CULTURAL HIKING TOURS OF ENGLAND
Lake District National
Park
Yorkshire
Dales and Peak District
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The Fairfield Horseshoe
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The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Peak District National Parks are arguably the most beautiful and dramatic areas of England. This fascinating landscape of mountains, meadows, valleys, lakes, farms and rivers and sea looks much as it did hundreds of years ago. The Lake District, nestled against Scotland and the sea in the northwestern part of England, was the first and largest of England's national parks. It is the poetic land of Wordsworth and the inspiration for the world created by Beatrix Potter where grandeur, beauty and even rugged hills combine with verdant meadows and endless dry stone walls. The Yorkshire Dales and Peak District National Parks offer more of the lovely and verdant rolling terrain that makes us think of England. This is the area James Herriot wrote about in his well known work, All Creatures Great and Small along with many other literary works.
During the LAKE DISTRICT TOUR we offer two excursion options each day , a light hike and a strenuous hike (explained below). The hiking here can be enjoyed by people of all ages and reasonable fitness levels. Our outings will combine rugged "fell walking" where we hike some of England's highest mountains with middle and low level hikes where the views are just as varied and spectacular as from the higher points. The Lake District can offer this because the glaciers of an earlier age carved this region in a glorious combination of rugged peaks and ridges, separated by gentle valleys surrounding endless pristine lakes. The hiking of this area is also renowned because nearly all day will be spent "above tree line." Inhabitants of an earlier time harvested the trees from this area, so throughout the day as you hike, your eyes will be drawn to the shapes of nearby hills and to vistas of mountains and lakes. Almost everyone who does England's "Coast to Coast" trek wishes they had spent more time exploring this region instead of hiking directly across it. Our trip is offered in the springtime when the green hillsides are dotted with hundreds of newborn lambs, the lanes are bordered with spring wildflowers, and the songbirds serenade you as you walk. Enjoy the spectacular mountain views of valley, lake and ocean and marvel at the sight of endless bluebells and wild primroses. Tour #4 will give you the opportunity to visit Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount, the homes of William Wordsworth, and you could make a visit to Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter.
During the YORKSHIRE DALES AND PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARKS TOUR we will offer one outing each day of moderate difficulty. This will permit everyone to experience the same views and enjoy the same historic sights. This more rolling terrain gives us this opportunity but can still offer options to make a shorter day (via bus services). These are the lands of old abbeys and other historic sights that we can see or visit during our hiking.
Our unique Lake District Tour features two levels of daily guided excursions: a light hike and a strenuous hike. Also both our tours include visits to historic sights, National Trust properties, historic pubs and daily afternoon teas which are all part of the tour price.
The daily light hike follows a guideline of about 5-7 miles and may include 500-1500 feet of elevation gain and/or loss. This permits each person to enjoy magnificent views, the wildflowers and birds at a pace that anyone who likes to hike can enjoy. For lunch we can picnic or enjoy the food at a pub restaurant. These hikes will make for an active day and be good exercise for those who do not like a lot of elevation change or a more relaxed day for those who need a break from the more rigorous hikes. There will be numerous opportunities for photography, flower identification and other activities that a more leisurely pace can provide. The light hikes also include more opportunities to visit historic and National Trust properties. See the daily itineraries below for details.
The daily rigorous hike will be from 7-11 miles and include elevation changes of 2000-2800 feet. These guided hikes will move at a faster but comfortable pace. They will include spectacular trails to the tops of high fells (mountains), hikes through high passes, and along edges (ridges). No special equipment or training is necessary for any hikes but they do require each hiker to be in "good shape". Age is not a factor as fit hikers of all ages have done these hikes with us. There is still time to take loads of photographs and to enjoy the scenery on these hikes as the point of our trips is to enjoy the splendor of this lovely area of England. Many people do as the guides do and switch between each type of excursion. You can permit your energy level to dictate whether to do a light hike or rigorous hike each day.
On the Yorkshire Dales and Peak District Tour the moderate hike will be about 7-8 miles and include elevation changes of less than 2000 feet.
