Lake District North

Three full days of sensational walking in the Northern Lakes from two bases on Derwentwater and Ullswater. Each day you have a range of walking options to cater for all tastes and ambitions. Options include climbing England's third and fourth highest peaks, as well as easier alternatives following old coaching roads, along lake shore paths and through pretty villages. We arrange comfortable accommodation in en-suite rooms at hotels and accredited guest houses on your route and we transfer your luggage so your bags are waiting for you when you arrive.

Prices are per person based on twin share and include all accommodation in twin share rooms on bed & breakfast basis, luggage transfer, information pack including maps, route guide, and our emergency contact.

Single rooms are available. We only apply a supplement for single accommodation when there is a direct cost to us and we cap this in line with our ‘Fair pricing’ policy. Solo walkers pay a supplement of £8 per walking day, plus any single room supplement which may be required.

Itinerary

Arriving in Keswick you check into your comfortable accommodation and can explore this interesting town, the capital of the North Lakes. There is a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs to choose from for your evening meal. If you arrive with time to spare, a visit to the lake or to the ancient stone circle at Castlerigg are well worth it.

Day 1: Walk options from Keswick

Option A (easy): A short circular walk taking in the viewpoint of Castle Head and the lake shore. 2 miles. 325ft.

Option B (moderate): Circular walk via Walla Crag and Ashness Bridge. 6½ miles. 1400ft.

Option C (moderate): Cross the lake and ascend Catbells ridge (requires £3.50 for Keswick Launch). 7½ miles. 1500ft.

Option D (hard - strenuous): Ascent of Skiddaw with route options from 7½ miles to 9½ miles. Approximately 3200ft of ascent.

Day 2: Keswick to Ullswater

Option A (moderate)
After a short transfer to Threlkeld, follow an old coach road to the village of Dockray. From here you take a footpath accross the flanks of Watermillock Common and around the head of Glencoyne and below Sheffield Pike to reach Glenridding on the shores of Ullswater
12 miles. 2585ft ascent.

Option B (demanding)
After a short transfer to Threlkeld, you climb the steep slopes of Clough Head to begin a wonderful, roller-coaster of a ridge walk over Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd to Sticks Pass. From here you have the option of a direct descent to Ullswater, or to continue over Raise, the high point of the day, before descending to Glenridding.
11 miles. 3600ft ascent.

Day 3: Walk options from Ullswater

Option A (moderate)
Today's moderate walk ascends the fell which dominates the view across the lake from Glenridding. This is Place Fell - not too difficult, but with a lofty position offering tremndous views over Ullswater and to the fells of the Helvellyn range. A traverse of the summit is followed by a simply delightful stroll back along the quiet Easten shore, or you can shorten the day and enjoy a lake cruise by catching the boat from Howtown back to Glenridding.
8¾ miles. 2275ft ascent (6½ miles with boat from Howtown).

Option B (demanding)
Only for those with a good head for heights, this is one of the finest ridge walks in the Lake District. It begins with an ascent of Birkhouse Moor to the start of the sensational 'Striding Edge' a sensational arête between Red Tarn and Nethermost Cove. The edge requires some basic scrambling although there are 'escape' paths to circumvent the most airy sections. This leads to a final steep ascent of Helvellyn, England's third highest peak and descent is made by the less exposed easier Swirral Edge. There is an option to climb the shapely Catsyecam, before a direct descent to Glenridding via the mines of Greenside.
7½ miles. 3000 ft ascent.

Depart Ullswater

Let us know if you require a transfer to Penrith station or to Keswick and we will arrange this for you (at extra cost).

What's Included

The price includes:

  • All accommodation in twin/double rooms (with private bathroom where available) in guest houses, inns or hotels
  • All breakfasts
  • Luggage transfer between overnight stops
  • A Wandering Aengus information pack containing all necessary maps, a current guide book or our own weather-proof route cards, laminated locator maps for each night's accommodation, and our own weather-proof 'info cards' with local information - including locations and opening times of restaurants, cafes, ATMs, supermarkets etc.
  • Our emergency contact number

Not included:

  • Lunches and evening meals (we provide full details of your options)
  • Extra costs incurred through using escape routes or abandonment of the itinerary
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses such as drinks etc.

Accommodation & Meals

Our Accommodation:

Wandering Aengus Treks are based in the Lake District and we know our accommodation options well. As keen walkers ourselves we appreciate the importance of the place you put your feet up and rest your head in at the end of each day. We very carefully select our accommodations whether they be a cosy pub, family run guest house, or established town centre hotel. We choose places directly on the route or within easy walking distance of it and if we ever have to transfer you because of limited availability, we will always contact you to discuss this and never just leave you to find out later. We provide comfortable, clean and warm twin or double rooms, with private bathroom wherever available. Single occupancy of rooms is also available for a supplementary cost.

Meals:

Breakfast at your accommodation is included in the holiday price. In most cases your accommodation will serve dinner and will be able to prepare a packed lunch for you. Sometimes this will have to be arranged in advance and we will let you know if this is the case. Alternatively you can use our detailed notes to make your own dining and lunch arrangements using local restaurants, cafes and supermarkets.

Getting to the Start

The nearest railway station is at Penrith on the main North-West rail link between London and Glasgow. From Penrith there are taxis and a regular bus service to Keswick - a journey of 16 miles.

At the end of the walk you can take a bus or a taxi from Glenridding to Penrith - a journey of 12 miles. Alternatively, if you are arriving by car we can arrange parking in Keswick and transfers back from Glenridding (at extra cost).

Planning your trip

Here are some 3rd party websites with useful information to help plan your holiday to the Lake District.

The Lake District National Park website is a mine of information and here you can also download a range of maps and leaflets to local attractions.

'Go Lakes' is the official website for Cumbria Tourism and provides up-to-the-minute information on events as well as insight guides to the different areas that make up the Lake District.

The Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) provides weather analysis and forecasts specifically aimed at mountaineers and walkers. Download 3 day forecasts for specific regions including the Lake District.

Cumbria County Council conveniently gathers all Lake District bus timetables onto a single searchable page

Mike Brockhurst's Walking Englishman website is a free walking resource which provides information on numerous walking routes. Here you can find a list of Englands's highest peaks.

Use thetrainline.com to find cheap fares to the Lake District rail access towns of Windermere and Penrith.

Go with a Guide

If you have concerns about navigation, or you would like to challenge yourself with one of the more demanding routes, you can go with a guide on any of the days. For groups of 4 or more we will add an additional £25 per person for each day of guided walking. Please give us a call on 07789868977 if you would like to go with a guide.

Book this Holiday

Lake District North map
On each day there are two or more options - a relatively moderate walk and a more demanding alternative. They both reach the same place at the end of the day so you can mix and match as you go along depending how you feel when you set off each morning.

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