Fri 23rd August 2019
Date
3 Walking Days
Duration
Lake District
Location
4,3,2
Grade

Ambleside Walking Holiday

 

For August Bank Holiday 2019 our Ambleside Walking Holiday will feature a collection of Wainwright routes, including High Street with its panoramic views of Haweswater and Kentmere.

Highlights

  • Fully guided Lake District walking holiday
  • Dramatic mountain landscapes
  • 3 days of scenic guided walks
  • Panoramic vistas from High Street
  • Relaxed and friendly social evenings
INCLUDED
3 days of scenic guided walking Social evenings
Experienced guide Accommodation (optional)
Tour leader throughout
Transport for the walk(s)
NOT INCLUDED
Spending money
Meals and drinks

 

Accommodation at YHA Ambleside (Optional)

YHA Ambleside, situated on the shores of Lake Windermere, offers an unbeatable location, stunning views and state of the art facilities for people looking for a base right in the centre of the Lake District National Park. YHA Ambleside is a 4 Star YHA shared bunkroom type accommodation with modern restaurant and bar area. The hostel has a private onsite car park, with alternative Pay & Display and free roadside parking nearby. Private rooms are subject to availability, please contact us before booking if you require a private.

 

YHA Ambleside, Lake District, Cumbria

If you prefer to find your own accommodation, please click on the ‘Trip Notes’ tab for alternative accommodation suggestions and please contact us for a holiday price without YHA Ambleside accommodation, before booking.

Additional information

Min Age18
1

Friday – (Optional) Welcome Evening

Check in at YHA Ambleside is from 2pm and the Friday Welcome Evening (optional) is 8.30pm at the hostel. It’s a chance for everyone on the holiday to meet and the Country Adventures tour leader will be on hand to answer any questions about the planned walks. If you’re unable to make it to the Welcome Evening, the booking confirmation will detail everything you need to know about the weekend.

2

Saturday - Walk Day

Grade 4 walk – Kentmere, Mardale Bell & High Street 10 miles (16.5km), with 2647 ft (807m) of ascent

Country Adventures transport will take us to the start of today’s guided walk starting from the remote Lakeland setting of the Kentmere valley. Our route takes in Kentmere reservoir, Mardale Ill Bell, Nan Bield Pass and the top of the old Roman Road of High Street. The terrain is a mix of grassy paths and rugged mountain trails that offer a stunning panorama including mountain tarns and lakes and the home of the last Golden Eagle that resided in the Lake District. The walk finishes in Troutbeck, nr Windermere, at the Mortal Man Lakeland Inn where the transport for the day will take us back to Ambleside.

In the evening, an optional social evening is planned in Ambleside, where the group can meet up for a drink and enjoy an evening meal together.

3

Sunday - Walk Day

Grade 3-4 walk – Middle Dodd & Red Screes 9 miles (14.4km), with 2645 ft (806m) of ascent

‘The high whale-backed mass of Red Screes, rising in a graceful curve from the head of Windermere’ is how Alfred Wainwright introduced Red Screes in Book One of his pictorial guide to the Lake District fells. Red Screes is a fine mountain walk which affords rewarding views above Windermere and towards the Coniston Fells.

For tonight’s social evening, Country Adventures will organise meeting up for drinks and an optional meal in Ambleside.

4

Monday - Walk Day & Departure Day

Grade 2 – Jenkins Crag & Wansfell 6.5 miles (10.4km), with 1440 ft (439m) of ascent

Departure day. Check out is 10am but for anybody wishing to spend a little more time in the area there is an (optional) 3rd day of walking.

The holiday finishes back at YHA Ambleside between 2-3pm.

Essential Info

Accommodation

The optional accommodation for the Ambleside walking holiday is YHA Ambleside, Lake District. Rooms are shared male and shared female bunkrooms and the package includes 3 nights bed with breakfast.

If you require help with booking alternative accommodation you may find the following links useful:

Ambleside Online Selection of Hotels and Guest Houses in Ambleside

Booking.com Search for accommodation in or near to Ambleside, Cumbria

Food & Drink

Meals included during the holiday: All breakfasts (with YHA Ambleside accommodation option).