ACCOMMODATIONS Both tours will feature the finest accommodations available in each area.
The Lake District Tour will use the finest manor hotel in the Lake District-last year it won an award for the finest food in northern England. They are rated four crowns (out of a possible five) and are noted in many publications of the British Isles' finest inns as well as Karen Brown's Charming Hotels of England, Scotland and Wales. The inn provides lovely rooms, a full breakfast to start our day, an exquisite afternoon tea, and a gourmet 4-course dinner- all covered by the basic tour fee. Many of you will want to combine the two tours using the travel day for a little exploration on your own.
The Yorkshire Dales/Peak District Tour will use two of the finest inns in their areas. Again they are noted in many publications of the British Isles' finest inns as well as Karen Brown's Charming Hotels (B&B's) of England, Scotland and Wales. You will love the locations and ambiance of both of these lovely inns.
Many of you can extend your stay in England by spending one or two nights in London, enjoying the sights and the London theater.
Join us for a wonderful springtime adventure to old world charm and scenic beauty while relaxing in the finest of accommodations.
COST (See our Price Guarantee below)
Tour 4:
Lake District National Park
May 8-15, 2009
(7 nights/8 days)
This Tour is Now Closed
The tour price includes 8 days/7 nights and costs $2495 per person double occupancy. A single supplement is an additional $400. The tour includes a lovely room with private bath, all breakfasts, dinners , afternoon teas and taxes, tips and gratuities. Vegetarian meals are available at no additional cost. The tour also includes any transportation costs from our meeting point on Day 1 to your checkout from our hotel. The cost also includes any admission fees to museums or other attractions that are part of the following itinerary. See details below.
Spiny
Gorse in its Spring Blooming
Tour 5:
Yorkshire
Dales and Peak District National Parks
May 15-22, 2009
(7 nights/8 days)
$2495/person/do
The tour price includes 8 days/7 nights and costs $2495 per person double occupancy. Each room must be occupied by two people; there are some rooms with twin beds so two singles could share a room. At this moment we have one single female wishing to share a twin bedded room with another female-please call us at 603-783-9131 for more information. The tour includes a lovely room with private bath, all breakfasts, dinners , afternoon teas and taxes, tips and gratuities. Vegetarian meals are available at no additional cost. The tour also includes any transportation costs from our meeting point on Day 1 to your checkout from our hotel. The cost also includes any admission fees to museums or other attractions that are part of the following itinerary. See details below.
Lambs abound on all our hikes
| Yankee Travels also guarantees its price - other tours make their clients assume the risk of currency fluctuations and adjust the tour price upwards a few months before the departure date. |
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE
The tour price does not include airfare, lunches, alcoholic drinks or other costs of a personal nature or travel to and from the hotel/inn before or after the tour.
TOUR SIZE
These tours are limited to 20 participants for the Lake District Tour and 14 participants for the Yorkshire Dales/Peak District Tour. We split into two groups each day, making the hiking groups about 10 in number for the Lake District Tour. The Yorkshire Dales/Peak District Tour will offer one moderate outing each day.
TO VIEW A SLIDE SHOW OF OUR TOUR OF THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
Great Gable from Scafell Pike
OUR ITINERARY
Tour 4: Lake District National Park May 8- 15, 2009
Day 1 - The tour leaders, Jeanne and David, meet you at our lovely manor house hotel in the village of Ambleside on May 8th. You should fly on or before the evening of May 7th to meet us on May 8th. You will likely arrive early enough for Jeanne and David to lead a short walk to some lovely falls and return in time for our first afternoon tea, giving time for a rest before gathering later for a short orientation meeting and our first gourmet dinner.
Day 2 - The strenuous hikers will hike one of the lake district most beautiful mountains and circuit a ridge line overlooking the lovely lake, Coniston Water, along with several smaller lakes (tarns). The light hike will take you on a wonderful loop starting and ending in a lovely village where a small National Trust museum will permit you to see some of Beatrice Potter's original paintings. We all return in time for a lovely afternoon tea at our hotel (as we will every day).
