Individual Guided Tours of London and the UK by Private Car Driven by Blue Badge Guides
Tour Suggestions - Cumbria
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Touring Suggestions by Region
This dramatic scenery of rugged mountains and gentle lakes inspired generations of poets and artists; its rushing streams and mineral wealth made it a cradle of the industrial revolution.
The Romans came here, as did the early Celtic Christians. Travel today on the lake steamers used by visitors 100 years ago.
The Lake District has something for everybody. Take one of our full-day tours, or we can tailor a tour to your requirements.
The Best of the Lake District
A day in dramatic scenery of lakes and mountains. Over Kirkstone Pass, and along Ullswater, visit the Neolithic stone circle at Castlerigg, and on to Keswick. Up Borrowdale and over spectacular Honister Pass to Buttermere and Crummock Water. Return via Whinlatter Pass with England’s only mountain forest and three more lakes, Thirlmere, Grasmere and Rydal Water.
William Wordsworth - Romantic Poet
William Wordsworth, England’s greatest Romantic poet was a Cumbria man. Born at Cockermouth, educated at Hawkshead, he wrote his greatest work at Grasmere and retired to Rydal. Visit these locations, including Grasmere’s world-renowned Wordsworth Trust Museum and Dove Cottage, and see the places that inspired his work.
Literary LakelandDove Cottage, William Wordsworth’s house at Grasmere. The picturesque village of Hawkshead where he went to school and visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery with her original illustrations. In Near Sawrey is Hill Top where she wrote many of her books. Return via Coniston, John Ruskin’s house at Brantwood, cross the lake on the Victorian steam yacht ‘Gondola’, and see the locations of Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons”.
The High Passes and The CoastTake the winding Wrynose and Hardknott Passes to the coast at Ravenglass. Visit the Roman mountain fort of Mediobogum and travel England’s prettiest narrow-gauge railway. See Muncaster Castle with its splendid garden. Return either via the north-western fringe of the Lake District through Buttermere and Newlands with its high moorland, or over Corney Fell with spectacular views of the high hills, the Duddon Valley and Coniston.
Hadrian's Wall
Visit Carlisle, the Roman “Luguvallium”, and see Tullie House Museum with its Roman Frontier Gallery. Then to Lanercost Priory, part ancient ruin and part working church, built with stone taken from the Roman Wall. On to Birdoswald, an excavated Roman Fort high on Hadrian’s Wall, with optional walk along the Wall to Poltross Burn. Return via Alston, England’s highest market town.
Let us build your special interest tour.
Maybe you’d like to follow up American connections (John Paul Jones attacked us), trace your family’s genealogical roots, look at our rich industrial heritage, see more of the places which inspired our authors, follow in the steps of the Celtic saints or the mediaeval monks: whatever it is, we can arrange a single- or multi-day trip to cover it.
Maybe you’d like to follow up American connections (John Paul Jones attacked us), trace your family’s genealogical roots, look at our rich industrial heritage, see more of the places which inspired our authors, follow in the steps of the Celtic saints or the mediaeval monks: whatever it is, we can arrange a single- or multi-day trip to cover it.
How to get to the Lake District
By Air
You can fly direct into an airport in northern England or southern Scotland - Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh or Glasgow. Your Blue Badge guide will meet you and take you and your luggage to your accommodation, perhaps stopping at an interesting location on the way or taking in a cosy pub for your lunch.
By Train
Oxenholme and Penrith railway stations are served by trains from all major British cities.
Short Of time?
If you are staying in London, Glasgow or Edinburgh, a one-day trip is possible. Take a train to Oxenholme or Penrith (about 3 hours from London, 2 hours from Edinburgh/Glasgow) and your guide will meet you at the station, devise a tour to meet your individual priorities and return you in time to catch an evening train back. Though we hope you will stay longer to enjoy the magic of Cumbria and the Lake District.