Southern Lake District Self-Guided Walking Tour 2024

0
Price
From$880 pp
Price
From$880 pp
Full Name*
Email Address*
Your Enquiry*
* I agree with Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step
Save To Wish List

Adding item to wishlist requires an account

1441

Why Book With Us?

  • Over 24 years of exceptional service
  • Hand-Picked tours & accommodations
  • Preferred Suppliers & Rates

Contact us...

Our experienced travel designers are ready to arrange your travels.

1-888-597-3519

905-639-9954

dhtour@dhtour.ca

4, 5 or 8 Days / 3, 4 or 7 Nights
Availability : February to November
Start: Monk Coniston, Coniston, Cumbria, England
End: Monk Coniston, Coniston, Cumbria, England
Southern Lake District Self-Guided Walking Tour: 3, 4 or 7 nights based at Monk Coniston, Conistonwater, Cambria, Southern Lake District

Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book.

Enjoy a self-guided walking holiday in the Southern Lake District with the walking experts. We have all the ingredients for your perfect self-guided holiday with accommodation in our historic 4-star country house with fabulous views over Coniston Water. The house is geared to the needs of walkers and outdoor enthusiasts with a boot room, coat drying area, bar, lounge and extensive garden. Enjoy hearty local food, borrow detailed walking route notes from our Discovery Point and take full advantage of our inspirational location from which to explore the national park. There are fells and lakes to explore in areas which inspired both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.

Southern Lake District Walking Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Tour Details

Highlights:

  • Use our Discovery Point, stocked with maps and walks directions for exploring the local area
  • Head out on any of our walks to discover the varied beauty of the South Lakes on foot
  • Choose a valley bottom stroll or reach for the summits on fell walks and horseshoe hikes
  • Visit charming Lakeland villages
  • Choose your own pace of discovery and get some fresh air in one of England’s most beautiful walking areas
  • Cycle in nearby Grizedale Forest
  • Take a boat ride on the lake
  • Visit a National Trust property
  • Evenings in our country house where you can share a drink and re-live the day’s adventures

Pick Up Location & TIme

Monk Coniston, Coniston, Cumbria LA21 8AQ (Google Map)
4:00pm – You’re welcome to check into the country house hotel from 4pm onwards.

Drop off Location & Time

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way onward.

Price Includes

  • High quality en-suite upgraded accommodation at Monk Coniston
  • Excellent food in our country house, full board (B,L,D daily)
  • Use of Discovery Point Library at the country house - stocked with maps, walks and local area information
  • Free time to explore the area

Meals

All meals from dinner on arrival day, to breakfast on departure day
  • Daily breakfast
  • Daily lunch
  • Daily dinner
  • 0 teas

Price Excludes

  • Airfare
  • Transfers
  • Pre / Post hotel nights
  • Travel to/from the Country Hotel (The nearest railway stations is Windermere)
  • Admissions (please allow approx. £10 per day for entrances)
  • Local expenses such as transportation
  • Travel Insurance
What to Expect

Unpack Once!

Go where you want, when you want. Take a relaxing stroll or try something more challenging. All our country houses have a Discovery Point with maps, guidebooks and local walks directions to help you tailor your stay.

  • Accommodation at a country house hotel
  • Full Board Meals – from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day
Southern Lake District Walking Grade: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Walking Grades Explained:

  • Grades 1 & 2 – Leisurely walking grades
  • Grades 3 & 4 – Moderate walking grades
  • Grades 5 & 6 – Challenging walking grades
What to Bring

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong type of clothing!” goes the adage. Come prepared for all eventualities and you’ll walk in comfort as well as safety. Britain’s famous for its changeable weather, so here’s our advice on what to wear and bring.

Essentials

  • Waterproof walking boots providing ankle support and good grip.
  • A waterproof jacket and over-trousers
  • Gloves and a warm hat (it can be chilly at any time of the year)
  • Rucksack
  • Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
  • A small torch (everywhere in winter, year round in mountains)
  • Sun hat and sunscreen
    Denim jeans and waterproof capes are not suitable on any walks.

Recommended

  • Several layers of clothing, which can be added or removed
  • Specialist walking socks to avoid blisters.
  • A first aid kit inc plasters– your leader’s first aid kit doesn’t contain any medication
  • Sit mat (insulated pad to sit on when you stop for a break)

You might also want

  • Walking poles, particularly useful for descents.
  • Insect repellent
  • Flask for hot drinks
  • Rigid lunch box
  • Gaiters
  • Blister kit (eg Compeed) just in case
  • Waterproof rucksack liner
Itinerary

Arrival Day

You’re welcome to check in from 4pm onwards.

Accommodation: Monk Coniston (D)

Free Days

Check out the Discovery Point Library at the country house – stocked with maps, walks and local area information. 

For stays of 3 nights, you will have 2 days at your choice.

For stays of 4 nights, you will have 3 days at your choice.

For stays of 7 nights, you will have 6 days at your choice.

