Fri 6th April 2018
Date
2 Walking Days
Duration
Lake District
Location
4
Grade

Borrowdale Walking Weekend

With a handpicked selection of mountain guided walks in this incredibly scenic region of the English Lake District, you’re always guaranteed fantastic walking on a Borrowdale Walking Weekend.

Great Gable, Green Gable, Windy Gap, Styhead Tarn, lakeshore of Buttermere, Fleetwith Pike and Castle Crag provide the perfect elements for a quality Lake District walking weekend of memorable scenic mountain walking.

Highlights

  • Fully guided walking weekend holiday
  • Great Gable mountain trail
  • Breath taking mountain scenery
  • Walking several Wainwright summits
  • Enjoyable group social evenings
INCLUDED
2 days of scenic guided walking Social evenings
Experienced guide Tour leader throughout
Transport for the walk(s) Accommodation (optional)
NOT INCLUDED
Meals and drinks
Spending money

 

Accommodation at YHA Borrowdale (Optional)

For the weekend walking holiday we have reserved a number of beds in male shared and female shared bunkrooms at YHA Borrowdale. Accommodation is for 2 nights. YHA Borrowdale provides a full cooked breakfast for an additional £6.25 or, alternatively, you can make use of the fully equipped self-catering facilities. YHA Borrowdale is perfect for walking holidays. Set in a fabulous valley location with fine mountain scenery and offering a warm, informal atmosphere with good food and a bar / lounge to relax after a good day’s walk. The hostel is a longstanding Lake District favourite.

 

YHA Borrowdale, Lake District
YHA Borrowdale, Cumbria

If you prefer to find your own accommodation, please click on the ‘Trip Notes’ tab for alternative accommodation suggestions.

Additional information

Min Age16
1

Friday – (Optional) Welcome Evening

Friday Welcome Evening (optional) is 8.30pm at YHA Borrowdale. It’s a chance for everyone on the 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.

2

Saturday - Walk Day

Grade 4 – Great Gable & Green Gable 9.5 miles (15.2km), with 2942 ft (897m) of ascent

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

3

Sunday - Walk Day & Departure Day

Grade 4 – Fleetwith Pike & Castle Crag 8.5 miles (13.6km), with 2974 ft (907m) of ascent

The walk and holiday finishes between 3.30-4pm.

Essential Info

Accommodation

The optional accommodation for the weekend walking holiday is YHA Borrowdale, Lake District. Rooms are shared male and shared female bunkrooms and the package includes 2 nights, room only.

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

Derwentwater Independent Hostel only 4 miles from YHA Borrowdale. We can arrange complimentary transport to and from the walking meeting point.

YHA Keswick only 7 miles from YHA Borrowdale.

Booking.com search for accommodation in Borrowdale, Cumbria

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

Food & Drink

No meals are included within the packaged price. Breakfasts at YHA Borrowdale are £6.25 and there is also a fully equipped self-catering kitchen if you wish to self-cater.

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 Borrowdale  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).

On Saturday evening, an optional social evening in Borrowdale 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 YHA Borrowdale

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

Welcome Evening – 8.30pm at YHA Borrowdale

Walking Days – 9.30am at YHA Borrowdale

Address: YHA Borrowdale, Longthwaite, Borrowdale, Cumbria, CA12 5XE

Lake District Borrowdale walking
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk
Lake District Great Gable walk

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 5 reviews
August 30, 2017

Joe, you smashed it as ever!! Beautiful location, excellent accommodation, perfect itinerary and great company. Thanks again & looking forward to my next country adventure

August 30, 2017

Total agree with other reviews; I had a great time as ever. Good walking, good company & even the weather played ball, although I need more ‘wiff waff’ practice! Here’s to my next adventure with Joe.

August 30, 2017

Fantastic weekend spent with Joe. Three superb walks in the Borrowdale Valley. Trekking in Glaramara, Robinson, Dale Head and Watlendath on the third day. Never a dull moment and really good company thrown in. Looking forward to another weekend with Country Adventures.

August 30, 2017

Fabulous weekend, Joe had thought of everything which meant we could just relax and enjoy the brilliant walking routes and superb scenery. Great accommodation at YHA Borrowdale with walks from the door straight onto the fells, excellent. Thanks Joe.

August 29, 2017

What’s not to like?! Comfortable accommodation at YHA Borrowdale in beautiful surroundings. Joe is a friendly and knowledgeable Leader who organises everything. So you just put your feet up … boots on and walk. Even the weather was good. I had a lovely time.

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