Nature & Adventure in England's Lake District - 11 Days

Highlights

• Immerse yourself in Manchester's industrial heritage and snack on fish and chips
• Enjoy horseback rides, guided hikes, and watersports in the unspoiled Lake District
• Indulge your appetite for adventure on e-bike rides and waterfall abseiling tours
• Walk in the footsteps of history at the Roman ruins of Hadrian's Wall

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Manchester, Optional Activities

Welcome to England! This adventure covers the nation's fabulous north, a region filled with historic cities and some of the most gorgeous wilderness in the UK. You'll arrive in one such city, Manchester, which began as a small provincial town but exploded in the 19th century as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Today, it's a progressive and modern city rooted in science, music, arts, and sports.

After checking into your hotel, discover this cultural legacy on a self-guided walk around. As you go, you can visit famous landmarks like Old Trafford Stadium, the stomping grounds of the wildly popular Manchester United football club. Another highlight is the fine Manchester Museum, home to 4.5 million artifacts ranging from dinosaur skeletons to Egyptian mummies.

Day 2: Manchester Food Tour & River Cruise

Save room after breakfast because today you're off on a foodie tour of Manchester! During this 3-4-hour gastronomic adventure, you'll sample some of the best bites and pints at restaurants and pubs around the city. As you graze, you'll learn fascinating facts about Manchester and the heritage of its people and famous eateries, from the ice cream vendors of Ancoats Little Italy to the diet of the Victorian mill worker. Prepare to feed both your brain and your belly!

Later, you can embark on a scenic river cruise down one of the rivers that runs through the city. This one-hour ride takes place on a Dutch sightseeing boat, which glides leisurely along, passing landmarks like Old Trafford and the Manchester Ship Canal. It's a great and relaxing way to experience the highlights of the city away from the bustle of its streets.

Day 3: Drive to Ambleside, Canoeing/Kayaking in the Lake District

Say goodbye to Manchester as you pick up your rental car this morning and hit the road on a two-hour drive to Lake District National Park. This area in the county of Cumbria is renowned for its pristine natural scenery, including 16 major lakes such as Windermere, Ullswater, and Derwentwater. The region also features numerous tarns (small mountain lakes) and waterfalls.

Your destination is the pretty town of Ambleside, home to handsome stone cottages and 400-year-old pubs. It's also a great base from which to explore the Lake District's highlights—and the adventures start right away! After dropping off your bags at the hotel, you'll transfer to a nearby lake, where you'll meet a guide for a two-hour canoe tour. After learning proper paddling techniques, hop in the canoe (or single-seat kayak) and cruise across the glassy waters, enjoying the beauty of the surrounding woodlands and soaring mountains in the distance.

Day 4: Lake District Guided Hike to Buttermere

Lace up your hiking boots because this morning, you're off on a five-hour hike between lakes as you traverse the unspoiled countryside. Meet your private guide just outside Ambleside at the starting point, from which you'll set off an 8.6-mile (13.8 km) hike.

The approximately five-hour journey will take you across green valleys and alongside soaring Lake District fells (mountains), stopping at various summits to marvel at panoramic views. Your destination is Buttermere, a glassy postcard of a lake that is even more remote and less developed than Windermere. At the end of the day, you'll transfer back to Ambleside by vehicle.

Day 5: Free Day on Lake Windermere

Today is yours to enjoy however you like, free of rigid itineraries. After a leisurely breakfast, you can head to the waterfront and enjoy some watersports and boat tours. Carve out time later to rub shoulders with locals over lunch at a local pub. You can also browse the local shops and boutiques to pick up souvenirs. Another option is to take a scenic drive along the shore and stop in other picturesque waterfront villages like Bowness-on-Windermere. 

If you feel like another day of walking, head out on the lovely "Coffin Route" to neighboring Grasmere. This gentle 4-mile (6 km) track crosses woodland, skirts the shores of Lake Grasmere, and passes Dove Cottage, the former home of William Wordsworth that houses a museum dedicated to the poet's life and works. You'll end in the enchanting village of Grasmere, where you can grab some of the town's famous gingerbread before catching a bus back to Ambleside.

Day 6: Full-Day E-Bike Tour in Keswick

After breakfast, meet your guide and hop on an e-bike for a thrilling ride around the Lake District. This adventure takes place on the country paths and trails near the market town of Keswick, where mountain biking is a popular sport. Begin by getting outfitted in your gear and helmet, and then set off on the journey. This is a full-day ride, but the bike's electric motor will help shoulder the burden, allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenery. 

