Included: An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area, a fully qualified International Mountain Leader/Mountain Leader 8-day hiking trip in the Lake District (6 days of hiking) Accommodation for 7 nights at a characterful 300-year-old Lakeland inn (twin occupancy, two people sharing), with en-suite facilities, Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee making facilities 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners (half board) Transfers to and from each hike Ferry back to Keswick Guide expenses Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout): Single occupancy room Not included: Transportation to England Travel to and from the meeting point Lunches Walking poles Miscellaneous personal spending Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above Insurance — mandatory, available at checkout Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

In order to join this hiking tour in Lake District, England, good fitness is required as well as previous hill walking experience on mountain terrain . The most you’ll hike within a day is up to 13.2 km (8.2 mi) , with up to 770 m (2,526 ft) of elevation gain . Walking days last between 4 and 7 hours , with some steep ascents and descents, and the highest point reached is 950 m (3,116 ft) . You’ll stay in the same hotel all week and only carry a day pack, which makes a big difference over six days of walking. Weather in the fells changes fast, so rain, wind, and fog can make a day feel harder than the numbers suggest. Distance and ascent figures are a general guide to the effort involved, not an exact measurement, so use them to judge whether the trip suits your fitness and stamina.

What do I need to bring?

Lakeland weather can hand you sunshine, rain, fog, and wind in the same day, so pack for all of it. Your guides suggest the following: Equipment: Rucksack, 25-30 litres, with waist and chest straps Waterproof liner or cover for your rucksack Walking boots, warm and waterproof Walking poles (advised, not included in the trip) Bags to waterproof items such as documentation Gaiters, useful on moorland Clothing: Waterproof jacket (essential, one that will keep you dry through a day of heavy rain) Waterproof trousers (essential) Windproof and warm trousers Long-sleeved thermal top Thin long-sleeved fleece Hiking T-shirts Hiking shorts Fleece or windstopper waistcoat Duvet jacket or a second warm layer Gloves, two pairs (one thick, one thin) Warm hat Sun hat Head or ear band Scarf or buff for your neck Socks, 2 or 3 pairs Comfort: Lip salve Sunscreen (essential) Sunglasses Snack bars or chocolate Tissues, plus biodegradable bags to dispose of rubbish Anti-bacterial hand wash Insect repellent for the famous midges Midge net Personal first aid: Personal medication Blister plasters and blister tape (e.g. Strappal) Painkillers or anti-inflammatories Glucose tablets or energy gel 2 rehydration sachets (e.g. Dioralyte) Throat lozenges Antiseptic cream or spray Documentation: Travel insurance Passport Credit card Cash in pounds sterling Other: Hair dryer, if required Lightweight electric boot dryers Camera, book, or music Ear plugs, if you’re sharing a room Small thermos for hot drinks Head torch plus spare batteries Padlock for luggage Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet Since you’re based in the same hotel all week, you’re welcome to bring whatever luggage you need. Not every hotel has a lift, though, so you may be carrying bags up a few flights of stairs; wheeled luggage is a good idea. Your guides are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit. On most trips there’s a small amount of group kit to share, usually a lightweight survival shelter that gets passed between walkers day by day. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing: It takes a minimum of 4 people for this hiking tour in Lake District, England, to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants . Solo travelers can share a twin room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee. Single rooms are limited, so request one as early as possible. Hiking tours in Lake District, England, can be arranged for larger groups — contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18 , you’re good to go.

Is a single occupancy room available?

This hiking tour in Lake District, England, is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee . You can add it to your booking at checkout, but note that single rooms are limited in suppy and need to be requested early. Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.

Getting there and meeting location

The starting point of your hiking tour in Lake District, England, is Ambleside , in the Lake District. To get there, most people fly into Manchester Airport (MAN) , the nearest airport to Oxenholme. From the airport, it’s about a 1.5-hour train journey to Oxenholme , with a train each hour. From Oxenholme, there’s a train every hour to Windermere , and from there you can take a bus or a taxi to your hotel in Ambleside. You will meet your guide in the evening of Day 1 at your accommodation in Ambleside , for a meet and greet followed by dinner. On the morning of your departure, you take a taxi or bus back to Windermere and continue on to Oxenholme and the airport.