For the walk(s) please bring with you a packed lunch and refreshments. Occasionally on some guided walks (Grade 1 to 2 walks) we may pass a country inn or tea room where if we have time we can call in, however having a packed lunch with you gives the group the freedom to have lunch wherever we are on the walking route. YHA Ambleside has a well equipped self catering kitchen with fridges and storage space to enable you to store snacks and packed lunch items if you wish to prepare your own packed lunches. Alternatively, packed lunches for the walks can be purchased from the hostel (approx. £6.25) or from the local convenience stores in Ambleside.

On Saturday and Sunday evening, an optional social evening in the centre of Ambleside is organised by Country Adventures, where the group can meet up for a drink and enjoy an evening meal together.

Transport

For guided walking tours that require transport from the meeting point to the start of the walk, we use a minibus or where necessary local transport. There is no extra charge for this, it is included in the tour price.

Fitness Levels

Our walks are by no means designed to be endurance tests where everyone sets off at a blistering pace. Far from it, it’s about a fine day in the hills in good company enjoying the best of fell walking with exceptional views but it is important to state that for everyone’s walking enjoyment walking does require a minimum level of fitness and stamina.  Hill / Mountain walking experience is not essential as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness.  For the higher level graded walks (i.e. Challenging Grade) it is advisable that you are someone who enjoys regular cardio exercise or have experience of mountain walking and have the stamina/ leg strength in order to be better prepared for longer sections of uphill & downhill walking associated with higher mountain treks.

Walking Grades Explained

Grade 1 (Leisurely) Normally 5-8 miles, may include gentle ascents and descents of up to a total 1100ft of ascent and similar descent over a day’s walk.  Easier scenic walking at lower altitudes along paths and tracks.

Grade 2 (Moderate) Normally 6-10 miles on paths and tracks, between 800ft – 1700ft of total ascent and similar descent.  Longer walks, on hills and moorland.

Grade 3 (Moderate Mountain) Normally ranging from 6-10 miles, between 1700ft – 2600ft of ascent, similar descent.  Longer walks, over higher ground with possibly steeper ups and downs on paths and tracks.

Grade 4 (Challenging) Normally ranging from 8-13 miles, between 1500ft – 3000+ft of ascent, similar descent, over undulating mountain terrain, walking at higher levels with steep ups and downs.  Suitable for people with a good level of fitness.

Kit List

What you need to bring with you for the walks

  • Good, comfortable walking boots with a cleated sole and good ankle support are essential.
  • Waterproof jacket and over-trousers.
  • Warm, dry walking clothing. Unsuitable clothing includes Jeans or cotton tracksuit bottoms and cotton t-shirts (cotton is a poor insulating fabric and when wet it takes a long time to dry, which can lead to a rapid loss of body heat as well as being uncomfortable).
  • A number of thin layers are better than one thick/ heavy jumper. We suggest a fleece for extra warmth especially when we stop on the hills for lunch.
  • Hat and gloves (even in summer – any wind chill on the mountain tops will lead to cooler temperatures).
  • Sunglasses, sun cream.
  • Hot or cold drinks (i.e. a minimum of 2 litres of water).
  • Plenty of food and drink for lunch and snacks.
  • A rucksack large enough to carry it all in (20-30 litres), ideally with a waterproof liner.
  • Any medication you need.
  • Thermos flask. We recommend bringing warm drinks with you, as even on sunny days it can occasionally feel cooler, especially on the summits of the higher-level mountain walks.
  • Walking poles (if you use them).
  • A towel (if staying at the YHA).

We want you to enjoy your time with Country Adventures and have the best possible adventure experience. Please be aware that if any participants are not properly equipped for the walk (i.e. with walking boots and waterproofs), at the guide’s discretion we reserve the right to not allow them on the walk for reasons of safety for both the individual and the group. If you need clarification any of the equipment requirements, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Tour Schedule & Activity Meeting Times

Please ensure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the meeting point at the required time. The transport for our day walks will leave promptly at the stated time and due to the nature of scheduled tours, we are unable to provide refunds if unfortunately, you miss the departure time.

Meeting Point

Please meet at YHA Ambleside, details will be included with your final booking confirmation.

Address: YHA Ambleside, Waterhead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0EU

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Lake District High Street walk
High Street summit, Lake District
Lake District High Street walk
Lake District walking on High Street
Lake District High Street walk
Lake District High Street walk

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