Please note that this holiday was run in 2011.

Photos of this trip are available here.

The Lake District National Park is the largest National Park in England. We will be visiting in Mid July 2011. The Lakes gives us stunningly beautiful landscapes of craggy mountains (fells) and valleys (dales). There is a vast array of walks available on this holiday for both the peak bagger and the lakeside wanderer. And because we always bring more than one Mountain Leader on these holidays there should be no problem in making sure that everyone gets to do what they want to do.

Accommodation

We'll be staying in a holiday home in the market town of Keswick in the northern lakes. This gives us easy access to the Borrowdale, Buttermere, Seathwaite, Stonethwaite and Honister valleys and fells. Additionally the exceptionally quiet Ennerdale and Wasdale valleys are only a relatively short drive away.  The house has 4 twin bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bed linen is provided. The house also allows a single well behaved dog.

What we'll get up to

Derwent Water

This extensive glacier-formed lake, the Lake District’s third largest, will be right on our doorstep. The Cumbrian Way snakes round it's western shore in the shadow of Cat Bells, a delightful peak that while it is only 300 meters higher than the shoreline offers views that some higher hills envy. This lake offers peace and relaxation whilst being a centre of activity.

Borrowdale

Borrowdale is an idyllic valley in the western Lake District which the River Derwent runs through on its way to Lake Derwent. This valley contains many of the quintessential Lake District features: dry stone walls, gushing waterfalls and a sense of vastness. It is hemmed in by majestic mountains including the highest in England, Scafell Pike.There are a number of challenging routes that we could take to ascend these peaks for those who wish to.

For those interested in trees the ancient Borrowdale Yews can be found at Seathwaite, once selected as some of the 50 Great British trees. Borrowdale also contains idyllic stretches of deciduous woodland which offer easier low level walking routes. Dominated by oaks with their sinuous limbs this woodland supports a plethora of flora and fauna. From the humbleness of its little wooden footbridges and stiles which will guide us on our way to the grand drama of its peaks, Borrowdale offers some of the most engaging walks in the Lake District.

Ennerdale

Ennerdale is situated in the remote western area of the Lake District. It is a retreat from the summer walking crowds. It is possible to walk a full circuit of Ennerdale Waters which is one of the most serene tarns in the Lake District. Some parts of its pebble shores are edged by woodland including attractive copses of silver birch. Other parts are met steeply by mountains which reflect in its waters. Famous peaks, including Pillar, Steeple and Great Gable, can be accessed from Ennerdale. These ascents would be rewarded with splendid views of not only this valley but others too, such as Wasdale and Buttermere. Ennerdale has been undergoing a process of ‘re-wilding’; sheep have been replaced by highland cattle, vehicle access restricted and native species of trees have been encouraged, amongst other things. While ancient native animals such as elk, lynx, wolves and bears are, unfortunately, not present, red squirrels and roe deer are.

Skiddaw / Blencathra mountains and ridges

We usually get one or two people on our holidays who want to stretch their legs a bit and do some high hills and even some scrambling. To the North of Keswick are the hills of Skiddaw and Blencathra. Skiddaw is the fourth highest mountain in the country and Blencathra offers some wonderful scrambling for those with a head for heights who want to try their hand at it. Only an option on dry, still days I'm afraid.

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