PROPOSED ITINERARY FOR SIX DAYS TOURING FOR OSTA MEMBERS BASED AT PENRITH/ULLSWATER IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK. DATES: MONDAY 18 th

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1 PROPOSED ITINERARY FOR SIX DAYS TOURING FOR OSTA MEMBERS BASED AT PENRITH/ULLSWATER IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK. DATES: MONDAY 18 th SATURDAY 23 rd MAY, 2009 TOUR DIRECTOR: DAVID FALLOWFIELD of PENRITH BIO: David is a native of Cumbria and lives in Penrith with his wife Alva. His family has lived in the area for more than 600 years. He has always been interested in history but originally trained as a scientist, however, aged 25 he made a career change and became a Police Officer, serving in and around Cumbria. Since retirement he has operated as a self-employed Tour Guide. His services for the proposed tours are being given free of charge. INFORMATION NOTES: Manchester Airport is the best gateway International Airport for the North of England. American Airlines have flights daily to Manchester from Chicago, as do Continental from Newark, Delta from Atlanta. BMI have flights from Las Vegas direct to Manchester. Penrith is situated 100 miles north west of Manchester. Penrith is on the main London (Euston) to Glasgow Rail Line. Trains run from Manchester Airport direct to & from Penrith. Penrith is also on the M6 motorway (freeway). COSTS: You will be responsible for flights, travel to Cumbria, accommodation & food. Plus, a share of the transport costs (see below). ACCOMMODATION: Recommended Hotels are listed below and are situated in two clusters; one cluster in the Town of Penrith, the other cluster 6 miles away beside Lake Ullswater. PENRITH HOTELS (Budget first):- NORCROFT GUEST HOUSE (Small family run B & B business in town) ROUNDTHORN COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL (Larger hotel on town outskirts, good views) NORTH LAKES HOTEL ( Large modern hotel, close to motorway, pool etc) ULLSWATER HOTELS (Budget first):- BRACKENRIGG HOTEL ( On high ground overlooking lake/mountains, good food) RAMPSBECK HOTEL (Former mansion, beside lake, good food) LEEMING HOUSE HOTEL (Also former mansion but larger, close to lake) Check out above websites.

2 TRANSPORT: Suitable vehicle for touring to be arranged when numbers attending are determined running costs of the transport to be shared between those attending. ITINERARY: Detailed itineraries for each day are set out here below photographs etc of most of the places mentioned can be found by searching Google Images. There is an unbelievable amount of history & places of interest to visit, not to mention the stunning scenery. DAY ONE ITINERARY FOR North LAKES TOUR - MONDAY 18 TH MAY am Depart Penrith & travel to (west side) of Lake Ullswater pickup other passengers & a few miles south to:- AIRA FORCE CAR PARK. Walk to Aira Force waterfall. Via DOCKRAY to TROUTBECK MOOR. A moorland plateau 1000ft above sea level affording fine views (weather permitting) of Saddleback (Blencathra) Mountain (2847ft) & surrounding fells. We then travel West. SOUTHER FELL. A foothill of Saddleback where in 1735 & 1745 an army of troops was seen by several witnesses. This ghost army is usually referred to as THE PHANTOM ARMY OF SOUTHER FELL. CASTLERIGG STONE CIRCLE. Bronze Age (2000 B.C.) Henge Monument situated on a marvellous hill-top site with 360 degree panorama of mountain peaks. There are 38 stones in the circle, plus 10 others. KESWICK. Town serves as main visitor centre for the north Lake District. Once a mining town i.e. 16 th -18 th C. The 1 st pencils were made here in the days of Queen Elizabeth I. The finest building is undoubtedly the church-like MOOT HALL built in BORROWDALE. A stunningly scenic valley, with wooded fell-sides topped by towering crags. In the Middle Ages the valley was farmed by the monks of Furness Abbey & they kept sheep here. This valley has a high rainfall & is the wettest place in England (can be as much as 100 inches per year). DERWENTWATER LAKE. Known as Queen of the Lakes, though only 3 miles long, this is England s widest lake. In the middle is St.Herbert s Island where the holy-man had a hermitage. A friend of St. Cuthbert, coincidentally both men died on the same day in 685 A.D. ASHNESS BRIDGE. This old 17 th C. bridge on the Watendlath road is probably the most photographed bridge in the Lake District.

