England's Lakelands, Fells and Valleys
The Cotswolds, Lake District and Peak District
12
day tour
Distance:
Walks cover
4-8 miles a day
Grading: Easy and Easy/Moderate
ITINERARY
Days 1-4
Suggest a morning departure from your London hotel, you should head westwards to the beautiful Cotswold Hills. Stop en route at the famous ancient chalk hill figure, the White Horse of Uffington, where legend tells us that St George slew the dragon.
Have lunch in Avebury, the site of the largest ancient stone circle in Britain, before continuing up to the Cotswolds.
There will be time for a gentle walk along the banks of the River Coln to the picturesque village of Bibury, famously described by the Victorian poet, William Morris, as the most beautiful village in England, and neighboring Arlington, with its famous row of visually beautiful weaver's cottages and mill.
You can indulge in a delicious afternoon tea here at the elegant Swan Hotel before leaving for the historical Cotswold village, Stow-on-the-Wold. There will then be time to get settled in your comfortable Inn before a pleasant evening meal in a relaxed setting.
The next day you'll enjoy a walk full of scenic beauty and historic interest. You can visit a prehistoric burial chamber, or Neolithic long barrow, one of the most impressive in the area, dating back to 3000 BC.
Then you can walk on for lunch in Winchcombe, once a flourishing Cotswold 'wool town', it has an impressive 15th century 'wool church' and streets full of character. You will pass magnificent Sudeley Castle, once the home of Queen Catherine Parr, the sixth and last wife of King Henry VIII, and end the walk at the picturesque ruins of Hailes Abbey, which date back to 1246AD.
The following morning your walk
will start from the lovely hamlet of Stanway, where the author
J.M. Barrie, of Peter Pan fame was a regular visitor in the early 1900's.
Here you'll see Stanway House and its beautiful 17th century gatehouse, before continuing on to Snowshill at the top of the Cotswold escarpment.
After lunch in the village pub, you can visit Snowshill Manor and its amazing collection of crafts from musical instruments, clocks and toys to Japanese armor to name a few. So famous were the collections of the eccentric owner, Charles Wade, they once attracted such distinguished figures as J.B. Priestly, John Betjeman and Queen Mary, all frequent visitors.
Your final day in the Cotswolds we suggest is a break from walking to enjoy at your leisure. You can visit the beautiful grounds and home of Blenheim Palace, the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill.
Or perhaps you would prefer to relax and soak up some of the local culture and history of the area around you.
The choice is yours.
Following our morning departure for the Lake District you should stop for lunch in the old Roman City of Chester in Cheshire. This city's center is enclosed by what was originally an old Roman Wall. This can be walked along, passing ancient and historical sites such as a Roman amphitheatre and garden as well as the beautiful Chester Cathedral and the wonderful Tudor buildings with their two-tiered galleries of shops and cafes, known as the 'rows'.
Later in the day you will be welcomed at your accommodation in the pretty village of Grasmere, in the heart of the Lake District.
Over the next few days you shall enjoy some of the most incredible scenery in all of Britain.
You'll visit two of the great poet's homes and the churchyard where he was buried.
You'll take in magnificent vistas of bracken and heather covered fells and mountains that guard tranquil lakes and picturesque villages full of character and history.
One of the days can take you up two of the most spectacular mountain passes in the country to walk around the remains of an impressive Roman fort. Built between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, it commands a dramatic position 1300 feet above sea level with expansive views from the mountains to the coast.
You can also walk to beautiful Blea Tarn, situated between two of the prettiest valleys in the Lake District, Little Langdale and Great Langdale. At the latter of these you can enjoy the refreshments and atmosphere of an authentic climbers pub, The Old Dungeon Ghyll, before taking in the peaceful setting along the shores of Elter Water.
This lake's name comes from a Norse word meaning 'lake of the swans', and you may well see Whooper swans that still migrate there from Siberia.
Another day shall take you to the more northern lakes where you can walk along a section of the Borrowdale Valley.
Here there are stunning views across the valley of Derwent Water with the majestic mountains and fells surrounding the lake.
After lunching at a riverside café where you can bathe your feet in the cool waters of the River Derwent, you can embark on a delightful lake cruise by ferryboat, around the shores and islands that are unique to Derwent Water, a memorable end to a wonderful day!
On your one day off in the Lake District, there will be the option of a visit to the prettiest of Lakeland villages, Hawkshead. It is easy to spend the whole day wandering the labyrinth of narrow streets and pedestrianised courtyards with their array of fantastic cafes, tearooms and shops.
There are, however, the added attractions of neighboring Near Sawrey, where 'Hill Top', the home of the children's author, Beatrix Potter can be found. Or if you prefer a lovely scenic walk, then there is Tarn Hows, easily reached from Hawkshead and with blue-green waters surrounded by bracken-covered fells and woodlands, it is well worth a visit.
Leaving the beauty of the Lakes behind us, you will head for the gentler, picturesque scenery of the Peak District in Derbyshire.
You will arrive in time for lunch and a wander around the historical village of Eyam, famous for the heroic tale of its occupants during the plague years of 1665 and 1666.
Once the disease was discovered in their village, the people of Eyam courageously decided to cut themselves off from the rest of the country to stop it from spreading further, at the expense of over two thirds of their small population, including whole families wiped out.
After leaving this fascinating village, you can take a short drive to the start of a relatively easy walk, encompassing a superb scenic ridge walk from the summit of a tor, with wonderful views of the Hope Valley and the Vale of Edale, ending in the village of Castleton.
You will then head for your comfortable Inn with time to freshen up before a delicious dinner.
The following day, you can enjoy the varied delights of two different walks. First, you will be provided with one of the most incredible views in the Peak District, along the Monsal Dale, which follows the gentle meandering course of the River Wye through beautiful woodland.
Stopping for lunch in pretty Ashford in the Water, you will then continue south for a short distance to your second walk through Dovedale Valley. This is one of the loveliest valleys in England, with the River Dove winding its way through the limestone ravine of the wooded Dovedale, it will be the perfect finish to the day.
