Easter – Secret Places of the Lake District
The Lake District is England’s only true mountain area. It has the most beautiful scenery in the land, with its bewitching mix of rugged mountains, deep gylls, shimmering lakes, bouncing waterfalls and attractive stone-built villages. Our solos guided walking holiday introduces you to this spectacular countryside.
This holiday explores some of the magnificent “secret” places of the Southern Lake district, within the area bounded by Coniston/Grange over Sands/Bowness and the southern end of Lake Windermere – and we have chosen some fabulous walks for you – walking in the natural beauty of the Lake District National park.
We walk on the first afternoon, then four more days. Lunch is generally packed form a local bakery. This holiday is run by local guides who have a vast knowledge of this beautiful area. We stay at the Newby Bridge Hotel, close to Lake Windermere.
Walking is moderate, some ascending and descending – there are fells and deep valleys to explore, and you should be walking fit.
We pride ourselves on how we create a social feel- so join us on this sociable active holiday where we meet as strangers and depart as friends.
We organise everything for you – from the minute you arrive to when you depart.
There are no extra single supplements, and all rooms have en-suite.
Join us on this sociable active holiday where we meet as strangers and depart as friends
Our speciality is offering guided walking holidays for solos and singles in magnificent locations across the UK and Europe. Unlike many other walking companies which offer solos holidays as an extra, we are unique in that we only deal in solos guided walking. We also design bespoke holidays for special groups.
What you get on a Secret Hills Break
- Hotel bed and breakfast– en suite four nights.
- Dinner- two courses.
- Lunch- except first day
- Sole Occupancy
- Personal service
- Expert guiding- friendly, local guides that know the area superbly well
- Transport to walks start and finish as needed
- Flexibility
- No single supplement
- A social, relaxed approach
- Full joining details prior to your holiday
- Our administration support from the point of booking to you joining the holiday
Hotel and Meals
We stay at the Newby Bridge Hotel, at the southern end of Lake Windermere.
We stay Thursday, Friday , Saturday and Sunday – four nights stay, but you may extend it on Monday night if this helps your travel plans. Walking days – Thursday afternoon, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday until about 3pm. Accommodation is single/double en suite rooms – no sharing. All our hotels have a bar, and a comfortable lounge. The hotel is a walker’s paradise with many varied walks from the door. The hotel also has a drying room should you get wet clothes!!
Please note that due to its location. mobile signal (depending on network) may be variable. You will however during your walks,. be able to access mobile reception. Wifi is available and is free all over the hotel.
Breakfast starts at 8am.
Dinner is two courses – all part of relaxing in these hills.
Your evening dinner is two courses chosen from three- so a main course and either a starter or pudding, and should you want an extra third course, then the hotel will charge you for this.
All our hotels excel in giving you value for money and very tasty evening meals – they pride themselves on their food, much locally sourced and grown. Dinner is three course at the hotel. Dress code is smart casual.
Lunch
Dependent on walks chosen
Option one
We have lunch at some of the area’s lovely country pubs or cafés. They will make sure you have tasty baguettes, baked potatoes, sandwiches or salads, with tasty soups in the colder months. We cater for vegetarians and other dietary requirements so please make sure you make these known prior to arrival. All lunches are included in the holiday. You simply pay for your own drinks.
Option two
We may need to have packed lunches on some days dependent on the walks we choose.
We offer you the opportunity to stay additional nights, and many people extend their weekend as they wish. Just reserve what nights you need.
Directions and Travel to Newby Bridge
Trains to Windermere – see National Rail
If you arrive at Windermere station, taxi’s are readily available to the hotel – around 8 miles distance.
A regular bus service drops you directly outside the hotel.
By car – Junction 36 of the M6 – follow signs for Barrow, Newby Bridge is 10 miles from this junction.
Itinerary
Your Easter programme starts with the first walk on arrival day at 2.30pm from the hotel foyer. If you are unable to make the first walk please let us know.
All full day walks start at 9.30 am, and we generally finish for that welcome cuppa at 4.30 pm where appropriate.. This will give you plenty of time to get ready for dinner. Your walks leaders will make this holiday break relaxing and the wonderful walking will stimulate your enthusiasm for the wide outdoors.
Sample Walks
Dependent on the abilities of each group, we choose an appropriate set of walks.
In the Southern Lake District there are endless choice of walks, so we will tell you on the first afternoon which walks we will do during this holiday. Here are a selection of walks we may use.
Raven’s Barrow and St Anthony’s Chapel
This walk takes us through forest plantations past Simpson Ground Reservoir and a barn once used by the Quakers as a meeting house to Raven’s Barrow on Cartmel Fell, where you will find an interesting seat with a view. Cartmel Fell church – St Anthony’s Chapel – was built in 1504 as chapel-of-ease to Cartmel Priory. The churchyard will hopefully offer us a glorious display of daffodils.
Rusland Valley and the Leven
A low level walk through woodland and the Rusland Valley to where the river meets the Leven Estuary, then along the river bank and past the old Low Wood Gunpowder Works into more woodland.
