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THE LAKE DISTRICT & LANCASHIRE DALES
4 days / 3 nights - Wednesday to Saturday
| Perhaps one of Britain's best-known regions, the Lake District deserves its reputation for providing the visitor with stunning and never-to-be- forgotten scenery and it's easy to see why the district so inspired both poet and painter. Had we not had 'the Lakes,' we might not now be enjoying Wordsworth! But there's more to the region than this. There are picturesque villages and towns, there are country houses and museums. |
There are interesting historical site from prehistory to the birthplace of the humble pencil. Combined with a taste of the Lancashire Dales, this is a lovely three day sojourn and if you have the time to combine it with our four day Wales, Mountains and Lakes tour, you have a super super 8 day’s holiday. Alternatively, combine it with our 4-day Viking tour for a complete look at England’s North Country. |
DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2009
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Tour Code
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Depart
Manchester
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Return
Manchester
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LAKE
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Wednesday
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Saturday
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LAKE 01
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22 Apr
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25 Apr
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LAKE 02
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06 May
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09 May
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LAKE 03
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20 May
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23 May
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LAKE 04
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03 Jun
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06 Jun
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LAKE 05
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17 Jun
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20 Jun
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LAKE 06
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01 Jul
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04 Jul
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LAKE 07
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15 Jul
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18 Jul
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LAKE 08
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29 Jul
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01 Aug
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LAKE 09
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12 Aug
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15 Aug
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LAKE 10
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26 Aug
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29 Aug
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LAKE 11
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09 Sep
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12 Sep
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LAKE 12
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23 Sep
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26 Sep
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LAKE 13
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07 Oct
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10 Oct
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Price per person: GBP £495 Twin share / GBP £540 Single room
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What
your tour price includes
- Your accommodation for 3 nights while on the tour is included in your tour price, and this includes both full breakfasts and dinners
- Your
price also includes all entrance fees to attractions,
transportation, services of driver/guide-companion
and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish
to give your guide
- Airport
transfers and accommodation pre and post tour is not
included but can be reserved at a specially discounted
price.
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| TENTATIVE
ITINERARY |
NIGHTSTOP
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DAY
ONE - WEDNESDAY
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We depart central Manchester
at 08.30, collecting those who are combining this tour with
our Wales, Mountains and Lakes tour. A short drive north brings
us to the southern Lake District and our first stop at Holker
Hall.
Back-Roads then take us alongside
Coniston Water with the 'Old Man of Coniston' rising above us.
This will be just the first of many astounding drives up over
narrow passes with the lakes or valleys spreading out beneath
us. At Coniston we'll visit the home of Victorian philosopher,
John Ruskin. Perhaps his most appropriate quote for us as travellers
would be 'there is no wealth except life'. Brantwood is indeed
an extraordinary structure, perched on a narrow shelf at the
foot of a steep mountain (or 'fell') side, high above Coniston
Water and well illustrates Ruskin's concept of 'organic architecture'.
From here we climb another pass
and drop down to Windermere, our base for two nights.
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Windermere
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DAY
TWO - THURSDAY
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Our
initial route takes us to Wordsworth's Cottage at Grassmere.
Then, a back route around Thirlmere to Keswick. Next, a really
gripping ride up, climbing some of the regions steepest gradients,
traversing Borrowdale, with a stop at the falls en route, to
Buttermere. More sublime Lakeland scenery follows as we run
alongside Crummock Water and through the Whinlatter Forest.
We'll have some time at the town
of Keswick and see the prehistoric Castlerigg Stone Circle and,
if there's interest, we could see the museum dedicated to the
lead pencil as this is truly its home!
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Windermere
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DAY
THREE - FRIDAY
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Today is a ‘slow down day’ of organised independence. There'll be independent time to sample the gentle atmosphere of Windermere itself. Literary fans might enjoy visiting Beatrix Potter's home. Or perhaps the sailors amongst you will elect to take a rowing boat on the lake (not included in tour price), or the more sedate steam paddle boat! Other options include adventuring out on one of local bus services or enjoying a day’s walking. And, of course, there’s shopping! Whatever you decide to do, it’s an opportunity to experience local life in the lakes.
Please note, your guide may elect to interchange days two and three according to the weather conditions. |
Windermere
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DAY FOUR - SATURDAY
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Today see us touring the undulations of the West Yorkshire Dales. The Three Peaks area covers about 160 square kilometres of upland in the Pennines, with internationally famous limestone scenery. Much of the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, owing to the special nature and fragility of its upland ecosystem. This is the old ‘DaneLaw’ and one of our visits will be to Kirkby Lonsdale, and to see a unique and frightening Viking gravestone.
We'll focus on a couple of villages as we tour the region. Ribblehead, in the centre of the Three Peaks is itself famous for the Ribblehead Viaduct where the Settle-Carlisle Railway crosses the boggy moor. Settle's market charter goes back to 1249, and on Tuesdays its Market Place has retained many of its old buildings and its intimate atmosphere, with a wide range of small, independent shops. Near here is Austwick, the site of the famous Norber Erratics. These are boulders carried by a glacier during the late Ice Age and dumped on this limestone plateau. The limestone supporting them has been eroded away by rain and wind, leaving the huge boulders supported on small pedestals of white limestone.
Then, Ingleton, famous for its walks through the local 'glens'. Village streets are narrow and winding and centred on the tiny market place. Deep beneath Ingleborough Hill lies a hidden world which has been sculptured by nature over thousands of years. Imagine a subterranean landscape, beautifully lit, with gushing streams and waterfalls, exotic cave formations, and a huge ice-age cavern adorned with thousands of stalactites. It's the longest show cave in Britain and it provides us with a wonderful late afternoon stop.
Finally, to Haworth, home of the Bronte sisters, where those who are continuing on to our Viking North tour will be dropped. Those leaving the tour taken back to central Manchester.
>>Go to other tours departing from Manchester
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| Alternative: Northern Literary tour. This tour can also be combined with a tour starting on a Saturday from any other of our departure cities of London, Glasgow, Dublin or Lille. You'd travel between cities either by rail or low-cost airline. |
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