Travel: The Lake District beckons walkers

Famous throughout the world for its dramatic mountains, glistening lakes, tranquil forests and fells, the iconic landscape of England's Lake District has long inspired some of our country's best-known artists and writers.
Lake DistrictLake District
Lake District

In particular, the Romantic Poets of the 18th and 19th centuries including William Wordsworth, John Ruskin and Samuel Coleridge were hugely affected by their surrounds here as was much-loved children’s author, Beatrix Potter whose beautifully illustrated stories have captivated our minds and imaginations for over a century.

As part of the 2016 literary events to celebrate Potter’s 150th anniversary, specialist walking and cycling tour operator, Headwater – www.headwater.com – is delighted to introduce a brand new hand-crafted, six night, self-guided walk which follows in the footsteps of the great literary legends and explores the very best of the South Lakes National Park.

The walk starts in the heart of Wordsworth country, in the popular waterside village of Grasmere, home to St Oswald’s Church - Wordsworth’s final resting place – and close to the majestic Rydal Hall (the poet’s family home) and Gardens.

Lake DistrictLake District
Lake District

From the tranquil Lake shores, our gentle route – this holiday has been classed as ‘easy’ one-boot+ walking level – descends into the breathtaking Great Langdale Valley where we join the famed Cumbria Way walking trail to tiny Elterwater, the smallest of the Park’s 16 lakes and home to huge Whooper Swans from Scandinavia!

It’s then on beneath the imposing Old Man of Coniston – (the highest fell in the local area at 803 metres – to the pristine shores of Coniston Water and postcard-pretty Brantwood, former lakeside residence of Victorian writer and philosopher, John Ruskin - open to the public and filled with wonderful paintings, beautiful furnishings and a collection of his personal treasures.

The final stretch of our walk heads into peaceful Grizedale Forest – a shaded gem sandwiched between Coniston and Windermere, and offering superb lake and mountain views and, bizarrely, a unique collection of sculptures hidden away in the trees!

The route ends in Hawkshead village where Beatrix Potter fans can visit her Gallery and former home – both now National Trust properties – and pretty Cottage Garden, the inspiration for many of her tales!

Lake DistrictLake District
Lake District

The accommodation on this holiday is three and four-star throughout and has been hand-picked to reflect the very best the Lakes has to offer: a historic country home in Grasmere – with riversde gardens, award-winning restaurant and organic spa and indoor pool – a beautiful waterside house (once a favourite haunt of Charles Darwin!) on the shores of Lake Coniston, and a traditional C17 coaching inn – renonwed for its fine ales! – in the centre of Hawkshead village.

Travel Facts

This six-night, self-guided holiday departs daily starting on Friday, 15 July through to Sunday, 30 October inclusive and costs £599 per person including six nights B&B hotel accommodation, a welcome dinner, luggage transfer between hotels, detailed maps and meticulous walking route notes plus 24/7 support from Headwater on 01606 822 675 or email [email protected]