Solo's Walking Holiday in the Lake District

Your holiday includes five days of guided walking plus a free day in the beautiful English Lake District. 

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available depending on the local weather conditions at the time.

Grade 4 Walks

• Rannerdale and Buttermere - no trip to the valley would be complete without a walk taking in a visit to the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale.  We start at Lanthwaite, at the northern end of Crummock Water, and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the lake.  Heading south by the lakeside we cross over the road and enter lower Rannerdale, where bluebells grow in profusion in May. At all times of the year the hills are a patchwork of greens and browns with the grey of the rock and boulders and the white tumbling water of the Rannerdale Beck. Crossing the footbridge we make our way back to Crummock Water where the path rises over Hause Point then descends to pass through woodland and pastures at the end of the lake.  The watering hole of Buttermere Village, with its pubs, tea room and ice cream shop soon comes into view.  There is a short direct route back to Hassness from here but our more interesting route takes us anti clockwise round the lake on what Julia Bradbury’s 2018 Britain’s Favourite Walks poll was voted number 7 in the country.  Reaching Gatesgarth at the southern end of the lake it is a short walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (120m ascent).

• Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start at Lanthwaite and make our way down to Crummock Water. Crossing its outflow, the River Cocker, we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take lunch here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head back southwards along the western shore of Crummock Water. When we come to footbridges over Scale Beck, which flows down from Scale Force waterfall, the highest in the Lake District, it may be possible to walk up to inspect the Falls if time allows. The improving track then takes us to Scale Bridge and a lane leading back to Buttermere Village and Hassness. Total distance covered: 7.4 miles (70m ascent).

• Haystacks from Honister - this walk takes us to the top of Haystacks, favourite fell of Alfred Wainwright, and the resting place for his ashes. Starting from Honister Pass we ascend the track of an old mining tramway to the Drumhouse, then follow the quaintly named Moses Trod, here part of the Coast to Coast long distance footpath, onto the side of Brandreth and Grey Knotts. We see Haystacks over to our right, and hopefully enjoy views over Buttermere and Crummock Water to the Solway Coast and beyond to Scotland. Turning down below Great Round How we pass the sheltered Blackbeck Tarn, and then Innominate Tarn where Wainwright's ashes are scattered. The summit of Haystacks (597m) soon follows where we can admire the views below. Retracing our steps past the tarns we cross Warnscale Beck and come to Dubs Hut, recently renovated with financial assistance from The Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust. After inspecting the Hut, we follow the Miners Road back down to Honister. Total distance covered: 5.5 miles (525m ascent).

• Ennerdale and Black Sail - this walk starts at Honister and ascends the old Miners’ Tramway, following the Coast to Coast long distance footpath across Fleetwith and down Loft Beck into Ennerdale, a remote valley undergoing an extensive rewilding programme. At Black Sail Youth Hostel, the most remote in England, there is a chance for a break before climbing up to Scarth Gap, where views of Buttermere and Hassness Country House open up before us.  The well made path down to the lake leads to Gatesgarth and Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 5.8 miles (360m ascent).

• Loweswater Circuit - we start at the north eastern end of Crummock Water and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the Lake. Crossing the river we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take a break here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head west to Maggie’s Bridge and the shores of Loweswater. After a stroll through the oak woods by the lakeside we rise through walled pastures to a scenic elevated return route along the Coffin Road back to Loweswater Village and Lanthwaite. Total distance covered: 10.1 miles (375m ascent).

Your holiday includes five days of guided walking plus a free day in the beautiful English Lake District. 

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available depending on the local weather conditions at the time.

Grade 4 Walks

• Rannerdale and Buttermere - no trip to the valley would be complete without a walk taking in a visit to the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale.  We start at Lanthwaite, at the northern end of Crummock Water, and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the lake.  Heading south by the lakeside we cross over the road and enter lower Rannerdale, where bluebells grow in profusion in May. At all times of the year the hills are a patchwork of greens and browns with the grey of the rock and boulders and the white tumbling water of the Rannerdale Beck. Crossing the footbridge we make our way back to Crummock Water where the path rises over Hause Point then descends to pass through woodland and pastures at the end of the lake.  The watering hole of Buttermere Village, with its pubs, tea room and ice cream shop soon comes into view.  There is a short direct route back to Hassness from here but our more interesting route takes us anti clockwise round the lake on what Julia Bradbury’s 2018 Britain’s Favourite Walks poll was voted number 7 in the country.  Reaching Gatesgarth at the southern end of the lake it is a short walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (120m ascent).

• Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start at Lanthwaite and make our way down to Crummock Water. Crossing its outflow, the River Cocker, we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take lunch here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head back southwards along the western shore of Crummock Water. When we come to footbridges over Scale Beck, which flows down from Scale Force waterfall, the highest in the Lake District, it may be possible to walk up to inspect the Falls if time allows. The improving track then takes us to Scale Bridge and a lane leading back to Buttermere Village and Hassness. Total distance covered: 7.4 miles (70m ascent).

