Friday 27th December – Welcome Evening

Welcome Evening in Ambleside at 7.30pm is a chance for everyone to meet up for a drink and social evening. The Country Adventures trip leader will also be on hand to answer any questions about the planned guided walks. If you’re unable to make it to the Welcome Evening, the Trip Notes detail everything you need to know about the trip including walk meeting times.

Saturday 28th December – Day Walk & Social

Walk: Grade 4 – Langdale Pikes & Easedale Tarn

Distance 9.5 miles (15.3km)
Highest Point  2411 ft (735m)
Total Ascent 3016 ft (919m)

A great Twixmas walk starting down in the Great Langdale valley, and up to the summit of one of the Lake District’s most iconic and recognisable mountain peaks, the Langdale Pikes. The area offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including the Langdale Valley and nearby lakes. The terrain is rugged, with rocky outcrops and steep slopes, providing a rewarding experience for outdoor enthusiasts. From the historic and breathtaking views of the Langdale Pikes we will descend towards Grasmere village on a scenic mountainous trail that offers spectacular scenery throughout, including the mountain lakes of Stickle Tarn and Easedale Tarn. We will finish the walk in Grasmere village where you should have time to call in at the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop, before our transport takes us back to Ambleside.

Saturday Social evening – after a good days walk, there’ll be chance to meet up in Ambleside, where the trip leader will organise a good place to go for drinks and a meal, which will often be a local bar, pub, or restaurant.

Sunday 29th December – Day Walk

Walk: Grade 4 – Red Screes

Distance 9 miles (14.5km)
Highest Point  2541 ft (590m)
Total Ascent 2690 ft (774m)

The summit of Red Screes provides panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, including the Fairfield range, the Helvellyn range, and Windermere. The name “Red Screes” is derived from the iron oxide staining on the rocks, giving them a reddish appearance. Starting from Ambleside, the route heads up through the Scandale valley, with a mountain landscape on either side of the trail, before starting the ascent up to Red Screes. With fine views and good trails, it’s the ideal Easter Sunday walk, and we finish by visiting the impressive Ambleside waterfalls.

The walking weekend will finish in Ambleside by 4pm.

Essential Info

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included as part of this trip. If you require help with booking accommodation you may find the following links useful:

Ambleside Online selection of Hotels and Guest Houses in Ambleside

The Inn Collection accommodation in Ambleside

YHA Ambleside hostel accommodation on the lakeshore of Windermere

Booking.com search for accommodation in or near to Ambleside, Cumbria

We recommend booking accommodation in, or near to Ambleside, for easy reach to the meeting point for both the walks and social evenings.

Food & Drink

For the walk(s) please bring with you a packed lunch and refreshments. Occasionally on some guided walks (Grade 1 to 2 walks) we may pass a country inn or tea room where if we have time we can call in, however having a packed lunch with you gives the group the freedom to have lunch wherever we are on the walking route.

Ambleside has a number of convenience stores and small supermarkets.

Optional social evenings in Ambleside are organised by Country Adventures, where the group can meet up for a drink and enjoy an evening meal together.

Transport

For guided walking trips that require transport from the meeting point to the start of the walk, we use a minibus or where necessary local transport. There is no extra charge for this, it is included in the trip price.

Fitness Levels

Our walks are by no means designed to be endurance tests where everyone sets off at a blistering pace. Far from it, it’s about a fine day in the hills in good company enjoying the best of fell walking with exceptional views but it is important to state that for everyone’s walking enjoyment walking does require a minimum level of fitness and stamina. Hill / Mountain walking experience is not essential as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness. For the higher level graded walks (i.e. Challenging, or Tough Grade) it is advisable that you are someone who enjoys regular cardio exercise or have experience of mountain walking and have the stamina/ leg strength in order to be better prepared for longer sections of uphill & downhill walking associated with higher mountain treks.

Walking Grades Explained

EASY (GRADE 1)
2 – 5 miles | Total Ascent under 500 ft
Short walks mostly on well-defined flat paths and tracks, with any uphill sections being short and gentle.

MODERATE (GRADE 2)
5 – 10 miles | Total Ascent 500 – 1500 ft
Walks at a steady pace on undulating terrain including moorland, coastal paths and hills. We may encounter uneven stony ground on some walks.

MODERATE PLUS (GRADE 3)
5 – 10 miles | Total Ascent 1000 – 2600 ft
Walking at a reasonably active pace over coastal, moorland, hill or lower mountain terrain. Well defined tracks and paths. Suited to people with good fitness and a reasonable level of pace and stamina for walks that have more sustained ascents and descents.

CHALLENGING (GRADE 4)
7 – 15 miles | Total Ascent 1000 – 4000 ft
Longer walks on defined and undefined tracks with sustained ascents and descents on moorland, hill or mountain terrain. Mountain walks will have steep ups and downs with rocky terrain including ridges and scree in some sections.

TOUGH (GRADE 5)
7 – 20+ miles | Total Ascent 3000 – 5000+ ft
Walking at higher levels, mainly mountain terrain with steep ups and downs. Mountain terrain which may include ridges and scree sections. Suitable for fit and active people with a good level of stamina. Hill and mountain walking experience would be desirable.

Kit List

What you need to bring with you for the walks

• Good, comfortable walking boots with a cleated sole and good ankle support are essential.
• Waterproof jacket and over-trousers.
• Warm, dry walking clothing. Unsuitable clothing includes Jeans or cotton tracksuit bottoms and cotton t-shirts (cotton is a poor insulating fabric and when wet it takes a long time to dry, which can lead to a rapid loss of body heat as well as being uncomfortable).
• A number of thin layers are better than one thick/ heavy jumper. We suggest a fleece for extra warmth especially when we stop on the hills for lunch.
• Hat and gloves (even in summer – any wind chill on the mountain tops will lead to cooler temperatures).
• Sunglasses, sun cream.
• Hot or cold drinks (i.e. a minimum of 2 litres of water).
• Plenty of food and drink for lunch and snacks.
• A rucksack large enough to carry it all in (20-30 litres), ideally with a waterproof liner.
• Any medication you need.
• Thermos flask. We recommend bringing warm drinks with you, as even on sunny days it can occasionally feel cooler, especially on the summits of the higher-level mountain walks.
• Walking poles (if you use them).

We want you to enjoy your time with Country Adventures and have the best possible adventure experience. Please be aware that if any participants are not properly equipped for the walk (i.e. with walking boots and waterproofs), at the guide’s discretion we reserve the right to not allow them on the walk for reasons of safety for both the individual and the group. If you need clarification on any of the equipment requirements, please do not hesitate to ask.

Trip Schedule & Activity Meeting Times

Please ensure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the meeting point at the required time. The transport for our day walks will leave promptly at the stated time and due to the nature of scheduled trips, we are unable to provide refunds if unfortunately, you miss the departure time.

Meeting Point

Welcome Evening – 7.30pm  Please meet outside Ambleside Tourist Information Centre

Walking Days – 9.30am  Please meet outside Ambleside Tourist Information Centre

Address: Ambleside Tourist Information Centre, Ambleside LA22 9BS