Choose Your Pace: Hiking in England's National Parks

At the Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

After lunch, at 1.45pm, we’ll board a motorcoach to transfer to the country house, with an Orientation session en route. After checking in at the country house, we’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with a Group Leader who will also serve as our Study Leader in association with local experts who will lead hikes and provide commentary as we explore. The houses will also be hosting UK participants who will join us on walks and at meals. There will be three levels of hikes each day — based on local conditions — with variable terrain and increasing levels of physical challenge so we can select the hikes of our choice. Each evening, we will hear about the next day’s hike features, highlights, terrain, ascent, and length with questions and answers, then sign up for our preferred options. Hiking experts will rotate through the difficulty levels in order to interact with as many participants as possible. Hikes will go rain or shine. Transportation to trailheads will be via minibus or motorcoach. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At each of the country houses where we’ll stay, we’ll have a 3-course plated dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase at the bar before and after dinner. We can mix and mingle with fellow Road Scholars as well as other UK hiking enthusiasts who will be in residence.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars and new UK hiking colleagues, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead and our first hikes.

At the country house, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold choices, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water. We will also receive a bag lunch and supplement the sandwich with a pick-and-mix, featuring a wide variety of healthy items.

Our hikes today center around the small town of Sedbergh, England's official International Book Town. All three hikes follow the River Rawthey for some of the way, with the Level 2 hike visiting Farfield Mill and the Level 3 hike including an ascent to the summit of Arant Haw in the Howgill Fells.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax. We will gather before dinner with our hiking experts to learn about tomorrow's hikes.

At the country house, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

Country house buffet; select lunch items.

Level 1 walk: From Wain Wath Force, we follow the River Swale and many further waterfalls. Passing below the summit of Kisdon we reach Muker, a small village on the site of a settlement dating back to Viking times.Level 2: Discover the delightful upper reaches of Swaledale. We'll follow the valley from Thwaite to Keld, returning past the waterfall of East Gill Force and the centuries-old lead mine at Crackpot Hall. Level 3: Walk over Black Hill between Thwaite and Keld, then follow the upper Swale valley to Muker, finishing along a spectacular terrace above the river.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax.

Country house plated meal.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

Country house buffet.

We’ll check out and board a motorcoach to begin our transfer to the next country house. En route we'll stop for a field trip to picturesque Grasmere, at the heart of the Lake District National Park, best known for its association with Romantic poet William Wordsworth who lived at Dove Cottage in the village from 1799 to 1808.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Grasmere. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

After time for independent exploration in Grasmere, we’ll meet at a prearranged time and place to continue our journey. At the next country house, we’ll gather before dinner with our hiking experts to learn about tomorrow's hikes.

At the country house, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the country house, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold choices, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water. We will also receive a bag lunch and supplement the sandwich with a pick-and-mix, featuring a wide variety of healthy items.

Level 1 is a delight in either direction. Initially following woodland track we first come to the water at Derwent Bay and from here continue on a more uneven path along the shoreline. On the return you may wish to view the lovely walled garden on the Lingholm estate. Take in the view of imposing Skiddaw above Keswick and across the water to the islands. Level 2’s walk takes us into the Newlands Valley. We head through Portinscale and the outskirts of Braithwaite, then walk below Barrow and across the valley to Ghyll Bank. We pick up the Cumbria Way for a pleasant stroll back to the house. Level 3 follows the elevated path along Catbells terrace, then return along the beautiful lakeshore path. Highlight: This stunning route is right on our doorstep. Throughout the walk you'll enjoy glorious views over Derwentwater and the surrounding Lakeland fells.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax. We will gather before dinner with our hiking experts to learn about tomorrow's hikes.

Country house plated meal.

At leisure.

Country house buffet; select lunch items.

Level 1 visits the spectacular Aira Force waterfall, then follow the low level Ullswater Way footpath to Glenridding. Here we board the Steamer for a cruise along the length of the lake to finish at Pooley Bridge. Highlight: Great views of the lake and surrounding mountains and a relaxing drink in Pooley Bridge! Level 2 begins at the pretty Watermillock church we join the Ullswater Way, and follow woodland paths before gently climbing to the spectacular terrace path below Gowbarrow. We descend to the famous Aira Force waterfall and finish following the Ullswater Way into Glenridding. The terrace path enjoys wonderful views over Ullswater, described by Wordswoth as 'the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur which any of the lakes affords'. Level 3 begins our walk at the beautiful Aira Force waterfall, before ascending along the beck towards Dockray. We turn to join the fairly steep path up to summit of Gowbarrow Fell and will hopefully be rewarded with the view from the top. We then descend to the terrace path along the east and south flank of the fell with more wonderful views before continuing down almost to lake level and follow the Ullswater Way into Glenridding. Spectacular views of Ullswater and the surrounding area from the summit of Gowbarrow Fell.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax. We will gather before dinner with our hiking experts to learn about tomorrow's hikes.

