Description
Derwent Water in the Lake District
Grade 
Come and admire the magnificent splendour of the northern fells and the tranquil beauty of Derwent Water in the English Lake District.
Price: £1025
– Single supplement £50
Duration:
7 nights
Next departure:
– July 21st 2025
As England’s largest National Park containing all of England’s land over 3000 feet, as well as 400 lakes and 50 dales, the Lake District requires no introduction -it is classic walking territory. The combination of soaring peaks, tranquil lakes and picture postcard valleys rightly makes this one of the UKs most popular walking areas.
Our base at the Derwentwater Hotel, close to Keswick, in Portinscale, is ideally situated for exploring the Northern Fells and picturesque Borrowdale. It is a beautiful area that I have returned to again and again over the years. I look forward to showing you all my favourite spots in this lovely area.
Holiday highlights
- Walk amongst the magnificent northern fells and take in spectacular views of Derwentwater, picturesque Borrowdale and the fells themselves.
- Climb one of the highest peaks in England, Skiddaw
- Explore the wooded shores of the ‘Queen of the Lakes’, Derwent Water, and beautiful Borrowdale to its south.
- Stay in the brilliantly located Derwentwater Hotel, not only does its location reduce travel to a minimum, but the gardens also extend down to the shores of Derwentwater, making for an ideal after dinner stroll.
Accommodation
Our home for the week, Derwentwater Hotel is perfectly situated on the shores of Derwent Water itself. Set in 16 acres of grounds with gardens leading down to the lake shore, there are fantastic views from the terrace of the lake, Derwent Water Marina and the mountains behind. It is an ideal place to relax after a day’s walking or take a stroll after dinner. At a mile just outside Keswick in the village of Portinscale, it couldn’t be better located to explore the northern fells and the picture postcard valley of Borrowdale.
All rooms are ensuite and have tea and coffee making facilities. Room upgrades to a larger room, or those with a lake view are available. Please enquire if you are interested in one of these.
Single supplements and upgrades
Single occupancy supplement: £50
Upgrades are available for larger rooms and those with a lake view. Please enquire.
Included
- En-suite half board accommodation in the Derwentwater Hotel.
- A three-course meal, served on each evening in the hotel restaurant.
- 5 days guided walking with a qualified and professional leader.
- Transport to and from all walks except for one which is a very short drive away.
Not included
- Lunches -these are available to buy from local shops in Keswick or can be ordered from the hotel
- Incidental expenses such as drinks.
- Transport to two of the walks. These are a short drive away.
Day-to-Day Itinerary
The following is the proposed itinerary. However, please bear in mind that in the event of local conditions changing, for example due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, it may be necessary to change the itinerary.
The walks will be ordered during the week to make the most of the conditions.
Day 1: Arrive in Keswick
Arrive at Derwentwater Hotel and check into your room. Meet at 7pm in the conservatory for a short briefing about the week ahead before our three-course dinner is served in the hotel’s restaurant.
Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Ancient stone circles, waterfalls, and stupendous views!
We start our week by looking at some of the most beautiful sites in the Lake District.
Walking from the hotel, we use the Cumbria Way to cover the short distance into Keswick to pick up lunch supplies and catch the bus to the Lodore Falls Hotel. After stopping to admire the Falls themselves, we head up through Lodore woods to Surprise View -it doesn’t disappoint, before continuing onto Ashness Bridge, reputedly the most photograhed bridge in the Lake Distrcit! From here we head upwards towards Walla Crag; the views down over Derwent Water and across to Blencathra and Skiddaw are breathtaking. We follow the crag line down Castlerigg stone circle and from here follow the path of the old Penrith-Cockermouth railway line back to Keswick and our hotel.
14 km (8.5 miles) ascent/descent 420 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 3: Watendlath, Rosthwaite and Castle Crag
Today we explore one of the most beautiful valleys in the Lake District, Borrowdale. Once again we walk into Keswick to catch the bus, this time travelling a little further along the valley to the Borrowdale Hotel. From here we climb up to the beautiful and peaceful Watendlath Beck, one of the Lake District’s many hanging valleys – a product of the last Ice Age. We follow the beck to Watendlath village and tarn, the perefct place for elevensies before heading down to Rosthwaite and turning north to walk the length of Borrowdale past the iconic Castle Crag itself. Our walk ends at the Borrowdale gates hotel, from there we use taxis to return to the hotel.
13 km (8 miles) ascent/descent 450 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 4: Skiddaw!
oday we tackle the giant in our midst, Skiddaw. However, to make life a little easier we take taxis to the Latrigg car park to save ourselves around 250 metres of ascent. From the car park we take a gentle, steady and picturesque route to the summit; around Lonscale Fell, up to Skiddaw House and over Sale How. We descend via a different route.
15 km (9 miles) ascent 650m descent 900m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Free day
Today is free to discover the local area. There is plenty to visit and explore in and around Keswick and the Lake District. Some suggestions are:
- Pencil museum in Keswick
- Castlerigg Stone Circle
- Wordsworth’s House and Garden
- Hill Top – Beatrix Potter’s House
- Sizergh
Or you may wish to use your ferry pass to potter around Derwent Water and/or visit Keswick to stock up on walking gear.
If you would rather not lose a day’s walking in this beautiful area, then I can provide you with plenty of routes/maps/walking books for ideas.
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 6: Sail from Braithwaite
Today we takle another of the peaks in our midst. We drive the short distance to park at Braithwaite just a mile or so away from Portinscale and from here climb Coledale Beck before turning off to the summit of aptly named Sail. The path is steep in places but we will take it steadily with plenty of stops to take in the view! From Sail we can admire the peaks around us; Grassmoor, Crag hill, and Causey Pike. We descend by Stile End to Braithwaite where there may just be time to partake of refreshment in the excellent Coledale Inn!
13 km (8 miles) ascent/descent 750 m (with optional bailout point if you don’t want to climb all the way).
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 2: Catbells and the Cumbria Way
Day 2: Catbells and the Cumbria WayWe finish our week with a local walk over iconic Catbells. With 360 degree views of the surrounding hills, we can take in views of our routes for the week ahead and really get our bearings. Walking from the hotel we follow the Cumbria Way south, and then go up and over Catbells. After pausing on the summit for elevenses and to take in stunning views we descend to again pick up the Cumbria Way as it winds its way around the beautiful wooded shores of Derwent Water back to Portinscale.
13 km (8.5 miles) ascent/descent 450 m
Meals included: breakfast and dinner
Day 8
The holiday finishes after breakfast. It’s goodbye -until next time!
Meals included: breakfast
Kit list
For walking each day:
- Good walking boots or shoes
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Lightweight, quick drying trousers
- Base layer
- Mid-layer such as a fleece jacket and an additional ‘spare’ layer depending on the forecast
- Walking socks
- Warm hat and gloves -just in case the weather turns
- Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block
- Day sack (25 litre capacity is a good size) to comfortably carry your kit, lunch and water
- Dry bag or rucksack cover to keep the contents of your daypack dry
- Water bottle
- Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc)
- Some snacks to keep you going
- Walking/trekking poles (if you use them)
Maps
OS : OS Explorer map OL4, The English Lakes North Western area
Group size
This guided holiday will have a maximum group size of 15.