3 SURPRISE VIEW. High, cliff-edge vista point overlooking Derwentwater & Bassenthwaite Lakes, together with Skiddaw Mountain (3054ft). Views can be spectacular. GRANGE. Enter over two graceful arches of the 1675 bridge into the small hamlet which gets its name from the Norman word grange (a monastic farm). Continue down BORROWDALE VALLEY through the Jaws of Borrowdale (where it narrows) beside the lovely River Derwent and into the wider section of the valley. ROSTHWAITE Village where HRH Prince Charles often stays. HONISTER PASS. Not the steepest or highest pass in the Lake District but the views are spectacular, especially travelling west into the Buttermere Valley. Gradient is 1 in 4 (25%). Elevation at summit = 1,190ft. BUTTERMERE LAKE. A small lake. Following wet weather the waterfall of Sourmilk Gill may be visible on the fell side across the lake. BUTTERMERE VILLAGE. A walking centre. In 1802 the daughter of the innkeeper of the Fish Hotel married a gentleman who turned out to be an impostor. He was hanged a year later. The woman, Mary Robinson, was known as the Beauty of Buttermere. She remarried, a local farmer, had a large family & lies buried at Caldbeck. CRUMMOCK WATER. A larger lake in the same valley. Two & a half miles long. LORTON VALE. A peaceful valley. WHINLATTER PASS. The road cuts through a large forest. BASSENTHWAITE LAKE. At 4 miles long, this is England s 4 th largest lake. Home to the rare fish, the VENDACE. OVER WATER. Small lonely tarn below the fells behind Skiddaw Mountain. ULDALE COMMON. Wild open moorland giving extensive views. Return to Penrith via Hutton in the Forest, M6 motorway to Penrith & visit Skirsgill Park (Georgian house built same year as White House, Washington DC) private garden. Return to hotels about 5pm. DAY TWO ITINERARY FOR South LAKES TOUR - TUESDAY 19th MAY 2009

4 9.30am Depart Penrith & travel to Ullswater for other passengers and travel West to:- THRELKELD then head south through ST.JOHN S IN THE VALE a beautiful valley. THIRLMERE LAKE. Formerly two small lakes in valley now flooded (since 1894) to form a reservoir supplying drinking water to the City of Manchester 100 miles to the south. DUNMAIL RAISE. The pass is the site of a Battle between the Saxons & Celts in 945 A.D. The cairn (or raise) of stones on the summit commemorates the Battle in which King Dunmail, the last King of Cumbria, was defeated. LION & LAMB. A natural rock formation on top of Helm Crag which resembles a seated lion & lamb. Below, in fields near the highway can be seen a World War II concrete pill-box machine gun nest. GRASMERE. A lovely village & lake of the same name. 13 th C. St. Oswald s Chuch (interesting & unusual interior) where the poet WILLIAM WORDSWORTH is buried in the churchyard. Famous gingerbread shop at church gate. Woodrow Wilson stayed at Wordsworth Hotel in 1903 & DOVE COTTAGE. Home of the poet WORDSWORTH from 1799 to During this period (his Bohemian period) he wrote most of his best work. He also lived at two other homes in Grasmere Village over the years. Dove Cottage, a 17 th C. house, was once an Inn called the Dove & Olive Branch on the main Keswick to Windermere Road. RYDAL WATER. Beautiful small lake overlooked by NAB COTTAGE (dated 1702) onetime home of Thomas De Quincey writer friend of WORDSWORTH. De Quincey occupied DOVE COTTAGE when Wordsworth moved out. RYDAL. Hamlet where Wordsworth spent his final 37 years in much larger house called RYDAL MOUNT. He died here in 1850 aged 80 years. AMBLESIDE. Major tourist town at the head of Lake Windermere. Name of Viking (Norse) origin Hamel s saetr (meaning; the grazing land of Hamel). In main street note the quaint 17 th C. BRIDGE HOUSE. The Romans arrived here in 79 A.D. and built a fort close to the lake, they called the place GALAVA CONISTON LAKE. This lake is over 5 miles long (3 rd largest in England). Donald Campbell was killed here on 4 th January 1967 doing about 300mph in an attempt at the World Water Speed Record. His body & the wreck of Bluebird were only recovered in March & April of BRANTWOOD. A mansion on the East shore of Coniston which is considered to have the finest lake views of any home in England. John RUSKIN lived here from 1871 to HAWKSHEAD. Extremely picturesque village founded in 10 th C. by Viking chief called HAAKR (hence: Haakr s saetr = Hawkshead). Scene dominated by 15 th C. church of St. Michael. Grammar School founded 1585 and attended by

