Excursion C: The Lake District Experience

Highlights – Scenic tour in the National Park – Castlerigg Stone Circle - Keswick - Borrowdale – Farm tour – sheep dog demonstration – Grasmere - Windermere

We travel up one of the most scenic stretches of motorway in the country to Penrith with wonderful views of the eastern fells and western dales to Rheged and a short visit and toilet break. On leaving Rheged, we travel into the heart of the Lake District stopping near Castlerigg on the outskirts of Keswick. A 20 minute walk from the coach park is the stone circle of Castlerigg Stone Circle. This is one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain, and is the most visited stone circle in Cumbria with awesome mountain views.

A short drive brings us to Keswick and another brief stop (~30 minutes) for a toilet break.

We then travel down scenic Borrowdale to Yew Tree Farm Rosthwaite arriving at approximately 1pm. Here, there will be a guided tour of the farm and a sheep dog demonstration followed by lunch of Herdwick lamb stew or Herdwick pastie, soup, homemade scones from the farm (there is vegetarian soup available, but a packed lunch is recommended for other special dietary requirements). Joe Relph is a world champion sheep dog handler and provides a fascinating insight into farming in the Lake District, both past and present.

We depart Rosthwaite early afternoon to travel through the heart of the Lake District to Grasmere where we stay for an hour or so. There is a chance to walk around this pretty village and perhaps visit the famous Grasmere gingerbread shop or the church of St. Oswald.

We then take the scenic route back to Lancaster via Windermere.