Scenic Cumbria & the Lovely Lake District

From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.

Scenic Cumbria & the Lovely Lake District

We head to Haverthwaite where we climb aboard our heritage train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway for our nostalgic journey. Look forward to being transported back to the golden age of steam as we travel through the picturesque Leven Valley to peaceful Lakeside, the southern tip of Lake Windermere.

From here we explore the stunning beauty of Lake Windermere on a leisurely scenic cruise. Sit back and relax as we enjoy magnificent views of mountain scenery, secluded bays and many wooded islands as we cruise England’s largest natural lake.

We disembark in Bowness-on-Windermere, a popular resort and charming enclave on the eastern shores of the lake. We enjoy free time in this bustling town with its craft and gift shops, lakeside cafés and quaint tea rooms. We also enjoy free entry to the enchanting World of Beatrix Potter Attraction where an endearing short film presentation, exhibition and garden bring Beatrix Potter’s celebrated characters to life, complete with sights and sounds of the glorious countryside.

Full Day

Scenic Cumbria & the Lovely Lake District

We take a scenic drive through stunning Cumbria to the market town of Ulverston, the birthplace of Stan Laurel, where we enjoy some time at leisure. Be sure to visit the Laurel & Hardy Museum, devoted to the beloved double act and bursting with personal items, photos, memorabilia and more, located in a 1930s period cinema and originally created by a lifelong fan. We continue to the market town of Kendal, the southern gateway to the Lakes and home of the famous Kendal mint cake. There are also plenty of cafés and boutiques as well as one of the country’s oldest museums plus an award-winning art gallery housed in a beautiful Grade I listed villa. We return, to our hotel in Barrow-in-Furness via the scenic coastal road, past Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

*For 2026 departures, the visit to Kendal will take place on day four following time in Grasmere.

Full Day

Scenic Cumbria & the Lovely Lake District

In the morning, we make our way to Grasmere, the picturesque village associated with the poet William Wordsworth, who lived here for 14 years and declared the Grasmere as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’. You may like to visit his former home of Dove Cottage and his grave in the churchyard before picking up some deliciously moreish Grasmere gingerbread in the famous Victorian shop – the top-secret recipe hasn’t changed since 1854 and is locked away in a bank in Cumbria!

Our next stop is the handsome market town of Keswick, which sits between peaceful Derwentwater and the looming bulk of Skiddaw, England’s fourth-highest mountain. Enjoy the pedestrianised Market Square, browse the unique shops and art galleries, or treat yourself in one of the quaint cafés and restaurants.

*For 2026 departures, time in Grasmere will be followed by time in Kendal rather than Keswick.

Full Day

Scenic Cumbria & the Lovely Lake District

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.

Cruise England’s largest natural lake aboard a comfortable vessel and watch the mountain scenery unfold. Glide past wooded islands, slate boathouses and quiet inlets as the water mirrors the changing sky on your relaxing passage toward Bowness.

This classic Lake Windermere journey follows routes sailed since Victorian days, when elegant steamers connected travellers to the heart of Lakeland. Breezes, wide-open views and generous photo angles make this a highlight for scenery lovers.

Step into the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness, where a short film and exhibition set the scene before charming recreations bring Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck to life. Wander through a fragrant storybook garden that nods to the hedgerows and kitchen plots of the Lakes.

Discover how Potter’s Lakeland sketches shaped her beloved tales and learn about her conservation legacy that helped preserve local farms and fells. Gentle soundscapes and handcrafted sets make this a delight for literature fans and families alike.

Explore Bowness-on-Windermere, a lively lakeside resort with bustling piers, galleries and tea rooms. Stroll the lakeside piers, browse independent boutiques and watch boats slip across the bay as you take in broad views of the surrounding fells.

Shaped by Victorian leisure travel, Bowness blends waterside promenades with green spaces and heritage vessels. Find a bench to soak in the lakeside atmosphere or pause for photos and reflection along the waterfront and village lanes.

Enjoy a scenic drive through Cumbria, tracing dry-stone walls and hedgerows with sweeping Morecambe Bay views. Visit the characterful towns of Ulverston and Kendal, each with cobbled corners, artisan shops and welcoming cafés.

Ulverston celebrates the birth of comedy legend Stan Laurel, while Kendal—gateway to the Lakes—showcases grey-limestone streets and the famed mint cake. The return along the Furness peninsula reveals tidal sands, saltmarsh and big skies that frame the southern edge of Lakeland.

Visit Grasmere, the stone-built village that inspired William Wordsworth. Meander past slate cottages and the churchyard, where the poet rests, and call at the tiny shop famed for its Victorian gingerbread, baked to a closely guarded 19th-century recipe.

Literary history deepens around Dove Cottage, the modest home where Wordsworth crafted verse that helped define Romanticism. The setting—ringed by fells and edged by the River Rothay—captures the quiet, reflective landscape that shaped his lines.

Discover Keswick, set between serene Derwentwater and towering Skiddaw. Explore the pedestrianised Market Square, browse independent galleries and outdoor outfitters, or wander from Hope Park toward the lakeshore for open-water vistas.

This visit is included on 2027 departures, adding classic North Lakes scenery to your journey. Quiet bays, wooded headlands and ever-shifting light invite you to pause for photos and reflection with the fells rising steeply around the water.

Board a heritage steam train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway and settle into vintage carriages as the whistle echoes through the Leven Valley woodlands. Watch stone bridges, rushing streams and slate cottages roll past on a leisurely run to Lakeside at Windermere’s southern tip.

Relive the golden age of steam on a preserved branch once linking rail travellers with Lakeland boats. Polished brass, restored stations and the scent of coal evoke an era when the railway opened the fells to early holidaymakers and artists.