Lake District

Sunday 15 May We leave Crowborough (outside Waitrose) this morning and with appropriate rest stops and a lunch stop at Shugborough Estate, travel to our hotel. We will receive a personal welcome on arrival which will include an introduction to the hotel to include items such as dining times and guidance on whom to contact for assistance during our stay. Rooms and keys will be ready and made available, with a complimentary tea & coffee station during welcome and check-in. Next we have time to unpack, change and have a drink before sitting down for dinner.

Monday 16 May After breakfast, our coach takes us almost due north to the area’s second largest lake, Ullswater. We board a boat at Pooley Bridge and cruise south west to Glenridding along the lake. Ullswater 'Steamers' is an award winning environmentally accredited Lake District attraction celebrating 160 years of operating cruises on England's most beautiful lake. Operating one of the largest heritage vessel fleets in the world, offering us an unforgettable experience. Then it’s back on the coach to Ambleside where we stop for lunch, before travelling to Rydal Mount where William Wordsworth spent the greater part of his life from 1813 to 1850. The house, which was a focus for romantic literature, continues to be owned by the Wordsworth family and retains the feel of a lived in family home. We then return to the hotel for dinner.

Tuesday 17 May After leaving the hotel, our first coach stop is at Haverthwaite where we board a steam train to take us on a three-and –a-half mile journey to the south end of Lake Windermere at Lakeside. We then switch transport to cruise north up the lake all the way to Bowness, home to the delightful world of beloved author Beatrix Potter.  Here, we enjoy some time at leisure for lunch before visiting The World of Beatrix Potter attraction where the sights and sounds of her much loved characters are magically brought to life.  Then it’s back to the hotel for dinner. 

Wednesday 18 May Today we have a day at leisure. Either stay and relax at the hotel, enjoying perhaps its pool and the garden, or taking a taxi into nearby Kendal, wander around its shopping centre, stop for some Kendal cake, or visit Kendal’s Abbot Hall Art Gallery housing a great collection of 18th and 19th century fine art.  Alternatively, you could visit the Kendal Museum, or go three miles south to Sizergh Castle. We return to the hotel though in time for dinner. Return taxis from the hotel to the centre of Kendal are included today but no other transport or admissions are included.

Thursday 19 May Today we travel to Grasmere and the central Lake District area. We see Grasmere Lake and Rydal Water and go past Dove Cottage (home of Wordsworth, currently closed for refurbishment). We stop to walk round the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden where Wordsworth was buried and also stroll a few yards down to the Gingerbread shop. We then reboard our coach and travel past Coniston Water where Donald Campbell raced and author Arthur Ransome learnt to sail.  Continuing south we travel to Holker Hall, Cumbria’s answer to Downton Abbey, where we will have lunch (not included) and visit their lovely house and gardens.  Then it’s back on the coach to return to our hotel for dinner.

Friday 20 May Today we enjoy a lovely scenic drive going north-west past Lake Windermere, Thirlemere Reservoir, Derwentwater, and onto Bassenthwaite Lake.  We then visit Keswick, sometimes labelled the handsomest of all the Lake District Towns, and enjoy lunch and time at leisure. Time may permit a visit to the Derwent Pencil Museum (admission not included) with wartime spy pencils that were hollowed out for secret maps, as well as a visit to the Castlerigg Stone Circle (English Heritage) parking is limited and walking from the centre of Keswick takes about thirty minutes. Then we travel through more of the Lake District’s scenic routes back to our hotel for our final dinner.

Saturday 21 May After breakfast we check out of the hotel, board the coach and make our way home to Crowborough with comfort stops as required.

Your Tour Includes:

• 7 days executive coach services (including driver’s rest day)
• 6 nights’ accommodation on a half board basis at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal (4 star)
• En route visit to the Shugborough Estate (National Trust - admission not included)
• Single journey on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
• Windermere Lake Cruise
• Ullswater Lake Cruise
• Admission to Holker Hall
• Admission to World of Beatrix Potter
• Admission to Rydal Mount
• Return taxis from the hotel into Kendal centre (£5 max per person)
• Porter service

Your Tour Excludes:

• Travel Insurance
• Additional entrance fees to places of interest other than those detailed in the itinerary
• Lunches and refreshments, other than those detailed in the itinerary
• Gratuities

 

 

Notes

No admission costs have been incorporated to the National Trust properties featured on this tour. Admission for N.T. Members is free of charge on production of a valid membership card.

The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for the package holidays booked from this brochure and for your repatriation from abroad in the event of our insolvency. We provide this security by way of a bond held by ABTA (W9928). Air tours are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3683. Please see our booking conditions for more information.

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information see www.gov.uk/travelaware. 

Due to the way in which the airline reservation systems and schedules operate, the air fares, taxes and airports cannot be guaranteed until the flights are booked, paid for in full and tickets issued.  In view of this, the final brochure may include an estimate of the likely air fare and taxes. This may result in the final tour price being varied from the advertised price.  In the event that the air fare is lower than estimated, we will pass on the saving by reducing the tour price.  However, if the air fare is higher than estimated or if we have to use an alternative airline at a higher fare, we reserve the right to increase the tour price accordingly.  In the event that the air fare is higher than estimated, the tour price may be increased by a maximum of 10%.  Should the increase in tour price exceed this amount, then you will have the right to cancel without penalty as per our standard booking conditions.  If however the price alters within the stated parameters (above) and you still wish to cancel, our normal cancellation charges will apply. If a change of airport is necessary, we will agree it with the Group Organiser before booking the flights. If the proposed change of airport is “significant”, as defined by clause 10 of our Booking Conditions, you will have the right to cancel your booking and receive a full refund.

Travel Insurance: please refer to the important information supplied with your booking form. All passengers taking our insurance must declare any reason, medical or otherwise, which may influence the insurer’s opinion in offering cover, including any current medication being taken. The direct telephone number you should call is 01932 334145 and the Towergate Chapman Stevens Medical Helpline will advise whether or not you are eligible for insurance cover once you have disclosed your medical status. Any passengers who do not wish to take our insurance must please advise us of the name of the insurance company with whom they are insured, the policy number and the telephone contact number of the Emergency Assistance Company. Norman Allen Group Travel Ltd is an Appointed Representative of ITC Compliance Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their firm reference is 313486) and which is permitted to advise on and arrange general insurance contracts.

At any time prior to the tour departure, we reserve the right to make changes (of equal value or difference will be refunded) to attractions, visits and excursions should such suppliers’ requirements and/or unforeseeable circumstances make it essential to do so.  During the tour, details in the itinerary may be subject to alteration at the discretion of the tour manager and in accordance with the wishes of a clear majority of the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel this tour not later than 8 weeks before departure, if insufficient bookings have been received to justify its departure.