The Walking

What’s the terrain like?
Exploring the Lakes is a treat for the walker who likes a new scene each night, a new valley with its own pubs. Each valley flows to a different point in Cumbria. There is contrast in the bold hills of the North and East, the rockiness of the West, and the lower, rolling, enchanting, farming land in the South. Each afternoon, walk into your new home for the night and get to know the Lake District more fully.

The full mix of Lakeland trails are experienced on the Lake District Tour. Rocky steps over the cols are at one end, and easy grassy footpaths at the other. There are short sections of road walking, but the route mostly follows foot paths.

Is it technically difficult?
There are no difficulties other than those of walking, albeit sometimes at the higher end of difficulty and technical walking ground. There are no via ferrata on our route or anything like climbing. Our hardest options include the optional Helvellyn or Scafell Pike ascents. Here there are drops to one side – or both sides if you take the Helvellyn option.

Is the route obvious?
Over the majority of the distance, the trail is clear on the ground. All of the route goes on known paths, marked on the map – however, the path is not always visible on the ground! In clear weather the route is obvious, but if the cloud is low then navigation will be needed to head in the right direction. These sections are generally short and soon link to the clear path on the far side of the col. It is for these sections that we ask each party to have a person happy to navigate using map and compass, in low visibility.

Is it for me?
Our full Lake District Trek is suitable for experienced walkers who like to walk from 5 to 8 hours a day across rough and sometimes rocky, pathless, ground… a substantial walk each day, for 6 days. (We love to add rest days in Keswick – please ask us.)

To reduce the length and challenge, it is possible to trek only the first 4 stages; this means joining in Keswick and trekking to Grasmere.

Hillwalking excursions
There is so much to do in the Lakes! The Wainwright books are a fine starting point. Other lists and guides to the hills are plentiful and a glance at the map reveals the ridges that extend to each side of our route. As one example, Scafell Pike (978m) is the highest peak in England and is feasible in your stage between Wasdale Head and Great Langdale. Excursions taken may involve harder terrain with drops to one or both sides.

When to go?
Alpine Exploratory’s Lake District season runs from the start of May to the middle of September. We set this period to avoid the worst of the winter weather. Of course, it’s possible to enjoy brilliant walking days in the Lakes the heart of winter, whatever the weather is doing! The difficulty of predicting the winter season in advance means that we have to err on the side of caution.

What will the weather be like?
From Easter to the Autumn you have a good chance of decent walking weather. Rain is likely to happen at some point during your trip! For the warmest temperatures choose the high summer months of June, July and August, but be prepared for heavy rain at times too. Earlier in the year, in the Spring, there can be spells of wonderfully warm and dry weather (no guarantees!)