Kendal and the Lake District for Solo Travellers
Holiday Highlights
- Discover historic Levens Hall and Gardens
- Take the Steam Yacht Gondola across Coniston
- Journey on the The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, one of the oldest and longest narrow-gauge railways in England
- Explore Muncaster Castle on a guided tour before a private group lunch
- Scenic drive to enjoy Windermere at your leisure
- Two included guided walks of Monk Coniston and Buttermere
- Four nights in three-star superior accommodation with breakfast and two dinners included
- Welcome dinner on the first night to get to know your travelling companions
What's Included
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on one person in a double/twin room for sole occupancy.
- The price includes:
- Four nights' three-star superior accommodation
- Welcome drink
- Daily breakfast and two dinners including welcome dinner (and a choice to book a hotel dining package for 2 nights from £65 per person)
- All local accommodation taxes
- The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
- A porterage service is available
Itinerary
Day 1
Make your way to your well-appointed hotel in Kendal for around lunchtime, surrounded by the breathtaking views of the Cumbrian countryside, and make yourself at home. A porterage service is included and for those wishing to drive, there is a free car park available for you to use. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to historic Levens Hall and gardens. The house is mainly Elizabethan with fine oak panelling, ornate plasterwork and a beautiful collection of furniture and paintings. The 10-acre 17th-century gardens have many original features including the world’s oldest topiary gardens, and the herbaceous borders are considered to be some of the finest in England.
Day 2
This morning we head to Coniston Water, steeped in history and settled since Neolithic times. The village nestles in the lee of The Old Man of Coniston - likened by Wainwright to the position of the Zermatt and the Matterhorn and is surrounded by spectacular rugged crags and foaming waterfalls. It truly illustrates the turbulent geological complexities of a valley born of violent volcanic fire and sculpted, even as ‘recently’ as 10,000 years ago, by unimaginable depths of ice. We arrive at the lake and take the beautifully restored Steam Yacht Gondola on a circular cruise on lake Coniston like the Victorians did before us. Enjoy a guided commentary from the captain of the yacht, who will tell us about the history of the lake and what we can see. Look out for Brantwood John Ruskin’s home on the shores of the lake which we will visit later this afternoon. We can also spot Arthur Ransome’s cottage - he used Coniston as the setting for his very popular children’s book series Swallows and Amazons, which since published in 1930 has been made into numerous series and films. Most people will of course associate the lake with Donald Campbells water Speed record attempt, which ended in tragedy. He reached speed of over 300 mph on his craft “Bluebird”. After our cruise there will be some free time to explore the pretty village of Coniston itself, or to visit the Ruskin Museum to find out more about Coniston, Ruskin and Donald Campbell. This afternoon we will drive to Brantwood House former home of John Ruskin a visionary thinker and pioneering conservationist, who foresaw the ‘green-house effect’ more than a century ago. Ruskin also inspired the establishment of The National Trust, and the founders of the National Parks movement, he wrote extensively and was also an accomplished painter . there is time to explore the house and beautiful mountainside gardens before we return ot the hotel late afternoon. Buttermere Lakeshore Walk With a mix of lakeside paths and woodland, this circular walk takes us around Buttermere and through Burtness Wood with brilliant vistas of Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks fell. As you trace the shoreline, you’ll be sure to see stunning views of Robinson, Hindscarth and Dale Head too. The other half of the walk is through more woody and muddy areas (so be sure to bring good walking boots) but it’s a level path and a wonderful loop back to Buttermere village. Easy walk - Duration: 2.5 hours / Distance: 4.7miles / Terrain: shoreline paths, stones, rough and narrow in places with possible muddy areas
3* Superior Stonecross Manor Hotel - Kendal
A boutique style hotel based in Kendal. Originally builtin 1857, the small hotel has a traditional feel which has been wonderfully restored with all the modern comforts. As well as free parking, a restaurant and bar, there are leisure facilities and a newly refurbished heated pool.