Country house plated meal.

At leisure.

Country house buffet; select lunch items.

Today’s Level 1 walk is a gentle ascent to Castlerigg Stone Circle, potentially one of the earliest in the country. Field and woodland paths take us on to Keswick. There's time to explore the attractive town of Keswick at the end of the walk. You may enjoy visiting one of the many pubs and tea rooms or discover the town's quirky museum. Level 2 is a walk through the green Vale of St John to the iconic Castlerigg Stone Circle with its commanding view of the surrounding fells. There is the option to spend some time in Keswick at the end of the walk or if you prefer return straight to Derwent Bank. The dramatic setting of Castlerigg Stone Circle affords stunning views of the surrounding fells. Level 3’s walk starts from Castle Rock we'll cross the wonderful low-lying fell of High Rigg to Castlerigg stone circle before continuing on to Keswick. Castlerigg Stone Circle dates to c3,000BC and is one of most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain with great views of the Lakeland fells.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax.

Country house plated meal.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

Country house buffet.

We’ll check out and board a motorcoach to begin our transfer to the next country house. We will stop en route for a field trip to the historic market town of Skipton, often referred to as the "Gateway to the Dales."

On your own to enjoy what you like in Skipton.

After time for independent exploration in Skipton, we’ll meet at a prearranged time and place to continue our journey. At the country house, we'll gather before dinner with our hiking experts to learn about tomorrow's hikes.

At the country house, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the country house, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold choices, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water. We will also receive a bag lunch and supplement the sandwich with a pick-and-mix, featuring a wide variety of healthy items.

The Level 1 walk follows fields and lanes to Airton, we explore the village before walking the old mill leat. Our return to Newfield Hall is via the Pennine Way. Our Level 2 walk takes us through the village of Calton before joining the Pennine Way to take us to the medieval church at Kirkby Malham. We then cross open countryside to reach the 17th century village of Airton before returning by lanes and fields and our Level 3 walk discovers the beautiful countryside as we walk north by the River Aire through Malhamdale to reach the village of Malham. We take a circular route to view Malham Cove before returning along the Pennine Way past the villages of Hanlith and Airton.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax. We will gather before dinner with our hiking experts to learn about tomorrow's hikes.

Country house plated meal.

At leisure.

Country house buffet; select lunch items.

Today’s hikes explore a quintessential Dales landscape of valleys, villages and dramatic rock formations. All three hikes start in the village of Clapham, at the foot of Ingleborough mountain, and explore nearby Ingleborough Cave. The Level 2 and 3 hikes continue to the 322-foot deep pothole of Gaping Gill, linked to Ingleborough Cave by a subterranean stream system.

Bag lunch along the trail.

Our hikes will continue until we return to the country house mid- to late afternoon, depending on hike. You might like to stroll in the gardens or simply freshen up and relax.

Country house plated meal.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

Country house buffet.

We'll check out and board a motorcoach to begin our transfer to Manchester. We'll stop en route at Quarry Bank, a textile mill founded in 1784 that offers a fascinating insight into Britain's Industrial Revolution. During our field trip we'll learn about the lives of the workers who lived in houses attached to the mill — many of whom began their working lives as apprentices here during childhood — and the mill's wealthy owners who inhabited the grand Quarry Bank House. The apprenticeship system came to an end in the mid-19th century, but much of the mill's heritage machinery remains in functioning condition functions, and calico cloth is still produced here.

On your own to enjoy what you like. The cafés at Quarry Bank offer plentiful hot and cold choices, including fruit and vegetables grown in the garden of the Apprentice House.

We'll complete the transfer by motorcoach to our Manchester Airport hotel, and check in with some time to relax before dinner.

At the hotel we'll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner as we toast our journey and one another.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers a range of hot and cold items such as eggs, breakfast meats, hash browns, mushrooms, tomatoes, cereals, cheese, cold cuts, yoghurts, pastries and toast, as well as milk, juices, coffee, tea, water. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!