You can customize the itinerary according to what you'd like to see, or rely on the advice of your expert guide. Go the scenic, leisurely route, or choose a more challenging adventure with off-road endurance options. Ride to the village of Threlkeld and back on a railway path explicitly designed for family-friendly cycling trips, or pedal around the green Fitz Park and try out its fun BMX track.

Additionally, you can cycle through Whinlatter Forest, home to some of the longest biking trails in the Lake District. More advanced riders can try the Mountain Bike Orienteering challenge, which combines forest roads and parts of the Quercus Trail through oak woodlands. Following a full day of riding, return to Ambleside. 

Day 7: Full-Day Lake District Canyoning Adventure

Time for an adrenaline-pumping adventure! This morning, transfer to the Stonycroft ghyll (waterfall) and river canyon for a six-hour abseiling (rappelling) tour. It begins with an ascent up the canyon on a via ferrata network of cables and steel fixtures. This includes a tightrope walk 1,200 feet (365 m) above the valley floor. Next, scramble across a vertical cargo net high above the lush Buttermere Valley. 

After a quick break for lunch, you'll put on a wetsuit, hook onto your safety line, and rappel down the waterfall's various chutes and crevices. This route will take you alongside several cascades before reaching the river at the bottom of the canyon. Following the day's thrills, take it easy back in Ambleside. 

Day 8: Lake District Standup Paddleboarding Tour

Eat a hearty breakfast this morning because afterward, you'll meet a guide, grab a paddle, and hit the lake on a standup paddleboarding tour. During this 2.5-hour activity, you'll enjoy serene paddling, active diving off the board, and time to swim. There's no need to worry about the weather, as wetsuits and life vests are provided.

Later on, take it easy back at the hotel, or continue some self-guided exploration of the area. History buffs might want to take a 15-minute walk from town to find the remains of the second-century CE Ambleside Roman Fort, while nature lovers will love a stroll around the hillside Stagshaw Gardens, a historic National Trust property overlooking Windermere.

Day 9: Lake District Pony Trekking, Beatrix Potter Tour

Another fun Lake District adventure is on the agenda today as you hop in the saddle for a morning of pony trekking. This excursion begins at a countryside pub, where you'll meet your pony, take the reins, and commence an hourlong ride down quiet bridle paths. This route passes by dazzling Lake District scenery, including patchwork farmland and green fells. Some experience is needed, as you'll be in control of your own horse for the duration of the tour.

Afterward, you'll have the option to walk in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter on a literary-themed countryside tour. During this half-day excursion, you'll visit many of the sites associated with the famous children's author and creator of Peter Rabbit, who moved to the Lake District in 1905. The tour includes stops at the market village of Hawkshead and Hill Top, Potter's storybook farmhouse retreat. 

Day 10: Guided Day Trip to Hadrian's Wall 

Spend your penultimate day in England exploring one of ancient Britain's most popular tourist destinations—Hadrian's Wall. This Roman fortification and UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the second century during the reign of Emperor Hadrian and spans the country from west to east. The wall was constructed to mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain and to control movement and trade, as well as to defend against invasions by tribes from what is now Scotland. 

This group tour begins at a viewpoint called Steel Rig. From there, hike along the wall for 2.5 miles (4 km) to the well-preserved Roman fort of Housesteads. Next, head to Lanercost Priory, a medieval monastic site dating to the 12th century. Then, continue toward the central section of the wall, passing the ruins of turrets, forts, and castles on your way.

You'll stop around midday at the Roman Army Museum, which offers an immersive glimpse into the lives of Roman soldiers who were stationed along the wall. There's a café here where you'll take a break for lunch, then continue to Vindolanda, a Roman supply base that has been extensively excavated to provide insight into life on the wall. History buffs will love exploring the research station, and country walks along the wall are a popular afternoon activity. The tour ends at a lovely viewpoint called Fell End, at which point you'll transfer back to your hotel.

Day 11: Transfer to Manchester, Depart

Alas, this morning, you must bid a fond farewell to the Lake District and England. Rise early for one last breakfast near the water, then hop in the car for the drive back to Manchester. At the airport, you'll drop off your rental car and catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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