Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Hassness Country House
Your holiday includes three days of guided walking with a focus on taking time to wind down and refocus in the beautiful English Lake District. Whilst out walking, we will enjoy short 30 minute periods where we walk in silence, to concentrate on our surroundings and ourselves. There will also be yoga and short relaxation sessions to partake in should you wish. All meals are included during your stay, except for one evening meal on either Tuesday or Thursday (depending on your arrival day) where Debbie and Laurie take a well earned rest. You can take dinner in one of the two local pubs in Buttermere.
Below is a selection of grade 4 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
Buttermere and Rannerdale Knotts - the well trodden track round Buttermere is a superb introduction to the delights of the valley. It's likely that the local Herdwick sheep will be dotting the hillside and red squirrels can often be seen in the woods. Many bird species can be seen and heard in the area. Behind us the imposing ridge of Fleetwith Pike separates the deep gash of Honister Pass from the meandering river and tumbling waterfalls in Warnscale Bottom. Ahead of us the looming mass of Grasmoor is a backdrop to the green ridge leading down from Whiteless Pike to Buttermere Village below. We cross the bridge over Combe Beck and enter the quieter Burtness Wood, finally reaching Buttermere Village for a refreshment stop. We may look into the church to see the Wainwright Memorial, in a window framing a view of Haystacks in the distance. Then our path winds towards Crummock Water where we turn up a steep stone staircase to the viewpoint of Rannerdale Knotts (355m). Turning south east we traverse the ridge to the head of Rannerdale before descending back to Buttermere Village and the short shore-side walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 8.1 miles (390m 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 Wainsright'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 Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust. After inspecting the Hut, we follow the Miners Road back down to Honister. Total distance covered: 6.2 miles (525m ascent).
Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a circuit of Crummock Water, taking in the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale, and a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start in Buttermere Village and make our way to the shores of Crummock Water and Hause Point. Descending to the road we 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 follows the shore through woodland and pastures to the end of the lake. Crossing the river 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. Total distance covered: 9.5 miles (245m ascent).
Watendlath and Derwentwater - this walk may not literally scale the heights but it is full of interest, even when the clouds cover the high tops. We start in the village of Rosthwaite and follow a well engineered bridleway east, up through woods and then open fell, to Puddingstone Bank. Then we descend to the tarn and Farm at Watendlath and its welcome tearoom. Following the Watendlath Beck north our route takes us down into more oak woodland before Surprise View presents magnificent photo opportunities over Derwentwater. Further on the ancient stonework of Ashness Bridge provides another photo stop before the path contours round above the eastern side of Derwentwater then down to the shore at Great Wood. We follow the shore line paths to Keswick, and optional retail therapy, before catching the regular bus service back on Rosthwaite. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (335m ascent).
Borrowdale - the Borrowdale Valley is one of the most beautiful in the Lake District. This walk takes in many of the best views and points of interest. We start at Seatoller and ascend gently into the ancient oaks in Johnny Wood before dropping down to cross the River Derwent. We then follow footpaths through the fields over ice age moraines to Rosthwaite, where we will have time to walk round the village. We cross New Bridge and follow the Cumbria Way downstream stopping to explore the cave of the eccentric Millican Dalton under the shadow of Castle Crag. Continuing north we loop round to Swanesty How before approaching the village of Grange from the north. After stopping in Grange we follow the Allerdale Ramble footpath up past Castle Crag, with the option of tackling the winding footpath to the top, before our route contours round above the tree line affording us open views of the Upper Borrowdale Fells and then drops us back down to our starting place in Seatoller. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (420m ascent).
Your holiday includes three days of guided walking with a focus on taking time to wind down and refocus in the beautiful English Lake District. Whilst out walking, we will enjoy short 30 minute periods where we walk in silence, to concentrate on our surroundings and ourselves. There will also be yoga and short relaxation sessions to partake in should you wish. All meals are included during your stay, except for one evening meal on either Tuesday or Thursday (depending on your arrival day) where Debbie and Laurie take a well earned rest. You can take dinner in one of the two local pubs in Buttermere.
Below is a selection of grade 4 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
Buttermere and Rannerdale Knotts - the well trodden track round Buttermere is a superb introduction to the delights of the valley. It's likely that the local Herdwick sheep will be dotting the hillside and red squirrels can often be seen in the woods. Many bird species can be seen and heard in the area. Behind us the imposing ridge of Fleetwith Pike separates the deep gash of Honister Pass from the meandering river and tumbling waterfalls in Warnscale Bottom. Ahead of us the looming mass of Grasmoor is a backdrop to the green ridge leading down from Whiteless Pike to Buttermere Village below. We cross the bridge over Combe Beck and enter the quieter Burtness Wood, finally reaching Buttermere Village for a refreshment stop. We may look into the church to see the Wainwright Memorial, in a window framing a view of Haystacks in the distance. Then our path winds towards Crummock Water where we turn up a steep stone staircase to the viewpoint of Rannerdale Knotts (355m). Turning south east we traverse the ridge to the head of Rannerdale before descending back to Buttermere Village and the short shore-side walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 8.1 miles (390m 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 Wainsright'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 Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust. After inspecting the Hut, we follow the Miners Road back down to Honister. Total distance covered: 6.2 miles (525m ascent).
Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a circuit of Crummock Water, taking in the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale, and a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start in Buttermere Village and make our way to the shores of Crummock Water and Hause Point. Descending to the road we 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 follows the shore through woodland and pastures to the end of the lake. Crossing the river 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. Total distance covered: 9.5 miles (245m ascent).
Watendlath and Derwentwater - this walk may not literally scale the heights but it is full of interest, even when the clouds cover the high tops. We start in the village of Rosthwaite and follow a well engineered bridleway east, up through woods and then open fell, to Puddingstone Bank. Then we descend to the tarn and Farm at Watendlath and its welcome tearoom. Following the Watendlath Beck north our route takes us down into more oak woodland before Surprise View presents magnificent photo opportunities over Derwentwater. Further on the ancient stonework of Ashness Bridge provides another photo stop before the path contours round above the eastern side of Derwentwater then down to the shore at Great Wood. We follow the shore line paths to Keswick, and optional retail therapy, before catching the regular bus service back on Rosthwaite. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (335m ascent).
Borrowdale - the Borrowdale Valley is one of the most beautiful in the Lake District. This walk takes in many of the best views and points of interest. We start at Seatoller and ascend gently into the ancient oaks in Johnny Wood before dropping down to cross the River Derwent. We then follow footpaths through the fields over ice age moraines to Rosthwaite, where we will have time to walk round the village. We cross New Bridge and follow the Cumbria Way downstream stopping to explore the cave of the eccentric Millican Dalton under the shadow of Castle Crag. Continuing north we loop round to Swanesty How before approaching the village of Grange from the north. After stopping in Grange we follow the Allerdale Ramble footpath up past Castle Crag, with the option of tackling the winding footpath to the top, before our route contours round above the tree line affording us open views of the Upper Borrowdale Fells and then drops us back down to our starting place in Seatoller. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (420m ascent).
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Accommodation and all meals except for dinner on Tuesday or Thursday (which can be taken in one of Buttermere’s village pubs)
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