Walking Holidays in the Lake District

Borwick Fold Self Catering  Holiday Cottage Accommodation in the Lake District National Park (Cumbria won the Green Globe Destination Award) offers an ideal base for an environmentally friendly walking holiday. Situated on a small by-road on the edge of Black Fell (the highest point – Black Crag - is featured in Wainwright’s Guide) you can walk from your door across the fell to Tarn Hows, Coniston, Tilberthwaite, Little Langdale and Skelwith Fold or across the Esthwaite valley to Hawkshead, Grizedale forest, Latterbarrow and the west shore of Windermere. You will need your car if you want to climb the highest fells, some of which you can see from the cottages. The nearest are Coniston Old Man/Wetherlam group (8 minutes drive), Fairfield Horseshoe at Ambleside (10 minute drive).

Transport Links -

· Getting Here - Most of our visitors arrive by car although many walkers and cyclists [particularly as there are a number of pubs/restaurants within a radius of just over a mile] hardly use it once they reach Borwick Fold.

· Bus Route [505] - operates between Windermere Train Station and Coniston via Hawkshead. Travel-line – Tel: 0870 6082608. Nearest bus stop -15 minutes walk from Borwick Fold Cottages.

· Links for internal travel: Coniston launch – http://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/
Windermere launches [does one stop at the ferry point] or anywhere on the  Cross-Lakes Shuttle – www.lake-district.gov.uk/map/index.cfm
Cumbria Bus Journey Planner – www.traveline.org.uk

Many attractions now offer price reductions if you arrive by public transport so do produce your ticket just in case.

Organised Walks - There are regular guided walks [National Park Wardens etc] during the main season for those who would like to learn a little bit about the area as they walk. You don’t need to book ahead you simply turn up at the meet point.

Walking Courses - There are a number of people who offer Mountaineering and other half day courses – e.g. at Coniston – www.Summitreks.co.uk

Walking Gear - Hawkshead, Coniston and Ambleside have a large number of places to buy outdoor clothing and equipment.

To hire Clothing and Equipment contact – www.Summitreks.co.uk

Facilities - We have created some booklets on walks directly from Borwick Fold, and have a number of walking and cycling books available and an Ordinance Survey map [on the wall in the drying area/cycle store], which is centred on Borwick Fold. There is a laundry area for washing muddy clothes.

At the end of a busy day there will be lashings of hot water, central heating adjusted to the temperature you choose and the opportunity to have a lazy evening curled up on the sofa with a book, a barbecue outside, a stroll to the pub, a game of Petanque or just relax outside, drink in the view and listen to the owls.

Lake District Weather – Because of the varied topography of the North West of England general and long-range forecasts often bare no relation to the weather experienced here. It can be raining in one valley and sunny in the next. The long range forecast [July 22nd 2004] for one week showed cloud and rain yet it was  hot and sunny with some overnight rain.

Weather line: – [017687 – 75757] – The Lake District weather is constantly changing and therefore you need to understand the conditions on the high fells before setting off for a days walking. Everyday of the year one of the highest fells, Helvelyn, is climbed to enable the above 24-hour telephone line to provide you with information on walking conditions from the valley to the summit.

The Lakes District National Park offers some of the best walking in the world and as a bonus it abuts the Yorkshire Dales [40 minutes drive] National Park.

Seasons - Each season has something different to offer the walker. Spring in the Lake District is breathtaking and joyous with young lambs, the freshness of the early green leaves unfolding and carpets of daffodils, followed by bluebells. Autumn offers spectacular colour with the changing leaves and the ochre of the bracken on the fells. Summer has wild flowers and offers comfortable walking conditions due to the temperate climate. Winter is the best-kept secret - The skies are particularly spectacular at this time of year as is the quality of the light. From Borwick Fold Cottages you look out, mainly, onto snow covered high fells, the ochre of the bracken colouring the lower slopes, contrasting with the green of the valley and the blue of the lake. There is usually very little snow in the valley bottoms and therefore you can move around easily.

Tailoring the Holiday to your interests - Cumbria has a lot to offer and with our wide knowledge of the area we can help you to find what you seek from the Lake District National Park whether it is walking, cycling, horse riding, other outdoor activities, gardens, bookshops, literary and historic sites, music, theatre, exhibitions and other attractions or locally sourced foods.

Contact Ruth or Gary on:

Tel: +44 (0) 15394 42435

Fax:  +44 (0) 15394 36178

E mail:  bookings@lakeland-hideaways.co.uk