Fri 9th December 2022
Date
2 Walking Days
Duration
Lake District
Location
2
Grade

Windermere Christmas Walking Weekend

Join us for this year’s Windemere Christmas Walking Weekend, our final trip of 2022. It promises to be a memorable Lake District walking weekend full of scenic guided country walks including Latterbarrow, Brantfell, Claife Heights and Orrest Head – all great walks with elevated views over Lake Windermere.

Plus, we’ll have enjoyable social evenings, and on top of that, during the weekend the Windermere Christmas Festive market will be happening, so you’ll have time to treat yourself to some fine Lakeland delicacies.

Highlights

  • Lake District scenic walking
  • Stunning views
  • Wainwrights first Lakeland fell
  • Windermere Festive Market
  • Enjoyable social evenings
INCLUDED
2 days of scenic guided walking Social evenings
Experienced guide Trip leader throughout
Transport for the walk(s)
NOT INCLUDED
Meals and drinks
Accommodation

 

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

Additional information

Min Age18
1

Friday – (Optional) Welcome Day

Friday Welcome Evening (optional) is 7pm in Windermere. It’s a chance for everyone on the weekend to meet and the Country Adventures trip 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 and the walks.

At 2.30pm from Windermere there is a Country Adventures guided walk if you are able to arrive early. The walk is a Grade 1 walk of 4 miles & 450 ft of ascent, taking in the summit of Brantfell overlooking Bowness-on-Windermere with great views looking down onto Lake Windermere. After the walk, we can go for dinner in Bowness-on-Windermere where there’s a perfect pub serving fantastic food.

2

Saturday - Walk Day

Grade 2 – Claife Heights & Latterbarrow 8.5 miles (13.6km), with 1548 ft (472m) of ascent

The day begins with taking the Windermere ferry (included in the trip price) and crossing to Windermere’s West Shore to start our days walk which takes in many walk highlights including the idyllic lakeshore, picturesque landscape of Claife Heights a Victorian viewing station looking out across the Lake Windermere and hidden tarns. Our main summit of the day is Latterbarrow as featured in Wainwright’s book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’ and has a great viewpoint over Lake Windermere and views towards Lakelands fells.

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

3

Sunday - Walk Day & Departure Day

Grade 2 – Orrest Head & Troutbeck 6 miles (9.6km), with 873 ft (266m) of ascent

Orrest Head was Alfred Wainwrights first Lake District summit he encountered when he visited the region as a young man from his home in nearby Lancashire. The view from Orrest Head undoubtedly had a lasting impression resulting him eventually relocating to the Lake District and dedicating his life to walking and publishing his famous pictorial guides to the Lakeland fells.

Our walk takes in the summit of Orrest Head and the nearby Troutbeck village.

The walking weekend will finish in Windermere between 3-4pm.

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:

Windermere Information Centre accommodation listings and booking

Booking.com search for accommodation in Windermere, and Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria

We recommend booking accommodation in, or near to Windermere, or Bowness-on-Windermere, 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 Windermere is organised by Country Adventures, where the group can meet up 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 extra charge for this, it is included in the trip 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 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

Welcome Evening – 7pm in Windermere (meeting point details will be provided in your final booking confirmation)

Walking Days – 9.45am in Windermere (meeting point details will be provided in your final booking confirmation)

Address: Windermere, LA6 3HX

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