Day 3 - Both groups travel a short distance to the town of Grasmere. The strenuous hikers do a wonderful ridge hike up to a summit above Grasmere and Grasmere Lake (see picture at the top of this page). The light hikers go through a beautiful valley filled with dramatic scenery to a tarn for lunch and continue to Grasmere and then take the "coffin route" back to Ambleside. This day will provide a chance for both groups to tour the town of Grasmere and visit Wordsworth's Dove Cottage and other interesting historical sites.
Day 4 - This day both groups of hikers will visit a dramatic waterfall as they make their way over a fell to a historic pub where they will have lunch. There will be an option for the strenuous hikers to go over a higher ridge than the light hikers. Everyone will then continue by a scenic path including a visit and tour of a National Trust historic farm before returning to our hotel (and tea).
Day 5: This is your free day. You can visit the picturesque village of Keswick and enjoy a lovely boat ride on Derwent Water or make a visit to Grasmere, stopping at the famous Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread Shop and enjoying a guided tour of Dove Cottage, one of William Wordsworth’s homes, and visit the Wordsworth Museum next door. You can choose to go on to a tour of Rydal Mount and a walk past Rydal Water or visit the inspiring Castlerigg Stone Circle and finish with a free afternoon in Keswick. You could also visit Hill Top, the farm where Beatrice Potter lived and used as the basis of numerous illustrations for her famous children's stories. Your tour price includes an all day unlimited bus pass for this day's independent travel and adventures.
Day 6 - Both groups will visit the Great Langdale Valley. The strenuous hikers will hike the famous Langdale Pikes while the light hikers will traverse some smaller fells into the Langdale Valley. This valley is arguably the most beautiful valley in the Lake District and both groups will get a wonderful panoramic view of it. Both groups will meet at a famous Hiker's Pub before returning to the hotel and our daily afternoon tea.
Day 7: The strenuous hikers will do a wonderful ridge hike up to a summit of Fairfield Horseshoe and enjoy the views down to Grasmere and the lake that it surrounds along with a dramatic view of Lake Windermere (see picture at the top of this page). They then descend on the ridge back to Ambleside. The light hikers will return to the Grasmere area for a beautiful hike to a lake and a very dramatic view of the area.
Day 8 - The tour ends after breakfast as we say farewell to the Lake District. Most of you will train back to London, spend a free afternoon in the city and perhaps enjoy a London musical production during the evening. You can also continue your vacation with Yankee Travels by joining us for the Yorkshire Dales/Peak District Tour. Friday will be a day of rest if you continue your stay with us; the morning will be spent relaxing or walking into Ambleside for a bit of sightseeing or shopping. We will then take a train to the Yorkshire Dales.
A quiet moment on the hotel grounds
Tour
Profile: This Tour is Now Closed
Two Levels of Hikes Each Day
Dates:
May 8-15, 2009
7 nights/8 days
Cost:
$2495/person/do
$400 Single Supplement
Guaranteed Price
Travel:
Includes all travel on itinerary above
Includes:
Room with Private Bath
Breakfast and Dinner
All Taxes and Gratuities
All Travel as per Itinerary
Call 603-783-9131 or email us djhkswis@comcast.net
OUR ITINERARY
Tour 5: Yorkshire Dales and Peak District National Parks May 15- 22, 2009
Only 1 space for a single female remains open for 2009! Call 603-783-9131 for details.
Day 1 - The tour leaders, Jeanne and David, meet you in the Yorkshire Dales at our lovely inn in the village of Grassington on May 15th. You should fly on or before the evening of May 14th to meet us on May 15th. You will likely arrive early enough for Jeanne and David to lead a short walk along a river and return in time for our first afternoon tea, giving time for a rest before gathering later for a short orientation meeting and our first gourmet dinner.
Day 2 -
This is a day to acclimate a little. We will leave directly from
Grassington and go on a
moderate ridge hike with dramatic views overlooking River Wharfe making
our way through a lovely woods to an outlook over the river. We continue
to Conistone where we will have a pub lunch before taking a moderately higher route back to Grassington.
