The Great National Parks - Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April 2024 - The best of the Peak district, Lake District

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Hadrian's Wall and the 2 National parks are relatively close to each other and each day we will hike up the best of these great places. 

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The travelling time will not be much more than a journey to the Lake district so very economic in travelling time and carbon footprint. Starting on Good Friday morning and returning back on bank holiday Monday evening.   The below itinerary is very full, so only suitable for members that are energetic. Easter is great time for this adventure, not too hot for our walks and sunset is just before 8pm so will have over 13 hours of daylight each day to explore. 

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Friday 29th March (Good Friday): Peak district National Park - Mam Tor + Bakewell to Chatsworth House

Saturday 30th March: Hadrian's Wall - the most scenic 10 miles of this historical walk

Sunday 31st March: Cats Bells and Butttermere (both with fantastic lake views)

Monday 1st April:  St Bees Lake's coast walk or another Lakeland classic (weather permitting)
 

Lake District 

If anywhere is the heart and soul of walking in England, its the Lake District, an area of wonderful high mountains, deep valleys and of course lakes.  In the Lakes you will find proper mountains, wild and rugged. We will walk along the best Lake walks, Cat Bells with Derwent lake and Buttermere lake, both have been voted as one of Britain’s top 10 walks.  The Lake District is very close to Hadrian's Wall so will walk along the wall for half a day as part of this event.  All the photos you see below are the places we plan to explore during the July event. There are no mountain climbs on this event just big hills to get to high viewpoints for the fantastic lake views.  I have lead walks in the Lakes for over 20 years and believe the walks I have selected are the best for scenery.

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Hadrian's Wall

We will walk a long high paths of Hadrian's wall giving us magnificent views of the bounders of Scotland and England.  We will pass through many ancient Roman forts and even walk on top of Hadrian's Wall for many miles.   

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Peak District

The Peak District has stunning, raw beauty, dramatic and rugged landscape and natural charm along with picture postcard stone villages have resulted in this to be the second most visited National Park in the world.  We are going to hike two of the best known and arguably the greatest hikes in the Peak District: Mam Tor (3 hrs) and Bakewell to Chatsworth house walk (3.5 hrs).  On classic low level walk from Bakewell to Chatsworth House we will visit town infamous  for their Bakewell tarts and Chatsworth is a mansion house where the film "Pride and Prejudice" was filmed.

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Friday 29th March 2024

08:00               Meet at Colindale tube station 

08:00-11:15     Drive to the Peak District  

11:30-14:30    1st Walk: Circular walk of Mam Tor (5 miles, 1 hill & pack lunch break)

14:30-15:00    Drive to Bakewell

15:00-16:30    2nd walk: Bakewell to Chatsworth House (5 miles, 1 hill)

16:30-17:15    Break at Chatsworth House

17:15-19:15    Continue 2nd walk back to Bakewell (4 miles)

19:30-21:00    Dinner in a Restaurant in Bakewell

20:30-21:30    Travel to our Premier Inn hotel 

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Saturday 30th March 2024

07:00-08:00     Breakfast at hotel

08:00-09:30     Drive to Brampton (start of our Hadrian's walk)

09:40-16:30     Start of Hadrian's Wall - 11 miles - undulating

16:30-17:00     Refreshments at Housesteads Fort National Trust  

17:00-17:45     Drive to Lake District 4000 yrs old Stone Circle 

17:45-18:15     Stone Circle (photos) 

18:15 - 18:30   Drive to Keswick for dinner 

18:30 - 20:00   Dinner at Keswick

20:10-21:00     Drive to Premier Inn at Whitehaven

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Sunday 31st March 2024

07:00-07:45     Breakfast at hotel

08:00-08:30     Drive to Keswick Lake for our start

09:00-12:30     Circular walk of Cats Bells with great views of Keswick

12:40-13:15     Drive to Butttermere

13:15-14:15     Lunch at the village of Buttermere 

14:15 - 16:15   Circular walk of Buttermere Lake

16:15 - 17:15   Pub or cake at Buttermere

17:20 - 18:00   Back to Hotel for dinner

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Monday 1st April 2024

07:00-08:00     Breakfast

09:00-14:00     There a several options for the last walk, St Bees coastal walk or another classic lake walk

14:15-19:15     Travel back to London - Uxbridge tube station with 2 refreshment breaks

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Transportation:  The cars/minibus transportation is provided if departing from London on Friday 29th March and return back on Monday 1st April for members that require it.  I will sort out all of the transportation logistics for the whole group.  Organise the departure point, exchange drivers and members contact details in advance and ensure the drivers get to every location during the event on time.  All my volunteer drivers are experienced and confident drivers. The hired mini bus is very comfortable with lots of space and will have a good group atmosphere.  Please note: Colindale tube station pick up on Friday 29th March and Uxbridge tube station for Monday 1st April drop off. 

 

Accommodation:  We will be staying at a Premier Inn hotel for 3 nights with 2 sharing with en-suite bathrooms. Room allocation will be based on gender or your own room if you attend with a friend.  Many other groups would book a youth hostel with 4-6 sharing a dormitory with bunk beds which can be noisy and over crowded.  

 

Meals:  I aim to reserve a few good restaurants in advance to give members a choice of cuisine and budget. Most other groups that stay at hostels would be catering at the hostel.  Hostel food is ok but there are many good restaurants in the Lakes, it would be a shame not to experience.  I will send members details of the restaurants selected and ask members to choose.  Meals are not included in the cost as we are not staying at a hostel and I want the group to experience regional food.  

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Fitness:  This event is suitable for members of an average fitness level.  For example, you are able to a walk minimum 2.5 miles per hour on a varied terrain for 10-12 miles within 6 hours.  There will be many breaks to enjoy the scenery, take photos and to rest.  

 

Flexibility: My approach and itinerary is flexible.  If bad weather is forecasted, I am happy to change the itinerary.  Visit a National Trust building or another indoor venues.  Weather can we localised in the Northern region so willing to drive to a different area for a dry walk. 

 

Securing a place: My events are normally over subscribed.  You can reserve your place on any event, months in advance with a £50 deposit.  I understand that member’s work, family & personal situation can change therefore do not require the balance until 10 days prior to the start of each event.  If you can no longer attend before transferring the balance, deposits can be transferred to any other event within the year's programme.

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KIT LIST

Essentials: 

Good waterproof jacket.  Even with no rain forecasted a waterproof jacket can be used to keep your warm during our early morning starts.

Hiking boots (with good grip and ankle support) - don’t forget to bring good quality hiking socks 

4 change of clothing. A few warm items for our early morning starts: base layer, warm fleece, gloves, beanie

Items for hot conditions: broad beam hat, a cap, sun block, sun glasses

 

Other items: 

Wash kit. towels will be provided at the hotel.  A daypack to hold your day kit (water, snacks, jacket)

Trainers to wear in the cars/minibus 

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North Yorks Moors National Park 

The North Yorks Moors National would be a great contrast to the Peak as this will be a specular coastal walk from Whitby Bay to Robin Hood's Bay with the North sea in sight at all times, Starting from the ancient Whitby Abbey we will walk pass the harbor to open rolling countryside.  

Yorkshire Dales

A hike through spectacular limestone scenery, cascading waterfalls. Above the falls a wide lime stone plateau opens up to Malham Tarn, follow by a delightful amble back of the top of Malham Cove.  This walk has many visual spectacular surprises and reward every walker views not to be forgotten.  Understandably this walk is voted 3rd best walk in Britain by 1000s of walkers.  

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