Lake District
Terry’s love of climbing mountains is contagious and after hiking to the top of Snowdon last year his mission to hike the Five Peaks Challenge is almost complete. Scafell Pike is last on his list being the highest mountain in England and set in the picturesque Lake District.
With the region historically been a big draw for writers and artists this has all the makings of a novel travel trip. I’m also getting a chance to try out Irish Ferries service and throw a few bottles of duty free into the boot of the car.
Irish Ferries
We set out of Dublin Port on a misty morning but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the Club Class Lounge and all the goodies on offer for this reasonably priced upgrade.
With free newspapers, tea coffee, snacks and an a la carte breakfast menu I’m too busy to notice the three hours pass. These days, ferries are closer to cruise ships in décor and smoothness. Before landing I check out the full entertainment range from amusements to cinema and am suitably impressed.
Holyhead is a further three hours from our first destination at Grange-over-Sands. Our luxurious Bed and Breakfast property at Grange Manor gently eases us into the Lake District while still enjoying the coastline. This luxurious five star property offers in-room breakfast and a cosy hot tub on the patio with views out over the rooftops to the sea. It’s the perfect stop for a good night’s sleep before scaling the mountain next day.
Adventure Tours UK
Scafell Pyke is a challenging peak with a steep gradient every inch of the way so we are grateful to have the services of expert guide Claire Copeman to make sure that we get to the top safely.
I brought along my hiking poles and find I’m well able to keep up with our guide who is more than happy to go at our pace. Adventure Tours UK organise bespoke packages for small and larger groups specialising in the Snowdonia National Park and around Ben Nevis. This is our second mountain to climb with Clare and she is not only a total professional but excellent company.
Muncaster Castle
We stop and dine on a picnic brunch that Claire has picked up from Muncaster Castle. This impressive gothic castle lies not far from Scafell Pyke but far enough to offer breathtaking view of England’s highest mountain. The Pennington family have been caring for the castle since the twelfth century without interruption maintaining a legacy that is incomparable to many other estates.
Clare brought us to meet Ewan Pennington, who has returned from a sabbatical to bring the estate into the next generation and a new decade with all the challenges involved. The additions of an aviary makes the castle a stop off for many but the recent conversion of buildings into a jousting and axe throwing centre ensures lots of fun things to do. An open air concert ran in the grounds on the weekend before we rocked up. The castle is available for groups to stay and enjoy the facilities. See www.muncaster.co.uk
Damson Deane Hotel
We however are booked into The Damson Deane Hotel, not far from Lake Windermere and enchanting towns such as Ambleside. The restaurant offers a huge selection of organic produce and the leisure facilities are a big draw for the many guests who use this property as a base for hiking and cycling the district. We check in to one of the three cabins in the secluded grounds to find included a private hot tub on the patio.
Guests can enjoy free entry to the model village created using the grey slate that is used in most of the houses dotted across the landscape. Included in the miniature village is a mock up of Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House which we go to visit next day.
Hill Top House
It’s the same building that was used in the Renee Zellwegger and Ewan Mc Gregor biopic of her life. Its charm is exactly as I imagined it would be but I learned that it was her father who was a photographer and artist that possibly was the biggest influence in her career choice. To book a visit see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/hill-top
Wordsworth Grasmere
Another heavyweight in English literary circles is poet, William Wordsworth. He devoted much of his life to the region where he lived with his sister after returning from the Napoleonic Wars. Disgusted with the results of the French Revolution which offered such promise to ordinary citizens and failed, he retreated to this part of the world and immersed himself in nature. He later became an ambassador for the region by introducing tourism to the lakes.
There are two Wordsworth houses that can be visited in close proximity. The first is Dove Cottage, set next to an impressive array of museum artefacts and the second is Rydall Mount – a charming home that is still in the hands of his family. As it is a private museum it relies heavily on the support of visitors and Wordsworth’s descendents still come up to visit in the house which is kept the way the poet left it. The gardens are especially beautiful with exotic plants. See www.rydalmount.co.uk
Lake Windermere Lake Cruises
It goes without saying that Lake Windermere is a must visit so we park up at Ambleside and take the ferry across the lake on one of the shorter tours. With towering mountains around us on all sides the ferry ride is cosy and comfortable. Windermere Lake Cruises is the most popular attraction in Cumbria. It offers cruises from 45 minutes to 3 hours on England’s largest lake – or you can spend all day on and around the lake with the Freedom of the Lake ticket. Full details www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk/
Delightful bespoke boutiques and shops line the streets of Ambleside, making it a perfect spot to meander. Prices were reasonable and quality excellent in the bars and restaurants that we visited, even accounting for the sterling exchange. This was our first time exploring the beautiful Lake District and with many more stunning mountains to climb in the region, it certainly won’t be our last.
Factbox
Irish Ferries short break return fare to Britain – from €246 return for stays of up to 120 hrs ( up to 5 days) for a car and driver. Single fares start at €170 car + driver. More details and other offers are www.irishferries.com
To learn more about Cumbria visit www.cumbriatourism.org
Adventure Tours UK offer bespoke tours for individuals and groups to England, Wales & Scotland that include hiking, running, cycling and a range of activities. For more information: visit adventuretoursuk.com | email [email protected] | call +441824 737024
Damson Dene Hotel and Leisure Club is in the Lake District’s tranquil Lyth Valley. 60 en-suite bedrooms and three new woodland hot tub cabins. Cabin guests enjoy free use of hotel leisure facilities including swimming pool. Prices from £150 for 2 guests in a cosy double room.
www.damsondene.co.uk Tel: 015395 68676
Grange Manor Luxury B&B accommodation with private hot tubs. Set within a secluded woodland in Grange-over-Sands on the edge of the Lake District National Park. Prices from £250 for 2 guests in a deluxe room, or £300 in a hot tub room.
Full Details at www.grange-manor.co.uk Tel: 01539 760215
