DETAILED ITINERARY

FRI May 13 - DEPART Home City
Travel overnight to England. As a fully licensed travel agency we are happy to assist with air and land arrangements to meet up with this tour. There are direct trains from Manchester Airport to Windermere. (There is also rail service from Euston station in London to Oxenholme, then a connection to the train from there to Windermere). Our hotel is about 2 miles from the station (in Bowness-on-Windermere) and taxis are always there. I will travel from Canada today and welcome anyone to join me.

Day 1: SAT May 14th - Arrive in BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE, ENGLAND
Welcome to the beautiful English Lake District ! For those travelling on your own we will meet at our hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere. There will be time to explore and settle in before our Welcome dinner.

Day 2: SUN May 15th - AMBLESIDE
After breakfast this morning we will travel to the lovely town of Ambleside at the north end of Lake Windermere. A thriving woollen industry grew here due to its’ market charter attained in 1650. During the 17th and 18th centuries Yeoman farmers and landowners became wealthy and it is from this period that the current town identifies itself with the Victorian architecture. Along with shops, galleries and cafes there is a lovely walk right from the centre of town up a gentle grade to ‘Stock Gyll Force’ – a lovely cool waterfall.

Day 3: MON May 16th - GRASMERE and DOVE COTTAGE
We have discovered a lovely 3 km walk which is part of a walk called the 'Coffin Route'. Before there was a church in Rydal Mount bearers would carry the coffins from here to be buried in the churchyard in Grasmere. This a popular walk for locals too. For those who would like to do the walk with me we be let off at Rydal Mount and the rest will be taken on to Grasmere where we will all meet up at Dove Cottage. We will have a guided tour through the 1st home of William Wordsworth, where he wrote most of his famous works. Wordsworth and his family are buried in Grasmere and right beside the lovely old church is the world famous Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread factory. Its secret recipe guarded since 1854 is wonderful, so do leave time to visit here too.

Day 4: TUE May 17th - ASHNESS BRIDGE AND KESWICK
After breakfast today our first destination is Ashness bridge. This single-track stone bridge covers a sparkling waterfall. The view looking down onto Derwentwater and across to the towering peaks of Skiddaw is breathtaking. We will walk further along this small road with views overlooking the lake. We are then off to nearby Keswick. This is where the pencil was invented and the museum tells the story very well. We will take time for lunch in this busy market town with time to visit the local shops in the pedestrianised town centre.

Day 5: WED May 18th - YEW TREE FARM, HAWKSHEAD and HILL TOP COTTAGE
After breakfast this morning we are off to the west and will take a country walk that will end at Yew Tree Farm. Beatrix Potter owned Yew Tree Farm in the 1930s and opened a tea room to help the tenant farmers stay and live a traditional life in the Lake District. It is still home to many of her furnishings. Yew Tree Farm featured as 'Hill Top' in the movie "Miss Potter" starring Renée Zellweger. It is one of the few white stucco structures referred to locally as ‘cruck-framed. The current owners raise native Belted Galloway cattle and Cumbrian Herdwick sheep keeping the tradition of 'Fell Farming' alive. After refreshing ourselves in their lovely tea room we are off to the village of Hawkshead. This charming village is home to the Beatrix Potter Gallery which holds her original water colours of all her animal characters: Peter Rabbit, Jamima Puddleduck, Mrs Tiggy Winke and all the others. Then, it’s off to HILL TOP FARM. Beatrix’s beloved farm house is small and adorable. We will take the time for a proper visit of her house and shop before returning to Bowness.

Day 6: THU May 19th - BOWNESS - OPTIONAL 'FELLS' WALK
The 'Fells' are the beautiful bald mountains that make the lake district famous, not to mention beautiful. We have arranged to take a local guide today for a lower fells walk. The grade is moderate and offers amazing views of the surrounding countryside.

Day 7: FRI May 20th - FREE DAY in BOWNESS
Tudor style half –timber houses, slate stone roofs, old shops, winding cobbled laneways, beautiful old wooden ferry boats, swans and all. It is always good to have a free day to finish up, explore, do some shopping etc.

Day 8: SAT May 21st - Depart for HOME CITY or plan to extend your hoilday in London and Southern England
After breakfast our program is complete. We are happy to assist to make onward or return arrangements for you. Interested in extending your holiday in England? Why not join Travel Broker Tours; Chelsea Flower Show and "The Gardens of England" plus optional QM2 Crossing to NY tour program, escorted by our colleague Jeff Pychel and hosted by TV Garden Celebrity - Carson Arthur of HGTV, Global TV and the Discovery Network.