2-Day Walking Package

Wednesday 27th December – Welcome Evening

Welcome Evening in Keswick at 7.30pm is a chance for everyone to meet up for a drink and social evening. The Country Adventures trip leader will also be on hand to answer any questions about the planned guided walks. If you’re unable to make it to the Welcome Evening, the Trip Notes detail everything you need to know about the trip including walk meeting times.

Thursday 28th December – Day Walk & Social

Walk: Grade 3 to 4 – Newlands Valley, High Spy & Derwent Water

Distance 10 miles (16km)
Highest Point  2131 ft (649m)
Total Ascent 2300 ft (701m)

Today’s complimentary transport will take us from the centre of Keswick in the morning to Little Town, nr Keswick, for the start of the day’s guided mountain walk. Our trail for the day is a wonderful walk through the Newlands Valley, past waterfalls and old copper mines as we steadily ascend up to Dale Head Tarn and finally up onto the mountain top of High Spy fell, for some of the finest Lakeland mountain vistas. Once on the summit, the mountain trail continues for 2 miles and gradually descends towards Derwent Water, often referred to as the Queen of the Lakes for its scenic beauty. The final section of today’s guided walk is along The Cumbria Way before finishing the day back in Keswick.

In the evening, a reservation will be made at a local Lakeland pub or local restaurant where the group can meet up for an evening meal together to round off a perfect day’s walk.

Friday 29th December – Day Walk

Walk: Grade 3 – Castlerigg Stone Circle and Bleaberry Fell

Distance 8 miles (12.9km)
Highest Point  1935 ft (590m)
Total Ascent 2035 ft (620m)

We’ll start the day from the impressive and historic setting of Castlerigg Stone Circle, an ancient stone circle older than Stonehenge. The guided walk then continues along a good trail, firstly heading up to Walla Cragg, home to the peregrine falcon and also fantastic views overlooking the lake in Keswick, before we make our steady ascent to the highest point of the day, the summit of Bleaberry Fell which stands at 1909 ft, and will make for a superb lunch stop. After which, we will descend towards Keswick via a delightful path beside a hidden gorge and wooded crags.

The walk will finish in the centre of Keswick for those leaving today after the walk.

3-Day Walking Package

In addition to what’s included in the 2-day walking option, the 3-day package also includes the Friday social evening and Saturday guided walk.

Friday 29th December – Social Evening

Following the walk on Friday, guests straying for the 3-day walking package will head to the Keswick Brewery for  complimentary drinks.

Saturday 30th December – Day Walk

Walk: Grade 2 – Latrigg and Old Keswick Railway Line

Distance 6 miles (9.6km)
Highest Point  1207 ft (368m)
Total Ascent 1128 ft (344m)

Alfred Wainwright said it perfectly – “Latrigg is to Keswick what Loughrigg is to Ambleside and Helm Crag to Grasmere: a small hill, an excellent viewpoint, a great favourite of local folk and visitors.”

With views overlooking the whole of Keswick, Latrigg is a wonderful, easy to moderate, hill-walk, taking in open country and woodlands. Today’s walk also includes the Keswick Old Railway Line which has been wonderfully restored after the 2015 floods and refurbished with new features.

The walk, and the 3-day trip, will finish in Keswick by 3pm

Essential Info

Accommodation

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

Keswick Information Centre accommodation listings for Keswick

Booking.com search for accommodation in or near to Keswick, Cumbria

YHA Keswick a wonderful hostel with private rooms based in Keswick

We recommend booking accommodation in, or near to Keswick, for easy reach to the meeting point for the walks.

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.

Optional social evenings in Keswick is organised by Country Adventures, where the group can go for a drink and enjoy an evening meal together.

Transport

For guided walking holidays 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 charge for this.

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 (Grade 3 to 4) 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. A good level of fitness and stamina is required.

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 on any of the equipment requirements, please do not hesitate to ask.

Trip 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 trips, we are unable to provide refunds if unfortunately, you miss the departure time.

Meeting Point

27th Welcome Evening – 7.30pm please meet outside Moot Hall, Keswick

Walk Days – 9.20am please meet outside Moot Hall, Keswick

Address: Moot Hall (Visitor Information Centre), Market Square, Keswick CA12 5JR

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