Trust. Following the cruise, you’ll have lunch at ‘The Sun’ in Coniston, a 400-year-old pub with exposed beams, stone walls, flagstone floors and a local Brathay slate bar top. It’s situated beneath the Cumbrian Fells and has an elevated view over the village of Coniston. Later you transfer by road coach to Ambleside for the ferry to Wray Castle, a Victorian neo-gothic building with grounds that include part of the shoreline of Lake Windermere. There will be a visit to the castle after which you can explore the adjacent gardens at your leisure. You return to The Belsfield Hotel in Bowness for dinner. (B L D) Sunday 19th June
Scenic cruises on Lake Windermere and Ullswater
This morning you explore the northern half of Lake Windermere on board a classic motor vessel sailing from Bowness to Ambleside at the northernmost extremity of the lake. MV ‘Tern’, is a steam powered yacht built in 1891 and converted to diesel in 1956. After the 30-minute voyage to Ambleside Pier you’ll join a private road coach for the onward journey to Grasmere, where there will be a coffee stop. Continue by coach from Grasmere to Keswick, travelling via Dunmail Raise and Thirlmere. On arrival at Keswick, you enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant before your road coach takes you on to Pooley Bridge. Here, you have an afternoon cruise on one of the celebrated Ullswater ‘Steamers’ on the second largest lake in the Lake District. Ullswater is one of the most beautiful English lakes, comparable to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland because of its mountainous backdrop. You’ll see the spectacular waterfall of Aira Force, midway along the lake on the western side and cruise the length of the lake from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding. You rejoin the road coach for the return journey via scenic country roads to Bowness and enjoy dinner at your hotel in the evening. (B L D)
Monday 20th June
Steam train on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
A tour highlight awaits today as you travel by road coach to Ravenglass, a small coastal village with Roman connections located at the estuary of the rivers Esk, Mite and Irt. The famous 15inch gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (La’al Ratty) has its terminus adjacent to the Cumbrian Coast railway line station. The line runs for 7 miles (11.3 km) from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station near Boot in the Eskdale Valley. You’ll be given a day rover ticket for use on the line, which operates an intensive timetable of steam and diesel trains, so you can explore at your own pace. Options include alighting at intermediate stations to film or photograph the passing trains, and it’s only a short walk from the terminus at Dalegarth to the village of Boot and its two pubs. The railway is popular for its open carriages providing superb sightlines of the surrounding scenery, but there are enclosed carriages depending on the weather. After your day on the railway you return to Windermere by road coach in the late afternoon. You dine with fellow guests at The Belsfield Hotel this evening – a fitting climax to a fabulous tour. (B D) Tuesday 21st June Homeward bound
After breakfast at the hotel you transfer by road coach to Windermere Railway Station. Those passengers who joined the tour at Windermere will travel home independently, the remainder will join a train to Oxenholme Lake District for the return to London Euston again in the First-Class comfort of an Avanti Pendolino train. (B)
Tour Summary Tour price
£1495
Single supplement £165 Ground only £1385 (Windermere – Windermere with own travel to/from Windermere) Price includes: • First Class rail travel from London Euston to Oxenholme Lake District and return by Avanti Trains Pendolino • Standard Class rail travel from Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere (20 minutes)* • 5 nights Half-board hotel accommodation • 2 lunches • All rail and boat trips as detailed in the itinerary • A one day rover ticket for use on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway • All seat reservations and transfers • The services of a tour manager *The First Transpennine Express trains running the short distance between Oxenholme Lake District and Windermere have insufficient first class seats to accommodate our party.
All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner June 2022 Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
30
31
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Sun 5
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Approx. timings London Euston Oxenholme
Outward Return 09:43 14:10 13:21 11:23
UK TOUR – 6 Days
9