Accommodation: Monk Coniston (B, L, D)

Departure Day

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. (B)

Local Area

Southern Lake DistrictMonk Coniston

Monk Coniston is an imposing Gothic property leased from the National Trust and set in 8 acres of grounds, including a restored walled garden and the impressive arboretum. Some particularly impressive specimens, including a giant sequoia (the largest tree in the world) and the wollemi pine can be explored on the Monk Coniston Tree Trail.

Views from the property offer breathtaking glimpses of Coniston Water and the surrounding mountains.

Coniston village is about one mile away – there is a direct path from the house to the village. Here you’ll find a small supermarket, post office, newsagent, pubs and a Barclays Bank (open 3 times a week). A wider range of facilities is available in Ambleside, the nearest town, about 8 miles away. The Ruskin Museum is also well worth a visit – find out more about the lake’s connections to Donald Campbell and Swallows and Amazons author Arthur Ransome.

Steam Yacht Gondola

First cruising Coniston Water 150 years ago, the restored Steam Yacht Gondola is now operated by the National Trust, stopping at the Monk Coniston jetty at the bottom of the meadow below the house before gliding across the lake, calling at Coniston village and Brantwood House.

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Ride ‘L’al Ratty’ a highly scenic narrow gauge railway which runs from the coast at Ravenglass along beautiful Eskdale. You could combine a visit with a walk over Muncaster Fell, or to Stanley Gill waterfall.

Blackwell House

Blackwell is a stunning house, completed in 1901 in the Arts & Crafts style. Admire the remarkably preserved interiors, and soak up the beautiful views over Lake Windermere and the Coniston fells.

Brantwood House

Just a couple of miles from Monk Coniston, Brantwood House – John Ruskin’s former home – commands superb views over the lake. The house’s 250-acre estate features 8 distinct gardens which were created by Ruskin with the help of his cousin Joan Severn and head gardener, Sally Beamish.

Tarn Hows

A short walk from the Country House, Tarn Hows is a man-made lake created by Monk Coniston’s resident owner, James Garth Marshall in 1865, as he continued to develop the estate and expand his pleasure grounds. He built a dam to flood the area, amalgamating several smaller tarns, before planting the shores and islands with new woodlands and specimen trees. There is an accessible 1.75 mile circular walk around the lake.

Grizedale Forest

Nearby Grizedale Forest is ideal for walking and mountain biking and also has a popular sculpture trail. You can also experience the Go Ape high-ropes course and zip wire – a great option for active teenagers – or explore using a Segway.

Levens Hall

Levens Hall is a beautiful, privately-owned Elizabethan stately home, famous for its magnificent formal garden and having the world’s oldest topiary gardens. Levens Hall is near Kendal and can be reached by car in about 50 minutes from Coniston.

Grasmere

Grasmere is about 30 minutes’ drive from Monk Coniston and is famous for its connections with William Wordsworth. The poet’s homes at Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount can be visited, the former of which includes the Wordsworth Museum. Grasmere’s famous traditional gingerbread shop is also well worth a visit.

Windermere

Take a cruise along the length of Windermere – England’s largest lake. Ferries connect Ambleside in the north to Bowness and Lakeside in the south, where you can connect with the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

Dates and Prices
3 night package
Departure Dates
Per person (single or twin) Single in a double room
2024: February 23  Call to Enquire Call to Enquire
2024: March 1, 8 $880 $1,000
2024: March 22  Call to Enquire  Call to Enquire
2024: March 29 $960 $1,080
2024: April 5  Call to Enquire  Call to Enquire
2024: April 12 $960 $1,080
2024: April 19  Call to Enquire Call to Enquire
2024: April 26 $1,040 $1,160
2024: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 $1,040 $1,160
2024: June 7, 14, 21, 28 $1,040 $1,160
2024: July 5, 12, 19 $1,040 $1,160
2024: August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 $1,040 $1,160
2024: September 6, 20, 27 $1,040 $1,160
2024: October 4, 11, 18 $960 $1,080
2024: October 25 $880 $1,000
2024: November 1, 8, 15 $880 $1,000
4 night package
Departure Dates
Per person (single or twin) Single in a double room
2024: February 19, 26 $1,080 $1,240
2024: March 4, 11, 25 $1,080 $1,240
2024: April 1, 15, 22 $1,240 $1,400
2024: April 29 $1,380 $1,540
2024: May 13  Call to Enquire  Call to Enquire
2024: May 20 $1,380 $1,540
2024: June 10, 17, 24 $1,380 $1,540
2024: July 1, 8, 15, 22 $1,380 $1,540
2024: August 5, 19, 26 $1,380 $1,540
2024: September 2, 9, 23, 30 $1,380 $1,540
2024: October 7, 14 $1,240 $1,420
2024: October 21  Call to Enquire  Call to Enquire
2024: November 4, 11, 18 $1,080 $1,240
7 night package
Departure Dates
Per person (single or twin) Single in a double room
2024: March 1, 8 $1,840 $2,120
2024: March 29 $2,040 $2,320
2024: April 15 $2,040 $2,320
2024: April 26 $2,280 $2,560
2024: May 17, 31 $2,280 $2,560
2024: June 7, 14, 21, 28 $2,280 $2,560
2024: July 5, 12, 19 $2,280 $2,560
2024: August 2, 16, 23, 30 $2,280 $2,560
2024: September 6 $2,280 $2,560
2024: September 13  Call to Enquire  Call to Enquire
2024: September 20, 27 $2,280 $2,560
2022: October 14, 21 $2,040 $2,320
2024: November 1, 8, 15 $1, 840 $2,120

