Located an hour and a half north of Manchester (5hrs from London), The Lake District is one of England's most beautiful areas filled with incredible coastal areas mixed in with beautiful, picturesque Georgian villages and towns. Take time to explore this wonderful area known as Cumbria, home of Betrix Potter's Peter Rabbit children stories. With medieval villages, forts, castles, glens and valleys, more lakes than you can count on two hands as well as the wild and rugged dales of Yorkshire, you are sure to be impressed by the natural beauty all around.

Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it. It is in the county of Cumbria and entirely within the Lake District National Park.

Take a private transfer with a vehicle and driver from your accomodation in Windermere to Oxenholme train station.

Who has not heard of Peter Rabbit? Or Pigling Bland, Jeremy Fisher, Tom Kitten, Samuel Whiskers and other characters brought to life by Beatrix Potter! Spend the day on a shared, comprehensive tour of the houses, farms, villages, valleys, lakes and mountains that are linked to her stories. Enter the world of Beatrix, a lonely child who became one of the world's best loved children's authors, and one of the most important benefactors of the National Trust, using income from her Peter Rabbit Tales to protect her beloved Lake District. Travel north alongside Lake Windermere to Waterhead and then from here to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top farm where she wrote many of her famous children's stories in this little 17th century stone house. You have the opportunity to go into the shop, explore her garden and do an optional visit the house. The next stop is the medieval village of Hawkshead where you have time to explore this fascinating village. On the way to Coniston Water you will be driven through the renowned beauty spot of Tarn Hows where there will be a stop for a photo. Then board a ferry near Coniston for a lake cruise. The tour continues through Yewdale, passing Yew Tree Tarn and Skelwith Bridge then back to Windermere and Bowness. Complete this enjoyable half day shared tour with an optional cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, former home of Beatrix Potter’s mother, before returning to your accommodation. (entrances or cream tea not included - please speak to your Sales Advisor if you would like them to be included).

Essentially this tour is of the central and northern parts of the area, with frequent stops for photographs and detailed commentary. The lunchbreak at Grasmere provides an opportunity to visit Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth. The afternoon sees us near Keswick visiting locations where Beatrix Potter holidayed and which inspired her Tales of Mrs. Tiggy-winkle and Benjamin Bunny, including Newlands Valley and Moss Force Waterfall.

A lake cruise on Squirrel Nutkin's Derwentwater, a spectacular drive over the northern mountain passes and a visit to the 5,000 year old Castlerigg Stone Circle completes the tour.

Built in 1845, this Victorian, The Belsfield Lake Windermere hotel (3*) stands within six acres of beautiful gardens overlooking Lake Windermere and the Cumbrian Hills. The Belsfield Hotel benefits from a wonderful location in the heart of The Lake District in the popular resort town of Bowness-on-Windermere. The Belsfield is one of the finest of the Lake Windermere Hotels. Leisure facilities on site include a heated indoor swimming pool and sauna. The hotel restaurant offers superb views over Lake Windermere and the opportunity to enjoy good food.

Overnight at The Belsfield (3*).

Experience what this region has to offer as you take in the splendid views throughout the day on a full day (shared) tour with a driver/guide. Often described as 'the most beautiful corner of England' this tour offers a wonderful introduction to the magnificent scenery of the English Lake District. Along the way, you will see ten Lakes and three mountain passes, before embarking on an extended cruise from the mountains to the moorland on Ullswater - 'Queen of the English Lakes'. We will pass a beautiful waterfall, Castlerigg Stone Circle, and the ancient township of Keswick (where you have lunch at leisure). Our last stop of the day is the delightful village of Grasmere. At the end of the day, you are sure to appreciate why this area has inspired poets and artists alike and for generations has drawn visitors from all over the world. Throughout the tour there are frequent stops for photographs and short walks.

Overnight at The Belsfield (3*).

This full day shared tour takes you to the best of the Yorkshire Dales. Leaving the Lakes and Sedbergh behind us, the tour heads up through Garsdale where you can observe the Settle Carlisle Railway snaking its way over the highest part of its journey through Mallerstang. You are driven under one of its big viaducts, before heading down into Wensleydale and Hardraw for a coffee stop. From here the tour crosses the Moors past The Buttertubs and descends into Swaledale. Then on down through the valley to the small market town of Reeth for lunch. In the afternoon, you cross the moors again to Wensleydale at Castle Bolton, where you visit the imposing castle in which Mary, Queen of the Scots, was imprisoned. Onwards up the valley there is a stop at Aysgarth Falls to see this spectacular waterfall. From here the tour makes it's way to Hawes, the highest market town in Wensleydale for a stop. Continuing on from Hawes, the minibus drives up Widdale and drops down into Dentdale with its lovely village of Dent, famous for the Dent knitters. The journey is then complet and its on back to Windermere via Kirkby Lonsdale.

Overnight at The Belsfield (3*).

Explore the Western Lake District and the route is that fashioned by Emperor Hadrian’s Roman legions in the first century AD. on a full day shared excursion. Over the Wrynose and Hardknott passes, the steepest in England you'll get to stop to view the extensive remains of Hardknott Roman Fort 1000 ft up on the fells. You'll have the opportunity to walk through the fort and see the spectacular view to Upper Eskdale, Scafell and Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountains. The minibus then embarks on the famous miniature Ravenglass and Eskdale railway through Eskdale before a lunch stop at one of the Valley inns. In the afternoon you'll be driven onward to Wastwater, voted ‘Britain’s Favourite View and England’s deepest and most dramatic lake. The next destination is the splendid 14th century castle of Muncaster surrounded by its internationally acclaimed gardens with magnificent examples of azaleas, camelias and rhododendrons. You also have the opportunity to visit the renowned World Owl Trust. The beautiful scenery of the Coniston Fells and Coniston Water bring to an end this classic of all Lake District tours. (includes railway and entry to Muncaster Castle Grounds and World Owl Trust).

Overnight at The Belsfield (3*).

Take a private transfer with a vehicle and driver from your accomodation in Windermere to Oxenholme train station.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).