South Lakes Short Break
A walk from Windermere through the landscapes that inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.
4 to 7 nights
36 miles
Easy / Moderate to Moderate / Demanding
From £400 per person
South Lakes Short Break
Hike between Grasmere, Windermere and Coniston at your own pace on a self-guided walking holiday. Accommodation, luggage transfer and holiday pack included.
South Lakes Short Break
https://www.contours.co.uk/south-lakes-short-break
A walk from Windermere through the landscapes that inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.
From £400 per person
As well as beautiful scenery, the Lake District is also famous for its associations with a number of poets, novelists and essayists. This lovely short break option visits many of the places associated with some of its most famous writers.
Beginning at the iconic Lake Windermere, the trail meanders through valleys, over hills and along riverbanks, and enjoys spectacular views from the viewpoints of Orrest Head and Jenkin Crag. The countless beauty spots and charming villages along the walk have inspired numerous writers and artists through the years, including William Wordsworth, Arthur Ransome, John Ruskin and Beatrix Potter, to name just a few.
Taking in the sensational views of Windermere from the famous viewpoint of Orrest Head.
Sampling the superb Gingerbread in Grasmere, before wandering through the ‘Daffodil Garden’ and visiting the final resting place of William Wordsworth.
Feeling inspired by the magnificent fells surrounding Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLSB1 | A circular trail beginning at Windermere | 3 days walking | £400 | |
| SLSB2 | A circular trail beginning at Windermere | 6 days walking | £700 |
Please note that due to the popularity of the Lake District as a holiday destination, accommodations in some towns have a two night minimum booking policy at weekends.
When planning your holiday dates we would advise to avoid arriving in Windermere, Ambleside, Coniston or Great Langdale/Dungeon Ghyll on a Friday or Saturday night if possible. If you are unable to avoid arriving on a Friday or Saturday night an additional supplement may be necessary, or alternatively, transfers to and from nearby accommodation may be provided. Any transfers required are included in the holiday cost. You will be contacted if an additional supplement should arise for your booking.
Please also note that dog friendly accommodation in Grasmere is particularly expensive. Therefore an additional upgrade supplement may be necessary for your accommodation in Grasmere if booking a dog friendly tour. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.
Travel to Windermere where your first night's accommodation has been booked
Windermere to Grasmere. 11 miles (17.5km) / 1552 ft (473 m) ascent
Grasmere to Coniston. 13 miles (20.5km) / 1798 ft (548 m) ascent
Coniston to Windermere. 12 miles (19.5km) / 2011 ft (613 m) ascent
Depart from Windermere after breakfast
This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.
Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
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“Lovely route – easy to moderate walking and wonderful scenery. Although the location were familiar, the paths were not so there was still a sense of adventure and exploration.”Mrs Mackenzie, UK
“The countryside was beautiful.”Ms Ames, USA
“Loved the variety of scenery on this walk. The baggage transfers worked exactly as they should have. Contours did a good job in general.”Ms Gordon, USA
“Likewise, my companions and I (6 of us walked together) enjoyed our Contours Lakes District walk. The route and area where we walked are beautiful”Ms Ames, USA
“We absolutely loved it and felt taken care of every day.”Mrs Slob, Netherlands
“Everything went very smoothly. The accommodations were all very good and my suitcase was transferred without fail each day. The walking directions were good. I even cheated and took a bus on the rainiest day, so I appreciated that option as well. I really enjoyed the trip!”Mr Ganzer, USA
“This was wonderful.”Mr Lawshe, USA
“It was a beautiful walk, and we were very fortunate with the weather. The accommodation was all well chosen and we enjoyed each place we got to.”Mr Mawdsley, UK
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Dog friendly