Safety measures and insurance

Having insurance is mandatory for this adventure. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout. Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Lake District | England

Hiking the Lake District: 8 Days on England’s Finest Fells

Name: Hiking Lake District, England: 8-Day Guided Trip
Brand: 57hours
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

8 days | Moderate | 5.00

From $3,437 ()

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The Lake District has inspired poets and walkers for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. Wordsworth lived here, Beatrix Potter spent her summers by the lakes, and sheep still roam the fells, as the local hills and mountains are called. This week we walk six of the best routes in the area, from old copper mines near Coniston to quiet mountain lakes in the Langdales. We finish on Helvellyn, England’s third-highest peak. Easier days take us along lakeshores and onto a ferry across Derwentwater. Each evening, we come back to a cozy 300-year-old inn in Ambleside for dinner and a local ale.

Kathy

International Mountain Leader

Adventure Highlights

Stand on Helvellyn: We finish the week on England’s third-highest peak, with views over Striding Edge on a clear day
Fells, tarns, and lakeshores: One day it's copper mines and slate quarries, the next it's a summit ridge or a woodland path beside Derwent Water
A 300-year-old inn to come home to: Seven nights at a traditional Lakeland inn in Ambleside, with breakfast and dinner included every day

Duration

8 days

Season

May

Group size

Up to 8 people

The adventure, day by day

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We base ourselves for seven nights in a traditional inn in Ambleside and head out each day with a qualified Mountain Leader, with transfers to and from every trailhead. The week builds steadily: a mid-mountain circuit above Coniston first, then Pike O'Blisco in Great Langdale, a gentler day over Loughrigg Fell and the medieval Coffin Route, and the quiet tarns of Easdale. At Derwent Water we climb Catbells and ride the ferry back to Keswick, saving Helvellyn for the final hiking day. Dinner and breakfast are included throughout, so evenings are for good food, local ale, and wandering Ambleside.

Day 1: Arrive in Ambleside and meet your guide

Slate-grey stone inn with a lit entrance, lanterns and gabled upper floors on a town street in Lake District

Arrive in Ambleside and settle into your room at the inn in the middle of town. This evening you’ll meet your guide and the rest of the group over dinner, a relaxed chance to put faces to names before the walking starts. Your guide will run through the week ahead, talk kit and weather, and answer anything you’re wondering about. If you get in early, Ambleside is worth a wander, as it’s one of the most popular little towns in the Lake District and everything is within a few minutes’ stroll.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside

Day 2: Coniston copper mines and Tilberthwaite valley

Bluebells on a grassy hillside above a lake at sunset, with forested slopes and mountains beyond in Lake District

A 20-minute drive brings us to the village of Coniston in the southern Lake District, where our circular mid-mountain walk begins. We climb into the copper mines valley, where the old mine workings still scar the hillside beneath the rugged peak of Coniston Old Man. From there we gain a col and traverse below Wetherlam before dropping into Tilberthwaite valley, known for its scenery and slate mining history. We follow the valley to the disused but still impressive Hodge Close Quarry, then return to Coniston along ancient bridleways and woodland paths. Back at the inn, dinner is waiting.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 13 km (7.9 mi)
Elevation: +425 m (+1,395 ft) / -425 m (-1,395 ft)
Duration: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside

Day 3: Great Langdale and the summit of Pike O'Blisco

Group standing on a footbridge over calm river with reflections and brown fells under blue sky in Lake District

Another 20-minute drive takes us into the Great Langdale Valley, where we set off from the historic Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. The valley floor is green and dotted with Herdwick sheep farms, ringed by serious-looking peaks. Our circular route passes the traditional farm at Stool End and winds up Oxendale Valley, climbing steadily to the summit of Pike O’Blisco. On a clear day the views across to the Langdale Pikes are the kind you’ll remember. We drop towards Little Langdale, make a short climb to Blea Tarn, then descend back to the ODG, where a pint of local beer is an option.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 13.2 km (8.2 mi)
Elevation: +700 m (+2,296 ft) / -700 m (-2,296 ft)
Duration: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside

Day 4: Loughrigg Fell, Grasmere, and the Coffin Route

Small dark mountain lake in a grassy valley below steep green slopes, with a larger lake and heavy clouds beyond

Today we walk straight from the door of our hotel, no driving needed. Passing Galava Roman Fort, we pick up a minor road and follow the river Rothay before climbing onto Loughrigg Fell. It’s a varied circuit with views opening onto different valleys, Great Langdale and Grasmere among them, and partway round we can take in the summit of Loughrigg Fell at 335 m (1,099 ft). From there we drop down to Grasmere Lake and Rydal Water. The last stretch can be varied to include Rydal Hall, which dates back to 1650, and the old Coffin Route, the medieval path once used to carry coffins from Grasmere to Ambleside.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 12 km (8 mi)
Elevation: +290 m (+950 ft) / -290 m (-950 ft)
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside

Day 5: Easdale valley and Tarn Crag from Grasmere

Yellow stone house with slate roof above a grassy slope, lake and mountains under a cloudy sky in Lake District

A 15-minute drive north brings us to Grasmere, once home to the poets William and Dorothy Wordsworth. We leave the village on foot along the pretty Easdale valley, then climb beside Sour Milk Gill up to Easdale Tarn. If conditions are good, we can push on to the remote Codale Tarn and traverse to the summit of Tarn Crag, where the Helvellyn range fills the skyline along with the surrounding fells. Our descent follows a meandering path to the head of Far Easdale valley, and from there it’s an easy walk back into Grasmere village.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 11 km (7.5 mi)
Elevation: +490 m (+1,607 ft) / -490 m (-1,607 ft)
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside

Day 6: Derwent Water, Catbells, and the ferry to Keswick

Old dry-stone barn with a moss-covered roof and dark doorways beside a grassy hillside and trees in Lake District

Half an hour’s drive takes us to the North Lakes and the little market town of Keswick. We set off along the Cumbria Way through the village of Portinscale, then follow a woodland path down the east side of Derwent Water, passing Lingholm House, a favourite holiday spot of children’s author Beatrix Potter. There’s a coffee and ice cream stop before the climb onto Catbells. It’s steep in places, with plenty of excuses to pause and take in the North Lakes views. From the summit we descend to the shore and catch the ferry at Hawes End back across the lake to Keswick.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 9 km (6 mi)
Elevation: +370 m (+1,214 ft) / -370 m (-1,214 ft)
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn, Ambleside

Day 7: Helvellyn, England's third-highest peak

Four hikers with backpacks and trekking poles pose by a stone cairn on a rocky summit above a lake in Lake District

We save the big one for last. Starting from Thirlmere Reservoir, we climb above Helvellyn Gill and past Brown Cove Crags before the ground levels out and we stroll onto the summit. Weather permitting, the 360-degree views are something else, with the famous ridges of Striding Edge and Swirral Edge dropping away below us. Helvellyn has a colourful past, too, including an attempt to land an aeroplane on the summit back in 1926. If the group is keen, we can extend things along the plateau ridge, drop down the steep descent of Comb Gill, and follow a traversing path back to the start. Dinner and our final night are back at the inn in Ambleside.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 7 km (4.5 mi), or 11 km (7 mi) on the longer route
Elevation: +770 m (+2,526 ft) / -770 m (-2,526 ft)
Accommodation: The Ambleside Inn

Day 8: Breakfast and departure from Ambleside

Flock of grey sheep walking along a gravel track past a slate stone farmhouse below grassy hillsides in Lake District

Enjoy a last breakfast at the inn and swap photos with the group before the trip wraps up. Services end after breakfast. From Ambleside, take a taxi or bus to Windermere, then carry on by train to Oxenholme and onward to the airport. If you have time before you travel, Ambleside itself is well worth a wander.

Meals: Breakfast

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Lodging & food

Characterful 300-year-old inn

Home for the week is The Ambleside Inn, a characterful inn with over 300 years of history, right in the heart of Ambleside. Rooms are comfortable and full of character, with en-suite facilities, Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee making kit for that first brew of the morning. Trip fees are based on two people sharing a twin room (two single beds); solo travellers share with someone of the same gender, though a single room may be available for private use with early booking and a supplementary charge. Staying put in one place all week means you can bring whatever luggage you like, just bear in mind there’s no elevator, so wheeled luggage and a few flights of stairs go hand in hand.