Pricing

Pricing is per person (pp) based on single/twin/double occupancy.

Supplement applied for single in a double room.

Rates are in $ CAD. Rates include room upgrade (premium) and membership fees. 


Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book.

Ask us for the best available pricing for your dates & choice of airline. We can assist in your travel to/from the Country House.

Travel Details:
Address is: Monk Coniston, Coniston, Cumbria LA21 8AQ

By Rail:
The nearest train station is at Windermere.

By Taxi:
The 13-mile journey from Windermere railway station takes approximately 30 minutes. You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended taxi company, Ace Taxi. As a guide price, it cost £25 per 4-seat taxi in 2019. 8-seat taxis are also available at a higher rate. Please pre-book your taxi at least 7 days in advance by contacting:

Ace Taxi*
Tel: +44 (0) 1539 445445
Email: acetaxiwindermere@gmail.com
The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Monk Coniston Manager.
*Ace Taxi is not owned or managed by us.

By Bus:
From Windermere station you can catch the 505 bus direct to Monk Coniston – the bus stop is right outside our Country House. Journey time is around 50 minutes.

By Car:
From Ambleside take the A593 signposted to Coniston. Turn sharp left over a narrow bridge, then after half a mile turn left onto the B5286, signposted to Hawkshead. About 3 miles along this road, and just before Hawkshead, turn right onto the B5285, signposted to Coniston. Follow this road over Hawkshead Hill. The road descends then goes around a 180° bend to the left. The entrance to Monk Coniston is on the left about 100yds after the bend. There is car parking available within the grounds.

Hotel Descriptions
4

Monk Coniston

Wrapped in manicured gardens with stunning views over Coniston Water, Monk Coniston combines country house grandeur and romantic, gothic-style charm with contemporary touches to great effect among the rugged landscapes of the Lake District. Rocky mountains and grassy fells loom all around this handsome home, once owned by Beatrix Potter, and more latterly turned hikers’ hotel and owned by the National Trust. Fell-flecked scenery unfurls from the windows of the bedrooms in the main house, adjoining cottage and counting house. While the setting remains traditional and the grand entrance recalls a traditional era, the interiors have been swept into the present with bold patterns and comfy fabrics. Beyond the house, trails from the doorstep set off to explore the Lake District. Climb famous summits including Bow Fell, the Langdale Pikes and the Old Man of Coniston. Bag a series of Wainwright summits. Alternatively, slip into the beautiful valleys and stroll picturesque lakeside paths in search of secret corners such as Cathedral Cove in Little Langdale.

Address: Monk Coniston, Coniston, Cumbria LA21 8AQ

Room Amenities: Tea & coffee-making facilities, TV, Hairdryer, Toiletries, Wi-Fi

Stay in the smartly presented rooms in the main house. With 32 rooms, Monk Coniston has plenty of space and there’s a range of Classic, Premium and Superior Rooms to choose from. Rooms with a view are well worth the extra spend as you’ll be overlooking the gardens or the lake.  Our favourite is Room 9 on the first floor, which contains some of the original features from when it was first built in 1885, a striking sailboat-patterned wallpaper and opens on to beautiful views of the gardens and fields that slope down to the shore of Coniston Water.

All ‘Classic’ rooms are ensuite and furnished to a high standard. There are also several ‘Premium’ Rooms that are either larger or have a desirable view, a more luxurious mattress, larger television, enhanced toiletries and a fluffy bathrobe & slippers.

Hotel Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, boot room and drying room, extensive garden, lounge, bar, Lakeland barn for activities, library and board games to borrow

After a day exploring the Lake District, return to the house. Stroll through the extensive grounds with their putting green and croquet lawn and uncover the hidden walled garden on the hill behind the house. Take a turn around the National Trust nature trail and look out for the fabulous, rare mature trees. Stumble on the small secret folly stood quietly among the bluebells when they’re out and the lush green grass when they’re not. Catch up with fellow guests in the bright and spacious lounge or grab a drink from the airy bar and wander down the garden to the bench overlooking Coniston Water for the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner – you might even spot the restored steam yacht Gondola cruising the five-mile length of the lake. After hours, duck into the converted Lakeland barn with its exposed beams and rustic chandelier for evening activities and skittles.

Map

Photos

Proceed Booking