Day 3 -
We will take a small bus to the gorgeous area around Bolton Abbey. We will
tour the abbey ruins before enjoying a lovely hike along a river and over some
hills to a couple of lovely towns (and pubs) before returning to Grassington via
a wonderful trial.
Day 4 - This day we will take a small bus to an area further north into the Dales and explore two lovely valleys in the Park, Wharfedale and Littondale. The hike will include an area across some moorlands and along another delightful river.
Day 5 - This is our rest day as we leave the Yorkshire Dales and travel to the Peak District National Park. We will have some time in Grassington in the morning before training to the village of Hope where our next small inn is located.
Day 6 - This day we leave directly from the inn and explore the area above the village of Hope and Castleton over Mam Tor and back to our inn. We will have lunch in the lovely village of Castleton along the way.
Day 7- We will again leave directly from the hotel to explore the valley and ridge further to the east of Hope following and then looking down on a lovely river valley during the entire hike.
Day 8 - The tour ends after breakfast as we say farewell to the Peak District. Most of you will train back to London, spend a free afternoon in the city and perhaps enjoy a London musical production during the evening. We will help coordinate your stay in London and we may enjoy a night of theater together or you may make your own plans and arrangements.
One of the many lovely stone walls we will see
Tour
Profile:
One Level of Moderate Hikes Each Day
Dates:
May 15-22, 2009
7 nights/8 days
Cost:
$2495/person/do
No Single Supplement (singles must share a twin bedded room)
Guaranteed Price
Travel:
Includes all travel on itinerary above
Includes:
Room with Private Bath
Breakfast and Dinner
All Taxes and Gratuities
All Travel as per Itinerary
Only 1 space for a single female remains open for 2009!
Call 603-783-9131 or email us djhkswis@comcast.net
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We organize our tours so that everyone can feel comfortable. Participants will come from all parts of the USA and Canada and sometimes further afield. You will find yourself developing a camaraderie with your fellow adventurers and guides, forming friendships that will last. You will also have time to explore on your own.
If you like to hike or you would like to rekindle your sense of adventure you will feel comfortable with us. We offer two levels of excursions each day so that you can enjoy yourself each day. We stay in lovely hotels that are elegant without being "stuffy".
There is no requirement of previous experience though you should be in good health and prepare yourself so that you can enjoy a hiking vacation. All the hikes on this tour are well within any fit hiker's comfort range.
We offer two levels of excursions each day . The "strenuous hike" each day will be from 8-10 miles with an elevation gain of 2000-2800 feet. The "light hike" each day will range from 4-7 miles with an elevation gain of less than 1500 feet.
David and Jeanne will lead each hike. They are very fit and experienced adventure travel leaders, are interested in a variety of subjects and are "fun to be with". This will be our 16th year of guiding hiking tours. See the page, Tour Leaders and About Our Low Prices, for more details.
You will need comfortable hiking boots or hiking shoes if you are only doing the light hikes, a daypack and rain gear. A pair of trekking poles is recommended. We will provide a complete travel clothing list when you register.
We know that the quality of the accommodations can make a huge difference in your enjoyment of your trip so we have carefully chosen manor house hotels that are the finest in the area. They are rated four crowns (out of a possible five) and are noted in many publications of the British Isles' finest inns as well as Karen Brown's Charming Hotels of England, Scotland and Wales. You will find each room uniquely furnished and the food superb (you'll love the afternoon teas, too!). Our evening meals will include 4 courses with choices for each course. Vegetarian meals are offered each evening. A full English breakfast will be available each morning.
If it happens to rain will we still walk?
Yes, it is part of the adventure. The weather in the Lake District is very changeable and it is often quite sunny. Early May is one of the drier times of the year. Of course, if you do not want to hike, the leaders can suggest alternative activities.
Oh yes! If you would like references just call or email David and Jeanne at 603-783-9131 or email them at djhkswis@comcast.net . We also will be glad to answer any other questions you might have.
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