Note that exact accommodations may vary depending on availability, but will always be of the same standard and comfort.

Pub food and local ales

Four hikers with trekking poles sit on gravel beside a round pond in front of a large stone manor in Lake District

We stay on a half board basis, so all seven breakfasts and dinners are covered. Downstairs in the welcoming pub, hearty meals are cooked with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and served alongside local ales, which taste a lot better after a day on the fells. Lunches aren’t included, so there’s freedom to pick up what you fancy in Ambleside or stop at a cafe along the way. Vegetarian diets are easy to cater for, and allergies or intolerances can usually be arranged if you flag them on your booking form. If you follow a gluten free diet, bringing a few of your own snacks is a good idea.

Adventure, packed to go

Hiking the Lake District: 8 Days on England’s Finest Fells

Adventure Brochure

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Meet your guides

Seasoned pros, local legends, and passionate adventurers—your trip is in the best hands.

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Kathy

International Mountain Leader

Kathy is a seasoned mountaineer with decades of experience guiding from the Scottish Highlands to the Himalayas, where she’s climbed the iconic Ama Dablam. Raised in a remote valley in England’s Lake District, her childhood was filled with adventurous holidays—camping, sailing, and hiking through wild places. Now based in Aviemore during winter, Kathy is a senior forecaster for the Scottish Avalanche Information Service. She became an International Mountain Leader in 2007 and has guided ever since. With a background in mountain rescue and a sharp eye for outdoor gear (even doing the occasional bit of modeling!), Kathy brings both expertise and passion to every trek.

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David

International Mountain Leader

David grew up in South Wales with the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains on his doorstep, but discovered his passion for the mountains during an Outward Bound course in the English Lake District at 16. After time in the British Army and running a medical evacuation company, he pursued his dream as an International Mountain Leader in the French Alps. Based in the French Alps, he now leads trekking and running trips across Europe and loves exploring new trails for future adventures.

5.00

Julia

International Mountain Leader

Julia is an adventurer at heart, driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore the world around her. With over 20 years of experience, she’s made a career out of her passion, working as a sports coach, personal trainer, International Mountain Leader, and BASI Level 3 ISIA Nordic Ski Teacher. Her guiding experience spans Europe, where she’s led adventure holidays and taught aspiring instructors, as well as expeditions across Africa, South America, and the Greater Ranges. Back home, she founded a thriving triathlon club, combining her love for sport and community. Julia holds certifications in rock climbing, Nordic walking, mountain biking, canoeing, and triathlon coaching, offering exciting and inclusive adventures for all levels.

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Lindsay

International Mountain Leader

With over two decades of experience exploring the Alps, Lindsay has amassed an impressive depth of knowledge about mountain life. Lindsay holds an array of qualifications, including being a fully certified International Mountain Leader, BASI Level 3 ISIA Ski Teacher, Nordic Walking Instructor, Trail Cycle Leader, and Yoga Teacher. Her diverse skill set ensures that she can offer a holistic mountain experience, blending adventure, fitness, and mindfulness.

What others say about this adventure

5.00 (1 review)

Ellen

I highly recommend these guides for walking and hiking adventures. I have now been using them for over three years and have been delighted to find that the guides are knowledgable, professional, and all around great individuals. Each trip has challenged me and gifted me with the beauty of the terrain. But, the guides have been the cherry on the top that makes the adventure so special.

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Things to know

Included:
- - An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area, a fully qualified International Mountain Leader/Mountain Leader
  - 8-day hiking trip in the Lake District (6 days of hiking)
  - Accommodation for 7 nights at a characterful 300-year-old Lakeland inn (twin occupancy, two people sharing), with en-suite facilities, Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee making facilities
  - 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners (half board)
  - Transfers to and from each hike
  - Ferry back to Keswick
  - Guide expenses
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
- - Single occupancy room
Not included:
- - Transportation to England
  - Travel to and from the meeting point
  - Lunches
  - Walking poles
  - Miscellaneous personal spending
  - Anything not mentioned in the ‘Included’ section above
  - Insurance — mandatory, available at checkout
  - Guide gratuities — optional
In order to join this hiking tour in Lake District, England, good fitness is required as well as previous hill walking experience on mountain terrain. The most you’ll hike within a day is up to 13.2 km (8.2 mi), with up to 770 m (2,526 ft) of elevation gain. Walking days last between 4 and 7 hours, with some steep ascents and descents, and the highest point reached is 950 m (3,116 ft).

