Fri 28th August 2020

Date

2 Walking Days

Duration

Lake District

Location

4,2

Grade

Ambleside Walking Holiday

For August Bank Holiday 2020 our Ambleside walking weekend holiday features two quality Wainwright routes. On Saturday we’ll be walking the classic mountain trail of High Street with its panoramic views of Haweswater and Kentmere.

On Sunday, to compliment Saturday’s big day, we’re keeping the route lower but its lack of height doesn’t diminish the quality of the walk up to Latterbarrow, which featured in Alfred Wainwright’s book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’. It’s a wonderful walk with fine views overlooking Windermere, England’s largest water.

Highlights

Fully guided Lake District walking weekend
Dramatic mountain landscapes
2 days of scenic guided walks
Panoramic vistas from High Street
Enjoyable social evenings

INCLUDED

2 days of scenic guided walking	Social evenings
Experienced guide	Tour leader throughout
Transport for the walk(s)

NOT INCLUDED

Spending money
Meals and drinks

Accommodation for this tour is not included. For accommodation information and all essential tour information please click on the ‘Trip Notes’ tab.

Additional information

Min Age	18

Friday – (Optional) Welcome Evening

Friday Welcome Evening (optional) is 8.30pm in the bar at YHA Ambleside. It’s a chance for everyone on the walking weekend 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.

Saturday - Walk Day

Grade 4 walk – High Street & Mardale Bell 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. With a long descent, the walk finishes in Troutbeck, nr Windermere, at the Queens Head 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.

Sunday - Walk & Departure Day

Grade 2 – Claife Heights & Latterbarrow 7.5 miles (12km), with 1394 ft (425m) of ascent

In the morning we will cross Windermere using the Ferry and walk along the western shores of Windermere before heading up onto the hillside of Latterbarow, which for its height, grants some of the finest panoramic views of the Lake District.

The walking weekend finishes back at YHA Ambleside between 3.30-4.30pm.

Essential Info

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included as part of this tour. If you require help with booking accommodation you may find the following links useful:.

Ambleside Online Selection of Hotels and Guest Houses in Ambleside

YHA Ambleside Hostel

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

We recommend booking accommodation in, or near to, Castleton for easy reach to the meeting point for both the walks and social evenings.

Food & Drink

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.

On Saturday 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).

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.