Day 1. Welcome to the Lakes
We pick you up from your door and journey to Keswick. Tea/coffee on arrival.
Day 2. Hawkshead and Wild Cat Island cruise
We travel via Thirlmere to the picturesque Lakeland village of Hawkshead, for a lunch break. The Beatrix Potter Gallery, a 17th Century building, was once the office of the local solicitor William Heelis, who married Beatrix Potter in 1913 and has remained largely unaltered since his day. We continue to Coniston, surrounded by the mighty Coniston Fells. We enjoy the Wild Cat Island lake cruise famously featured in the 1970s film ‘Swallows and Amazons’.
Day 3. Spectacular Ullswater
We journey via the shores of Ullswater, one of the most dramatic lakes in Cumbria, enjoying the spectacular views of mountains, plunging down to the lake, which inspired Wordsworth to compose his poem ‘Daffodils’. We continue via the spectacular Kirkstone Pass to Bowness, where we break for lunch. We return via Kendal, famous for its Mint Cake.
Day 4. Dove Cottage and Keswick
We travel to Grasmere. In 1799 William Wordsworth arrived in Grasmere aged 29, largely unknown and writing innovative poetry in a new style. Whilst living at Dove Cottage with his family, Wordsworth wrote many of his greatest poems and his sister Dorothy kept her Grasmere journal. The museum tells the story of Wordsworth’s radical and creative life through a collection of handwritten manuscripts, journals, letters, published poetry and personal items. We return for an afternoon at leisure in Keswick. A lovely market town, beautifully situated in the shadow of Skiddaw. Our hotel is right in the heart of the town and there are easy walks to the shores of Derwentwater, where you can take a boat trip around the lake.
Day 5. Homeward Journey
Sadly, we wave goodbye to our hosts at the Skiddaw Hotel, arriving late afternoon for our taxis home.