Bigland and the Tarns
Bigland Barrow, one of Wainwright’s ‘Outlying Fells’, is topped by the remains of a wartime observation tower. As well as views across to some of the Lakeland fells, you can reputedly see the Blackpool Illuminations from the top of Bigland Barrow in the autumn. The walk also takes us past the photogenic Bigland Tarn as well as Black Beck Tarn.
Grange-Over-Sands and Cartmel
A short bus ride takes us to the Victorian seaside resort of Grange-over-Sands. We will walk over Hampsfell, another ‘Outlying Fell’, to Cartmel, a small village famous for its historic priory, its racecourse, sticky toffee pudding and L’Enclume. After lunch (not at the Michelin star restaurant), we will walk around the shoulder of Hampsfell back into Grange where there may be time for a walk along the prom or round the Ornamental Gardens before taking the bus back to Newby Bridge.
Rusland Heights, High Dam and the bobbin mill
This walk climbs through woodland past Boretree Tarn to High Dam with the opportunity to take a look at the Stott Park Bobbin Mill. The water wheel for the bobbin mill was powered by the former Finsthwaite Tarn, which was dammed in 1835.
Walking Thursday afternoon, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – finishing at 3.30pm to allow you to get away back home. Check out Monday morning.
All the walking is done with our social, relaxed approach – talking is as important as walking.
On this holiday we will be walking in an area bounded by Windermere, Grizedale Forest and Grange-over-Sands. We will start the holiday with an introductory walk on Thursday afternoon and then there will be full day walks starting at 9.30 and finishing by approximately 16.30 on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday we will finish at around 15.00.
Our first, gentle, 4 mile, walk will take us to through Finsthwaite to High Dam, a delightful tarn fringed with woodland. We will gather together for introductions from around 14.00 and will start walking at 14.30.
The other walks will generally be between 8 and 10 miles and will be tailored to the group’s needs, as well as the weather, and could include some of the following:
The Southern Lake District offers a wide variety of terrains and walking opportunities. We will describe each walk the night before and what it entails. We walk at a steady pace, we don’t rush – we want you to enjoy our lovely scenery. These fells are a walker’s paradise with good, mainly well marked paths and an ever changing landscape. There are hills to ascend which we will take slowly. What’s the point of huffing and puffing, being exhausted then not being able to enjoy this fabulous land? This is a land of ever changing vistas – on any walk we get four or five different landscapes to enjoy. Don’t forget your camera.
The walks on this trip are rated as Moderate but each day involves a fair amount of ascent and descent. The trip requires a reasonable amount of fitness, ideally with previous hill walking experience.
This is the Lake District so all walks will involve at the very least undulating terrain. The paths we use are well trodden but can be uneven, rocky or stony in places. Will we move carefully over these sections, with your safety in mind at all times. We do not climb the high fells but we may ascend and descend up to a total of 500m on some walks so there could be some short, sharp ups and downs. Some walking will be on quiet lanes or accessible tracks.
Please bring good walking boots or shoes with good soles for protection. Boots provide better ankle support than shoes. You will also need walking socks, walking trousers, breathable tops, warm layers and a waterproof jacket and trousers and a daysack/rucksack to carry spare clothing, your lunch, snacks and drinks and anything else you may need each day. Walking poles and gaiters are useful and you may need a warm hat and gloves or sunglasses, a sun hat and sun cream. It is best to be prepared for all kinds of weather!
Location
On this holiday we walk in the area bounded by Windermere, Coniston, Ambleside, the Langdales and Grasmere. Wonderful walking in outstanding natural beauty. At 885 square miles the Lake District is England’s largest national park just waiting to be explored.
The Lakes are home to England’s deepest lake Wastwater; longest lake Windermere and highest mountain, Scafell Pike In fact there are only 5 peaks over 900m in England and they are all here in Cumbria. With 50 stone circles, and Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you want to delve into our deep, sometimes dark past or simply enjoy some stunning surroundings, there’s plenty of local history and heritage to keep you interested in the scenic highlights of the Lake District.
Photos
Reviews
Jeni Bartlett
Food was of a good standard. walks were great. The organisation was excellent. I really appreciate the personal touch and contact prior to the holiday and Tina’s consideration and efforts to make sure everything was perfect throughout the week. Secret Hills put personal effort into making sure their holidays run smoothly and everyone has everything they need. This is a company that truly cares about their customers.
Helen Liebling
Thanks for a great holiday!
Very much enjoyed the guided walking. Tina was a great leader and the walks are very varied and interesting.
Excellent hotel room and friendly staff. There could have been more vegetarian choices but staff were flexible and made vegetable curry as requested and then had Nut roast Easter day which was appreciated.
(Helen is a repeat customer)
Fiona Mortimer
Guided walking – it was a pleasure to walk with a knowledgeable guide and not have to find my own way. A special thank you to Tina (walk guide)!
She went above and beyond…She was also very friendly, supportive and made me feel very much part of the group. Hotel excellent.
Sarah Melanson
Sarah Melanson Easter
The guided walking experience was fantastic. It was so great not to have to worry about the route, or getting lost, and to have other people to walk with and eat breakfast/dinner with. The guide (Tina) was perfect, and my fellow walkers were all lovely and interesting people. The walking experience couldn’t have been better. Overall, a very positive experience! Thank you Alan 🙂
Ashley Bryant
Excellent holiday, good leadership, truly enjoyable.
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