Guided Walking for Families at Derwentwater

• A unique feature of Guided Walking for Families is the selection of up to 3 guided walks each walking day

• Our friendly and experienced leaders will guide you on the walks and are there to assist with any queries you may have
• Evening activities are fun for all the family – enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, and there’s also a kids-only games room
• Make the most of the nearby family-friendly attractions

  Easier Walks   Medium Walks       Harder Walks  

Holidays during 2012

4 night holiday - Mon 13 Feb

7 night holiday - Sat 21 July - see below

Itinerary for 4 night holiday - arrive Mon 13 Feb 

Tuesday: Around the Newlands Valley

Easier Walk: A circular walk with lovely views, contouring along the Cat Bells ridge by an old mine route before dropping down to the shore of Derwent Water to meander along the lakeshore. 6 miles with 325 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Heading over the popular fell Cat Bells, we drop into Littletown and return along the Newlands Valley and the Goldscope lead mine to Low Braithwaite and Ullock. 9 miles with 1,475 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Contouring along the west side of Cat Bells we head for a steep ascent of Hindscarth via Scope End and to the highest mountain of the day, Dale Head. After a steep descent to Dalehead Tarn we follow the Newlands Beck home. 13 miles with 2,825 feet of ascent.

Wednesday: Scafell Pike and Derwent Water

Easier Walk: Deep in the Borrowdale Valley, we begin our walk from the pretty village of Rosthwaite over to Watendlath. Following Watendlath Beck we take a diversion to view Lodore Falls before strolling back along the shores of Derwent Water. 7¼ miles with 1,275 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We initially take the same paths as the easier walkers but instead of dropping down to the shores of Derwent Water we continue to the beautiful setting of Ashness Bridge, from where we add in an extra ascent up Walla Crag before walking back via Keswick. 9 miles with 1,525 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: The ascent of England’s highest summit, Scafell Pike, is our objective today and we walk from Seatoller to Seathwaite up to Styhead Tarn and then climb via the spectacular Corridor Route to the top. We descend via Esk Hause and Grains Gill back to Seatoller. 11½ miles with 3,100 feet of ascent.

Thursday: Around Keswick

Easier Walk: We walk around the outskirts of Keswick, following the line of the old Cockermouth-Keswick-Penrith Railway and the River Greta, and then traverse the lower slopes of Latrigg before returning to Portinscale. 8½ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Contouring around the back of Latrigg we approach the summit from the north. We then walk above Brundholme Woods and back through Keswick. 9 miles with 975 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Threlkeld, the steep and airy arête of Hall’s Fell to the top of Blencathra is described by Wainwright as the finest way to any mountain-top and is our challenge today. The route down is on grassy Blease Fell to the Blencathra Field Centre and over Latrigg to Portinscale. 10½ miles with 3,275 feet of ascent.

Itinerary for 7 night holiday - arrive Sat 21 July

Sunday: Around the Newlands Valley

Easier Walk: A circular walk with lovely views, contouring along the Cat Bells ridge by an old mine route before dropping down to the shore of Derwent Water to meander along the lakeshore. 6 miles with 325 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Heading over the popular fell Cat Bells, we drop into Littletown and return along the Newlands Valley and the Goldscope lead mine to Low Braithwaite and Ullock. 9 miles with 1,475 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Contouring along the west side of Cat Bells we head for a steep ascent of Hindscarth via Scope End and to the highest mountain of the day, Dale Head. After a steep descent to Dalehead Tarn we follow the Newlands Beck home. 13 miles with 2,825 feet of ascent.

Monday: Around Helvellyn

Easier Walk: From Patterdale we follow the glaciated valley between St Sunday Crag and Striding Edge before heading to Glenridding via Lanty’s Tarn. 8½ miles with 825 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: The picturesque waterfalls at Aira Force are a highlight today as we walk to Glencoyne Head and ascend Sheffield Pike. We then head down Glencoyne Valley, past the old miners’ cottages, to Glenridding. 9 miles with 1,900 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Helvellyn via the glacial arête of Striding Edge is today’s iconic mountain walk, and Swirral Edge soon follows, taking us to the pyramid shaped Catstycam and the beautiful and moody Red Tarn. Our gradual descent through the Glenridding valley ends the perfect day. 8¼ miles with 2,850 feet of ascent.

Tuesday: The Northern Fells

Easier Walk: From the old quarrying village of Threlkeld we follow field paths across the lower slopes of Blencathra before joining the line of the old Cockermouth-Keswick-Penrith Railway. We follow the River Greta through Keswick and back to Portinscale. 5¾ miles with 225 feet of ascent.      

Medium Walk: From Threlkeld we ascend the lonely valley of Glenderaterra Beck before turning south to the summit of Latrigg. Passing Crossthwaite church - with the graves of Robert Southey and Canon Rawnsley - we reach Portinscale. 10½ miles with 1,900 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Starting on the east side of Bassenthwaite Lake we head up Ullock Pike and Carl Side to the summit of Skiddaw, overlooking Keswick. Dropping to Skiddaw House we take the Cumbria Way through the Glenderaterra Valley to Crossthwaite church. 12½ miles with 2,900 feet of ascent. 

Wednesday:

With no guided walks organised, this is a great opportunity for your family to explore the Lake District independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Thursday: Scafell Pike and Derwent Water

Easier Walk: Deep in the Borrowdale Valley, we begin our walk from the pretty village of Rosthwaite over to Watendlath. Following Watendlath Beck we take a diversion to view Lodore Falls before strolling back along the shores of Derwent Water. 7¼ miles with 1,275 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We initially take the same paths as the easier walkers but instead of dropping down to the shores of Derwent Water we continue to the beautiful setting of Ashness Bridge, from where we add in an extra ascent up Walla Crag before walking back via Keswick. 9 miles with 1,525 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: The ascent of England’s highest summit, Scafell Pike, is our objective today and we walk from Seatoller to Seathwaite up to Styhead Tarn and then climb via the spectacular Corridor Route to the top. We descend via Esk Hause and Grains Gill back to Seatoller. 11½ miles with 3,100 feet of ascent.

Friday: A reservoir lake and Castlerigg stone circle

Easier Walk: In the shadow of Castle Rock we wend our way through the Vale of St John below High Rigg. The highlight is Castlerigg Stone Circle (c3000BC) before we return back to Keswick and Portinscale. 9 miles with 825 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We walk along the shores of the pretty Thirlmere Lake - turned into a reservoir which provides water to Manchester - then climb to traverse the ridge of High Rigg before joining the same route as the easier walkers. 11¼ miles with 1,825 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From Threlkeld, the steep and airy arête of Hall’s Fell to the top of Blencathra is described by Wainwright as the finest way to any mountain-top and is our challenge today. The route down is on grassy Blease Fell to the Blencathra Field Centre and over Latrigg to Portinscale. 10½ miles with 3,275 feet of ascent.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at our Country House, Derwent Bank. On other days you’ll be transported to other parts of the Lake District. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an evening activity created specifically for all the family - enjoy a quiz, a game of rounders or outdoor treasure hunt or use the Country House facilities - the kids will love the adult-free play zone.