Explore every corner of the English Lake District – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – where impressive mountains are mirrored in tranquil lakes.
Escape the crowds in the wild and undeveloped Western Fells, where contrasting natural landscapes provide diverse and secluded walking.
Wander quiet lanes in beautiful Lakeland villages such as Coniston, Boot and Grasmere, and enjoy their delightful local hospitality.
Enjoy wonderful views across the many lakes that give the region its name, including Lake Windermere – England’s largest lake.
Sample locally-brewed ales in traditional English Pubs which brew their own beer, such as the Strands Inn and Brewery in the small village of Nether Wasdale.
Walk amongst some of England’s highest peaks, like the awe-inspiring Scafell Pike and the spectacular Helvellyn.
The Tour of the Lake District circuit will take you on a true highlights tour of the magnificent Lake District National Park. Enjoy majestic views across Lake Coniston and Derwentwater, picture-perfect villages like Rosthwaite and Grasmere, and the dramatic steep-sided valleys of Borrowdale and Eskdale.
The route provides a taste of both extremes of the Lakes. On the one hand, you’ll visit the historic market towns of Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick – lively centres which boast a fantastic array of quality restaurants, pubs and art galleries. The local literary culture is ever-present, where you can enjoy a visit to the home of poet William Wordsworth and the World of Beatrix Potter.
But the Tour of the Lake District also leaves the crowds behind, heading deep into the Western Fells. In the quiet valleys of Eskdale and Wasdale, you’ll meet fewer fellow travellers, but experience warm hospitality in traditional Lakeland pubs.
Skirting between some of England’s most iconic mountains, The Old Man of Coniston, Scafell Pike, Skiddaw and Helvellyn, there is no end of inspiring views. It is a rare opportunity to see some unspoiled corners of Britain’s most inspiring natural landscapes, coupling calming wilderness with bustling civilisation.
Our most popular itinerary is TLD3 which covers the route in 8 days / 9 nights.
Arrive in the bustling town of Windermere, last stop on the Lakes Railway Line. Windermere has been the main arrival point for visitors to the Lake District since Victorian times.
Leaving Windermere, a gentle start to your walk will contour through forest and pasture above England’s largest lake, to the compact town of Ambleside. Beyond Ambleside, you’ll climb Loughrigg Fell and enjoy one of the best views in the central Lake District, before passing the entrance to the famous Langdale Valley at Elterwater.
End the day at Coniston village by Coniston Water – inspiration for Swallows and Amazons.
Today you’ll leave the busy central Lakes and head into the quieter Western Fells. Skirt the shoulder of one of England’s most iconic mountains, The Old Man of Coniston, then drop into the wild and almost deserted Duddon Valley.
From here, a gradual climb takes you up and over into the green and beautiful valley of Eskdale, dominated at its head by Scafell Pike – the highest mountain in England.
A short day begins amongst the quiet and picturesque villages of Boot and Eskdale Green, with valley and riverside walking. Follow the route of ‘Ratty’ – a narrow-gauge steam railway originally built to service the Victorian mine at Eskdale, but now maintained for visitors.
End today at the mouth of the Wasdale Valley in the village of Nether Wasdale – fortunately blessed with its own microbrewery.
From Nether Wasdale you’ll head straight up the Wasdale Valley – its dramatic head looming gradually closer, made up of iconic mountains such as Great Gable and Scafell Pike. After passing the historic Wasdale Head Inn, a sustained climb takes you up and over into the unspoilt and undeveloped Ennerdale Valley.
A second ascent over Scarth Gap brings you to the beautiful, tree-lined shore of Lake Buttermere, and into Buttermere village.
Today sees a gradual return to the busier half of the Lake District, but via rarely-trodden paths. Head out of Buttermere and climb up the valley alongside Sail Beck, then down into the pastoral Newlands Valley.
Peaceful riverside walking takes you to the village of Portinscale, and then a short stretch into the bustling town of Keswick.
The route swings south into Borrowdale – one of the most stunning of the Lakeland valleys. Picture-perfect villages nestle in the green and pleasant valley, surrounded on all sides by dramatic peaks. From Borrowdale you’ll strike uphill onto the High Fells, crossing the Greenup Edge pass at 600m.
End the day in charming Grasmere, home of Wordsworth’s Cottage and Sarah Nelson’s famous Grasmere Gingerbread Shop.
From Grasmere there is a lot more climbing to do. The route crosses over the Helvellyn range – either over the pass at Grisedale Tarn (570m), or for the more adventurous, via the summit of Helvellyn, England’s 3rd highest mountain. The route drops down to Patterdale on the shore of Ullswater.
Completing the loop, your final day takes you back to Windermere via some satisfying back roads. Follow the Goldrill Beck to the charming hamlet of Hartsop, before heading into the hills once more for a few final miles of wilderness.
Pass by the villages of Town Head and Troutbeck before traversing the fields above Windermere. Orrest Head provides a fitting viewpoint to look back on the Lakeland Fells that you’ve circumnavigated, before heading down into Windermere and returning to bustling civilisation.
After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful Tour of the Lake District.
Your Tour of the Lake District walking holiday includes:
Your walking holiday doesn't include:
We offer 5 suggested itineraries for walking the Tour of the Lake District.
Our most popular itinerary is TLD3 which covers the route in 8 days.
All of the accommodation that we reserve for you has been personally selected by our expert team to ensure it meets our exacting standards. We regularly review our extensive database.
We will always prioritise accommodation as close to the walking trail as possible. Occasionally, your accommodation may be located a short distance from the trail, or you may need to spend more than one night in the same place, in which case we will provide return transfers.
As an environmentally conscious tour operator, we actively encourage the use of public transport by providing clients with a detailed breakdown of travel options in their information packs. The following information may help with your pre-trip planning.
Nearest International Airports: Manchester Airport, Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport
There is a regular train service from Manchester Airport to Oxenholme Railway Station in the Lake District (journey time 1 hours 29 min). From both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports, there are regular express buses into the city centre, where you can connect with train services to Oxenholme.
From Oxenholme Railway Station, you can take a connecting train to Windermere Railway Station, and the journey time is approximately 20 minutes.
Nearest Railway Station: Windermere Railway Station
Windermere Railway Station is served by regular services from Oxenholme Railway Station on the West Coast Main Line. The journey takes just 20 minutes. From Oxenholme, there are regular services direct from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
If you plan to travel by car, it may be possible to leave it in Windermere for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you when your booking is confirmed.
We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the Tour of the Lake District.
You may wish to plan a rest day or have an additional night at any of the locations along the route which offer activities or sightseeing opportunities – we’ve made some suggestions below. Please request this when you make an enquiry.
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Contact us via email:
enquiries@absoluteescapes.com