You’ll stay in the same hotel all week and only carry a day pack, which makes a big difference over six days of walking. Weather in the fells changes fast, so rain, wind, and fog can make a day feel harder than the numbers suggest. Distance and ascent figures are a general guide to the effort involved, not an exact measurement, so use them to judge whether the trip suits your fitness and stamina.
Lakeland weather can hand you sunshine, rain, fog, and wind in the same day, so pack for all of it. Your guides suggest the following:

Equipment:
- - Rucksack, 25-30 litres, with waist and chest straps
  - Waterproof liner or cover for your rucksack
  - Walking boots, warm and waterproof
  - Walking poles (advised, not included in the trip)
  - Bags to waterproof items such as documentation
  - Gaiters, useful on moorland
Clothing:
- - Waterproof jacket (essential, one that will keep you dry through a day of heavy rain)
  - Waterproof trousers (essential)
  - Windproof and warm trousers
  - Long-sleeved thermal top
  - Thin long-sleeved fleece
  - Hiking T-shirts
  - Hiking shorts
  - Fleece or windstopper waistcoat
  - Duvet jacket or a second warm layer
  - Gloves, two pairs (one thick, one thin)
  - Warm hat
  - Sun hat
  - Head or ear band
  - Scarf or buff for your neck
  - Socks, 2 or 3 pairs
Comfort:
- - Lip salve
  - Sunscreen (essential)
  - Sunglasses
  - Snack bars or chocolate
  - Tissues, plus biodegradable bags to dispose of rubbish
  - Anti-bacterial hand wash
  - Insect repellent for the famous midges
  - Midge net
Personal first aid:
- - Personal medication
  - Blister plasters and blister tape (e.g. Strappal)
  - Painkillers or anti-inflammatories
  - Glucose tablets or energy gel
  - 2 rehydration sachets (e.g. Dioralyte)
  - Throat lozenges
  - Antiseptic cream or spray
Documentation:
- - Travel insurance
  - Passport
  - Credit card
  - Cash in pounds sterling
Other:
- - Hair dryer, if required
  - Lightweight electric boot dryers
  - Camera, book, or music
  - Ear plugs, if you’re sharing a room
  - Small thermos for hot drinks
  - Head torch plus spare batteries
  - Padlock for luggage
  - Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet
Since you’re based in the same hotel all week, you’re welcome to bring whatever luggage you need. Not every hotel has a lift, though, so you may be carrying bags up a few flights of stairs; wheeled luggage is a good idea. Your guides are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit. On most trips there’s a small amount of group kit to share, usually a lightweight survival shelter that gets passed between walkers day by day.

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

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Group sizes and pricing:
- - It takes a minimum of 4 people for this hiking tour in Lake District, England, to operate. The maximum group size is set at 8 participants.
  - Solo travelers can share a twin room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee. Single rooms are limited, so request one as early as possible.
  - Hiking tours in Lake District, England, can be arranged for larger groups — contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
This hiking tour in Lake District, England, is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout, but note that single rooms are limited in suppy and need to be requested early.

Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.
The starting point of your hiking tour in Lake District, England, is Ambleside, in the Lake District. To get there, most people fly into Manchester Airport (MAN), the nearest airport to Oxenholme. From the airport, it’s about a 1.5-hour train journey to Oxenholme, with a train each hour. From Oxenholme, there’s a train every hour to Windermere, and from there you can take a bus or a taxi to your hotel in Ambleside.

You will meet your guide in the evening of Day 1 at your accommodation in Ambleside, for a meet and greet followed by dinner. On the morning of your departure, you take a taxi or bus back to Windermere and continue on to Oxenholme and the airport.
Having insurance is mandatory for this adventure. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
- If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
- If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
- If canceled within 89 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
- Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.

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