original paintings in a beautiful 17th-century building. The pedestrian streets, squares, and quant architecture of this ancient market town invite exploration. Later, you climb aboard a minibus returning to the lakeside ferry, in turn to reach your hotel, where your evening is free to explore the town of Keswick on the shore of Windermere Lake, and eat in a local pub or restaurant.

Coniston and the Copper Mines Valley; 4.7 miles, moderate

Coniston is a charming locale alive with history that reaches back to Roman times. Today you explore the famous Copper Mines Valley, a source of this valuable metal through the 19th century. In the 20th century, Coniston gained recognition as the site of Donald Campbell’s speedboat record attempts. After a morning walk you picnic by a mountain stream. This afternoon hardier souls can attempt an ascent to Lever Waters tarn (the name for a small mountain lake in Cumbria). Coniston Old Man is the mountain towering over the village and lake. Despite its relatively low height of 2,600 feet it forms a grand ridge with an east-facing escarpment. On our descent on clear days you can see breathtaking views over Morecambe Bay and the hills of Wales. If you decide not to take this option, you can descend into Coniston Village and visit the Ruskin and Campbell Museum. This museum is a celebration of the area’s heritage with exhibits relating to slate mining, geology, the copper mines, and Donald Campbell himself. You may then board the restored Victorian steam yacht “Gondola” for a ride on Lake Coniston.

This evening you toast your explorations with a farewell drink and celebratory dinner in a local restaurant.

Transfer to Penrith

Departing the hotel, you board the minibus, and transfer to the mainline train station of Penrith for your next destination.