Your itinerary

Day 1 Penrith

Make your own way to your hotel in the lovely Cumbrian market town of Penrith. On arrival, your Holiday Director will be waiting to greet you. Settle into your room and then meet your fellow travellers over a welcome drink in the cosy bar before dinner is served in the restaurant. (D)

DAY 2 DERWENTWATER

13km/8 miles - 5 hours

After breakfast, we’ll head to Derwentwater, one of the Lake District’s main bodies of water, covering about eight miles along the Cumbrian Way from the village of Rosthwaite to Keswick.

We’ll pass the Wordsworth Museum and see Rydal. A packed lunch will keep us going as we then walk to the shores of Lake Grasmere to take in beautiful views.

Our walk ends in the village of Grasmere, where you might choose to head to St Oswald’s Church, one of the most visited literary shrines in the world. A trip to Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread shop, within the churchyard, is also highly recommended! (B,L,D)

DAY 4 HADRIAN’S WALL

16km/10 miles - 6 hours

YOUR HOTEL

THE GEORGE HOTEL, PENRITH ★★★

The George Hotel is located in the heart of the pretty market town of Penrith and is the perfect base from which to discover the Lake District. The Grade I listed building combines old-world charm with modern facilities, which include a bar, an elegant restaurant and cosy lounge, both with an open fire. Guest rooms feature private facilities, TV, hairdryer, wi-fi and tea/coffeemaking facilities.

Please note: Most walks take place on paths and tracks. Some will be slightly more strenuous and may involve moderate slopes, hills, stiles and foot bridges, which may be rough underfoot. Sturdy walking shoes are essential. Car parking charges may apply – see the hotels website for more details.

We’re going to take a wonderfully scenic route which takes us past rivers and through woodland. We’ll enjoy plenty of rest stops as we go and take in some stunning views. These become even more breathtaking once we arrive at the shores of the lake, which is surrounded by wooded hills. About three miles long and one mile wide, the lake is fed by the River Derwent and is home to several small islands. Just one is inhabited and that’s Derwent Isle, which is home to an 18th century tenanted residence owned by the National Trust. Another, St Herbert’s Island, features in Beatrix Potter’s Squirrel Nutkin story as Owl Island. This is a great spot in which to sit and eat our packed lunch. We’ll then carry on walking, reaching our final destination, the delightful town of Keswick. You’ll find many charming cafés, traditional pubs and some lovely shops if you’d like to hunt for a souvenir. We’ll travel back to the hotel by coach, where we’ll gather for dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 3 LAKE GRASMERE & RYDAL WATER, CIRCULAR WALK

9km/5.5 miles - 3.5 hours

Today we’ll head out for a walk covering about fiveand-a-half miles to Lake Grasmere and the smaller Rydal Water. These two destinations are linked to the poet William Wordsworth, who lived in the villages of Grasmere and Rydal in 1799 and 1813 respectively.

Today we’re going to unravel the fascinating history of Hadrian’s Wall on a walk covering about 10 miles. Our starting point is Walltown and we’ll follow the wall eastwards walking past Cawfields, where we’ll see one of the highest standing sections. We’ll also take in one of the impressive milecastles, or fortresses, built at mile-long intervals along the wall. Later, after we’ve stopped to eat our packed lunch, we’ll pass the popular landmark known as the Sycamore Gap.

We come to a stop today at Housesteads, the remains of a Roman fort. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 DEPART PENRITH

This morning you can take breakfast at your leisure before checking out of the hotel and making your way home. (B)

HOTELS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND WILL BE CONFIRMED WITHIN YOUR FINAL DOCUMENTATION

DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES

2023 Holiday ref: SJWLD

START RETURN FROM PRICE

11 Sep 15 Sep £999

2024 Holiday ref: SJWLD

START RETURN FROM PRICE

13 May 17 May £1179

09 Sep 13 Sep £1199

Please note: 2024 departures accommodation will be a 4-star hotel in Wetheral, all other inclusions remain the same.