Day 1 Depart USA

Day 2 Arrival at Manchester airport. Private transfer to Grasmere Village. Short introductory walk of Grasmere and surrounding countryside. Grasmere developed from an early Saxon settlement into a flourishing wool trading community by the early middle ages. Welcome reception. Overnight Grasmere

Day 3 Follow in the footsteps of the Lake Poet William Wordsworth and understand how he was inspired by the magnificent lakeland scenery around him. Visit his home, Dove Cottage, and then walk from Grasmere above Rydal Water along an old coffin route where burial parties once traveled from Ambleside to the ancient parish church in Grasmere. Visit Rydal Mount, the home of Wordsworth for the last 37 years of his life. Enjoy a picnic on the shores of Rydal Water before continuing along the lake past isolated areas of former stone quarrying activities. Cross the magnificent Loughrigg Terrace with outstanding views northwards across the Vale of Grasmere. Walk through mixed woodland back to Grasmere. Time at leisure to enjoy the village. Walking: 6 easy to moderate miles . Overnight: Grasmere

Day 4 Visit Wray Castle, a 19th century architectural extravaganza from a period when many large homes were being built around Windermere for the nouveau riche of industrial Britain. Famous children’s author Beatrix stayed here on her very first visit to the Lake District, aged 16, when her love affair with the area began. Make your way along the shores of Windermere, England’s largest lake, and over an ancient pack horse route where the wool from Hawkshead was brought to the old ferry point across Windermere. Pass Moss Eccles Tarn, where Beatrix Potter spent many hours fishing. Descend into Near Sawrey and visit Hill Top, a typical 17th century stone and slate Lakeland farmhouse. Hill Top became the setting for several of Beatrix’s stories involving Jemima Puddleduck, Pigling Bland and Tom Kitten. View Esthwaite Water, the inspiration for the “Tale of Jeremy Fisher”. Enjoy a pub lunch at the Tower Bank Arms next door to Hill Top. A short drive to Hawkshead, once a Viking summer dwelling place. Take a walking tour of this charming Lakeland village with its fine array of 17th and 18th century buildings. Visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery housing original paintings from her little books. From here a beautiful walk leads across pastures and gentle rolling hills to Tarn Hows and on down to Coniston Water. Some may prefer to drive across to Coniston Water to visit Brantwood, home of the 19th century poet, painter and social reformer, John Ruskin. All join together for early evening cocktail cruise on Coniston Water, enjoying the wildlife as you cruise around the lake. Walking: am - 4 easy-moderate miles; pm - 2 easy-moderate miles Overnight in Grasmere

Day 5 Climb over spectacular Wrynose and Hardknott Passes by minibus. Stop to visit the Roman fort at Hardknott with its commanding views over Eskdale. Visit Muncaster Castle for a welcome cup of coffee and a private tour with a member of the Pennington family. This granite and sandstone Castle has been the ancestral home of the family for over 700 years. The Castle has extensive grounds containing some of the most magnificent rhododendrons in the country. Muncaster is also the World Owl Trust. Walk through the grounds of Muncaster enjoying views out to sea before walking along Muncaster Fell towards the magnificent mountains of central Lakeland. End the walk in Eskdale and take a short drive along Wastwater to Wasdale Head. Hear stories of Wasdale’s biggest liar over a drink at the Wasdale Head Inn where the history of rock climbing began in the 19th century. Walking: 5 moderate miles. Overnight: Wasdale Head

Day 6 Begin with a walk around Wasdale. Here a spider’s web of 17th century enclosure walls spreads across the valley floor with later 18th and 19th century walls soaring up the fell-sides. See England’s deepest lake, highest mountain (if you are lucky!) and smallest church before following in the footsteps of Samuel Taylor Coleridge walking up to Burnmoor Tarn. This beautiful walk leads below the Scafell range of Mountains before descending by old peat storage huts into the green valley of Eskdale. Stop for a cup of tea and then maybe take a ride on La’al Ratty, a 15-inch narrow gauge railway. Walking: 5 moderate miles. Overnight: Wasdale Head

Day 7 Visit the fascinating Castlerigg Stone Circle dating from about 4000 BC. Then on to Borrowdale, one of England’s most beautiful valleys. Walk along the old packhorse route from Rosthwaite to Watendlath. Descend to the idyllic settlement of Watendlath. This National Trust area of three old lakeland farms alongside a little tarn was where Judith Paris, heroine of the Hugh Walpole story, resided. Continue along the beck (stream) spotting dippers and a kingfisher if you are lucky. View the magnificent waterfalls of Lodore before descending via ‘Surprise View’ and Ashness Bridge to Derwentwater for a gentle cruise back across the lake to Keswick by motor-launch. On the way back to Keswick enjoy lovely views of the lake and surrounding landscape or join a more strenuous walk. Then time to explore Keswick. Walking - six easy to moderate miles. Overnight at Ledore Swiss Hotel.

Day 8 Walk along a Roman road called ‘High Street’ to the Cockpit, a small prehistoric stone circle. Enjoy stunning views of Lake Ullswater. Continue to Howtown, where you have the choice of a cruise on Ullswater aboard one of the steamers to Glenridding or extending the walk along the lake shore to Hartsop. Enjoy tea at Hartsop in private homes. Explore this unchanged fellside village with a botanist, an historian, a farmer (who will demonstrate some of the traditional skills such as sheepdog trials, hound trailing or sheep shearing) and other locals who will welcome you into their homes and gardens. Tonight enjoy a farewell reception at Mirehouse on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, hosted by the owners Mr and Mrs Spedding who will give a private tour of their home which abounds in literary associations followed by dinner at the hotel. Overnight Ledore Swiss Hotel.

Day 9 Depart by train for London. Pick-up at London train station and private transfer to Ruebens at the Palace Hotel. Night at Rubens Hotel.

Day 10 Full day guided sightseeing tour of London. Night at Rubens at the Palace.

Day 11 Private transfer to airport for flight back to USA.

TOUR COST INCLUDES Round-trip coach to and from Newark Airport from Binghamton, NY Round-trip air from Newark via Continental Airlines 3 nights at the Red Lion, Grasmere 2 nights at the Wasdale Head Inn 2 nights at Lodore Swiss Hotel 2 nights at the Rubens at the Palace, London All entrances as per the itinerary Welcome reception 7 lunches, 6 dinners, 9 buffet breakfasts & 2 teas Evening reception at Mirehouse Train travel to London 2 Blue Badge Guides Tips to hotels and restaurants Maps

THE TOUR COST $3,999 per person sharing twin $365 Single supplement A deposit of $500 per person is required to join this tour. The balance is due on March 15, 2004. Cancellation charges effective from March 15. Trip cancellation/medical insurance is highly recommended.

Important note: Participants from regions other than Central New York can pay $750 less and arrange their own trans-Atlantic flights, meeting the group at the tour’s starting point in Manchester, England.

For reservations, contact Rick Marsi via e-mail (info@rickmarsi.com)) or Bob Horbey, group sales director at Sawtelle Travel (800-295-2222).

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