Holidays
4 Night Southern Lake District Discovery Tour

4 Night Southern Lake District Discovery Tour

4 nights

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Groups of 10+

020 3974 8865

The Southern Lake District’s standout sights take centre stage on this four-day discovery tour. Ride the Lakeside and Haverthwaite steam train and cross Lake Windermere on a scenic cruise. Delve into the area’s past at the Elizabethan Levens Hall, home to the world’s oldest topiary garden, and find out about the Strickland family at the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle. You’ll also get to follow in the footsteps of poet William Wordsworth with a visit to Dove Cottage – his charming former home in Grasmere.

What You’ll Love

Discovering Sizergh Castle
Riding the Lakeside & Haverthwaite railway
Enjoying a cruise on Lake Windermere
Visiting Dove Cottage, former home of William Wordsworth
The stunning topiary gardens at Levens Hall
Staying in the comfort of our country house in Coniston

What's Included

Entrance to Blackwell, Windermere Jetty Museum, Dove Cottage and Levens Hall and tickets for the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway and Windermere Lake Cruise
Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
Cream tea on arrival day
Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
Guided sightseeing with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
All transport to and from sites of interest
Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently

Please note - Entrance fees are not included. See more information tab for details.

Trip Suitability

Trip suitability

Our Discovery holidays give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the local area through active sightseeing.

On each Discovery day, you will be walking throughout the course of the day as you explore the venues and locations we visit. You'll also be hopping on and off the coach throughout - you should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Most of this walking will be at attractions but some may be across country tracks or footpaths so be sure to bring sturdy shoes. There will also be stairs to climb in the majority of the venues you visit, though other more accessible options may be available. At some venues, there may also be uneven surfaces, such as cobbles or rocky paths.

Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

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Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

It's time for another train ride as we make our way from Haverthwaite to Lakeside, situated at the southern tip of Windermere. We'll board a lake cruise here and disembark again at Bowness-on-Windermere, a popular and busy Lakeland town in a delightful setting. In the afternoon, we stop at Blackwell, a magnificent Arts & Crafts house, before moving on to the fascinating Windermere Jetty Museum. There are some beautifully restored launches on display and the lake's 200-year boating history is brought to life.

Upon our arrival in Grasmere, we’ll first pay a visit to Dove Cottage, home of the famed Lakeland poet William Wordsworth. Afterwards, there'll be a little free time to explore the village, or join an optional scenic stroll. Don’t miss the world-famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop! Later we travel to the Great Langdale Valley and wander along the shores of Elterwater, finishing at the acclaimed tearoom, Chesters by the River.

A visit to Levens Hall, an impressive Elizabethan house with the world’s oldest and most spectacular topiary gardens. Established in 1694 they have remained largely unchanged since the 17^th century. Prepare to be amazed exploring this awe-inspiring wonderland! In the afternoon we head to Sizergh Castle, a much-loved National Trust property, home to the Strickland family for over 800 years. There is much to explore in the medieval house, as well as the rich gardens and wider estate.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

Download trip notes

Accommodation

Monk Coniston

With a desirable address overlooking Coniston Water (the inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s 1930 novel, Swallows and Amazons), this characterful Grade II-listed house delights with lakeside and woodland walks from the doorstep, décor that stays true to the period feel, and plenty of Beatrix Potter references. While the children's author and illustrator did not live at the Monk Coniston estate (her beloved home was Hill Top, bought in 1905 with the royalties from The Tale of Peter Rabbit), she campaigned with the National Trust to save it from development. She then purchased the entire estate in 1930 and as the new owner she immediately sold half to the organisation, bequeathing them the other half in her will.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

Check in & check out

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

• 30 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 38 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Free Wi-Fi • Free on-site parking • Boot room and drying room • Travel cot • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Lounge • Garden with putting green and croquet lawn • Activity barn • Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Monk Coniston has 30 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: The rooms with a garden or lake view. We also love Room 9 on the first floor for its original features and beautiful views across the gardens and fields that slope down to the shores of Coniston Water.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Room supplements

Superior	Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£25 pppn	£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Monk Coniston

View more details View holidays here

More Information

The itinerary may be changed for safety reasons.

Leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole and may need to alter or curtail the planned itinerary for the day if circumstances dictate. Your leader may refuse to accept a guest if fitness requirements are in doubt, or if clothing, equipment and behaviour are unsuitable. In the event of a problem all leaders carry a mobile phone and first aid kit.

Please note: If you choose to leave the group your leader is no longer responsible for you.

If you have a particular health condition or disability please put this on your guest registration form. This information will be confidential to your leaders and the house manager, but leaders do need to take account of any issues when planning. Please carry a copy of these trip notes with you, or note down the contact phone number for your accommodation (details in the travel section) should you need them in case of emergency.

The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.

Essentials

Suitable, sturdy footwear with a good grip. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof overtrousers
Sunhat
Rucksack
Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
Sunscreen
Mobile phone
UV sunglasses

Recommended

First aid kit, including plasters
Sit mat
Waterproof pouch for valuables
Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
Wallet/purse

Optional extras

Walking poles,
Flask for hot drinks
Durable lunch box
Waterproof rucksack liner

Carbon Footprint

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

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4 Night Southern Lake District Discovery Tour

What You’ll Love

What's Included

Trip Suitability

Itinerary