• Haystacks from Honister - this walk takes us to the top of Haystacks, favourite fell of Alfred Wainwright, and the resting place for his ashes. Starting from Honister Pass we ascend the track of an old mining tramway to the Drumhouse, then follow the quaintly named Moses Trod, here part of the Coast to Coast long distance footpath, onto the side of Brandreth and Grey Knotts. We see Haystacks over to our right, and hopefully enjoy views over Buttermere and Crummock Water to the Solway Coast and beyond to Scotland. Turning down below Great Round How we pass the sheltered Blackbeck Tarn, and then Innominate Tarn where Wainwright's ashes are scattered. The summit of Haystacks (597m) soon follows where we can admire the views below. Retracing our steps past the tarns we cross Warnscale Beck and come to Dubs Hut, recently renovated with financial assistance from The Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust. After inspecting the Hut, we follow the Miners Road back down to Honister. Total distance covered: 5.5 miles (525m ascent).

• Ennerdale and Black Sail - this walk starts at Honister and ascends the old Miners’ Tramway, following the Coast to Coast long distance footpath across Fleetwith and down Loft Beck into Ennerdale, a remote valley undergoing an extensive rewilding programme. At Black Sail Youth Hostel, the most remote in England, there is a chance for a break before climbing up to Scarth Gap, where views of Buttermere and Hassness Country House open up before us.  The well made path down to the lake leads to Gatesgarth and Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 5.8 miles (360m ascent).

• Loweswater Circuit - we start at the north eastern end of Crummock Water and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the Lake. Crossing the river we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take a break here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head west to Maggie’s Bridge and the shores of Loweswater. After a stroll through the oak woods by the lakeside we rise through walled pastures to a scenic elevated return route along the Coffin Road back to Loweswater Village and Lanthwaite. Total distance covered: 10.1 miles (375m ascent).

Your holiday includes five days of guided walking plus a free day in the beautiful English Lake District. 

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available depending on the local weather conditions at the time.

Grade 4 Walks

• Rannerdale and Buttermere - no trip to the valley would be complete without a walk taking in a visit to the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale.  We start at Lanthwaite, at the northern end of Crummock Water, and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the lake.  Heading south by the lakeside we cross over the road and enter lower Rannerdale, where bluebells grow in profusion in May. At all times of the year the hills are a patchwork of greens and browns with the grey of the rock and boulders and the white tumbling water of the Rannerdale Beck. Crossing the footbridge we make our way back to Crummock Water where the path rises over Hause Point then descends to pass through woodland and pastures at the end of the lake.  The watering hole of Buttermere Village, with its pubs, tea room and ice cream shop soon comes into view.  There is a short direct route back to Hassness from here but our more interesting route takes us anti clockwise round the lake on what Julia Bradbury’s 2018 Britain’s Favourite Walks poll was voted number 7 in the country.  Reaching Gatesgarth at the southern end of the lake it is a short walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (120m ascent).

• Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start at Lanthwaite and make our way down to Crummock Water. Crossing its outflow, the River Cocker, we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take lunch here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head back southwards along the western shore of Crummock Water. When we come to footbridges over Scale Beck, which flows down from Scale Force waterfall, the highest in the Lake District, it may be possible to walk up to inspect the Falls if time allows. The improving track then takes us to Scale Bridge and a lane leading back to Buttermere Village and Hassness. Total distance covered: 7.4 miles (70m ascent).

• Haystacks from Honister - this walk takes us to the top of Haystacks, favourite fell of Alfred Wainwright, and the resting place for his ashes. Starting from Honister Pass we ascend the track of an old mining tramway to the Drumhouse, then follow the quaintly named Moses Trod, here part of the Coast to Coast long distance footpath, onto the side of Brandreth and Grey Knotts. We see Haystacks over to our right, and hopefully enjoy views over Buttermere and Crummock Water to the Solway Coast and beyond to Scotland. Turning down below Great Round How we pass the sheltered Blackbeck Tarn, and then Innominate Tarn where Wainwright's ashes are scattered. The summit of Haystacks (597m) soon follows where we can admire the views below. Retracing our steps past the tarns we cross Warnscale Beck and come to Dubs Hut, recently renovated with financial assistance from The Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust. After inspecting the Hut, we follow the Miners Road back down to Honister. Total distance covered: 5.5 miles (525m ascent).

• Ennerdale and Black Sail - this walk starts at Honister and ascends the old Miners’ Tramway, following the Coast to Coast long distance footpath across Fleetwith and down Loft Beck into Ennerdale, a remote valley undergoing an extensive rewilding programme. At Black Sail Youth Hostel, the most remote in England, there is a chance for a break before climbing up to Scarth Gap, where views of Buttermere and Hassness Country House open up before us.  The well made path down to the lake leads to Gatesgarth and Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 5.8 miles (360m ascent).

• Loweswater Circuit - we start at the north eastern end of Crummock Water and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the Lake. Crossing the river we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take a break here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head west to Maggie’s Bridge and the shores of Loweswater. After a stroll through the oak woods by the lakeside we rise through walled pastures to a scenic elevated return route along the Coffin Road back to Loweswater Village and Lanthwaite. Total distance covered: 10.1 miles (375m ascent).