English Lake District

Discover the delights of English Lake District by vintage motor vessel, steam train and steam yacht on this feature-packed holiday tour to Cumbria.

• Based at an elegant waterfront hotel in the resort town of Bowness-on-Windermere, you’ll enjoy cruises on vintage vessels on Lake Windermere and Ullswater.
• Steam train highlights include a trip on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway and an exclusive exploration of the legendary 15-inch narrow gauge railway ‘La’al Ratty’.
• Enjoy a lake-themed cruise on Coniston Water aboard the restored Victorian steam yacht ‘Gondola’, followed by lunch at the 400-year-old ‘Sun’ pub in Coniston.
• Other holiday highlights include visits to Hill Hop House, Haverthwaite engine shed and Muncaster Castle.
• Outstanding scenery, excellent cuisine and the convenience of short point-to-point travel distances by private road coach all add to your enjoyment on this relaxed, highlight-packed holiday in England’s idyllic Lakeland.

Thursday 2 September

First Class rail travel to Oxenholme, Coach transfer to Windermere

Your holiday begins in the First-Class lounge at London Euston Station before boarding a morning Avanti West Coast Pendolino service. You’ll travel in comfort at a top speed of 125mph along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Oxenholme in the Lake District, a light breakfast will be served onboard. From Oxenholme you’ll have a short coach transfer to the delightful village of Bowness-on-Windermere, located on the banks of Lake Windermere. Your hotel for the duration of the tour will be the Macdonald Hotel. After arrival, you will have some free time to explore Bowness before enjoying dinner at the hotel in the evening. (B D)

Friday 3 September

Lake Windermere cruise; Steam train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

After breakfast, board the stylish vintage motor vessel ‘Swan’ for a scenic forty-minute cruise across Lake Windermere, taking in the outstanding Cumbrian landscapes as you travel to Lakeside at the southern end of the lake. This triple-deck vessel, originally built by Vickers in 1938, is now an iconic sight on England’s largest lake. On arrival at Lakeside Pier, adjacent to the railway station, you board the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway for a nostalgic steam journey along this former Furness Railway branch line, originally opened in 1869.You’ll travel the entire length of the line to Haverthwaite with plenty of time to visit the impressive engine shed and its collection of historic steam and diesel locomotives.

Crossing the footbridge, you reach the woodland viewing and picnic area, where there is time to relax, enjoy the surroundings and browse the gift shop for souvenirs. Afterwards, transfer by coach to the Lakeland Motor Museum, where you will have time to explore and purchase lunch. In the afternoon, you return by steam train to Lakeside before boarding the connecting vessel back to Bowness. This evening, enjoy dinner at The Macdonald Hotel. (B D)

Saturday 4 September

Steam boat cruise on Coniston Water; Hill Top House

Today you visit Coniston Water, the third largest lake in the Lake District, for a lake-themed cruise on the restored Victorian steam yacht ‘Gondola’. Originally launched in 1859 to carry railway passengers, The Illustrated London News at the time described it as “a perfected combination of the Venetian gondola and the English steam yacht”. The preserved steamer is now cared for and operated by the National Trust.

Following the cruise, you’ll have lunch at ‘The Black Bull’ in Coniston, a 400-year-old pub with exposed beams, stone walls, flagstone floors and a local Brathay slate bar top.

It’s situated beneath the Cumbrian Fells and has an elevated view over the village of Coniston. Later you transfer by coach to Hill Top House, the former home of Beatrix Potter. Visit Beatrix Potter’s beloved farmhouse, inspiration for her children’s books, you’ll recognise the rhubarb patch where Jemima Puddle-Duck laid her egg and the garden where Tom Kitten and his sisters played. You return to your hotel in Bowness for dinner. (B L D)

Sunday 5 September

Scenic cruises on Lake Windermere and Ullswater

This morning you explore the northern half of Lake Windermere on board a classic motor vessel sailing from Bowness to Ambleside at the northernmost extremity of the lake. MV ‘Tern’, is a steam powered yacht built in 1891 and converted to diesel in 1956. After the 30-minute voyage to Ambleside Pier you’ll join a private road coach for the onward journey to Grasmere, where there is a coffee stop. Continue by coach from Grasmere to Keswick, travelling via Dunmail Raise and Thirlmere. On arrival at Keswick, you enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant before your road coach takes you on to Pooley Bridge.

Here, you have an afternoon cruise on one of the celebrated Ullswater ‘Steamers’ on the second largest lake in the Lake District. Ullswater is one of the most beautiful English lakes, comparable to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland because of its mountainous backdrop.

You’ll see the spectacular waterfall of Aira Force, midway along the lake on the western side and cruise the length of the lake from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding. You travel by coach back to Bowness via scenic country roads before arriving at your hotel, dinner is again included. (B L D)

Monday 6 September

Steam train on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, visit to Muncaster Castle

A tour highlight awaits today as you travel by road coach to Ravenglass, a small coastal village with Roman connections located at the estuary of the rivers Esk, Mite and Irt. The famous 15-inch gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (La’al Ratty) has its terminus adjacent to the Cumbrian Coast railway line station. The line runs for 7 miles (11.3 km) from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station near Boot in the Eskdale Valley.

You’ll travel the full length of the line and back again. The railway is popular for its open carriages providing superb sightlines of the surrounding scenery, there are also enclosed carriages depending on the weather.

Shortly afterwards you transfer to Muncaster Castle, here you’ll spend the rest of the afternoon, before returning by coach back to Bowness. You dine with your fellow guests for one last time – a fitting climax to a fabulous tour. (B D)

Tuesday 7 September

Homeward bound

After breakfast at the hotel, you transfer by road coach to Oxenholme Lake District for the return to London Euston again in the First-Class comfort of an Avanti Pendolino train. A light lunch will be served onboard. (B L)