5 W.Wordsworth He lodged at Anne Tyson s cottage. ESTHWAITE WATER. Small privately owned lake inhabited by large pike. SAWREY. Village in two halves NEAR & FAR. The author Beatrix POTTER lived at Hill Top Farm at Near Sawrey. FERRY NAB. There has been a ferry crossing Windermere Lake since From the ferry we have a good view of the ROUND HOUSE on Belle Isle, was the home of the Curwen family whose daughter Isabella married Wordworth s son John in This Georgian classical house was the first cylindrical home in the world, built in WINDERMERE LAKE. Largest English lake at ten & a half miles long. Name comes from VINAND, the Viking chief who claimed it in the 10 th C. A deep lake containing the artic char fish - a member of the salmon family left over from the Ice Age. TROUTBECK A farming settlement of outstanding character. TOWNEND is a National Trust property and is undoubtedly the finest example of a Lakeland yeoman farmers house, built 1626 by the BROWNE family. Twelve houses in the village predate Townend. WINDERMERE TOWN. Known as Birthwaite until the railway arrived in Most development dates from then - with many mansions built along the lake shore by wealthy Victorians (particularly Lancashire textile mill owners). BOWNESS-on-WINDERMERE. Premier tourist resort in the Lake District. BELSFIELD Hotel formerly the home of Henry W. Schneider the 19 th C. industrialist. 15thC. St.Martins Church has WASHINGTON family connections. KIRKSTONE PASS. Rugged mountain scenery. Summit is 1,500ft above sea level. Just below the summit is a parish boundary stone, the kirkstone which gives its name to the pass. Part of the road follows the Roman route between their forts at Penrith & Ambleside. BROTHERS WATER. Small lake at the foot of the pass, said to have been where 2 sets of brothers drowned in 18 th C., hence the name. PATTERDALE. Valley & village named after St Patrick who visited the area in 5 th C. A.D. ULLSWATER. Perhaps the most beautiful lake and 2 nd longest in England at 7 miles long. Glencoyne Bay was where Wordsworth saw the daffodils which inspired his famous poem. The lake is home to the rare deep swimming fish, the schelly, a whitefish unique to Ullswater. Return to hotels about 5pm

6 DAY THREE ITINERARY FOR VISIT TO HADRIAN S WALL COUNTRY FOR WALKS, SIGHTSEEING & TOURING - WEDNESDAY 20 TH MAY Hadrian s Wall, World Heritage Site, is one of the best-known and most spectacular ROMAN sites to be seen in Britain - a legacy from AD 122 that stretches from coast to coast. 9.30am Depart Penrith/Ullswater area and travel north & then east to visit:- LANERCOST PRIORY: Ruins of 12 th C. Norman Priory, of the Augustinian order, founded Built with stones from the WALL. BANKS TURRET: A well-preserved Wall Turret with adjoining stretches of Wall. One Turret every third of a Roman Mile (1620yds) - these were a 4 man unit & 20 ft square. PIKE HILL SIGNAL TOWER: Remains of a Roman Signal Tower from the pre- Wall period but later incorporated into the Wall - note how the modern road has slight kink to avoid this 19 centuries old structure. BIRDOSWALD FORT: Important well-preserved fort on escarpment with splendid views of the River Irthing Valley. This fort was designed for 500 cavalry but evidence suggests use by 1000 infantry. Roman name: CAMBOGLANNA (crooked glen). CAWFIELDS MILECASTLE: (Milecastle No.42) Fairly well-preserved mile castle on dramatic section of Wall on top of sheer crags (Great Whin Sill Fault). A mile castle every Roman mile (1620yds) manned by 32 men. From this location the Vallum is clearly visible. STEEL RIGG CAR PARK: Here we will walk the Wall climbing onto Peel Crags & walk about 1 mile east to Milecastle 39 in the hollow of Castle Nick. A little further on is Sycamore Gap where there is a lone sycamore tree featured in film ROBIN HOOD PRINCE OF THIEVES starring Kevin Costner - he is seen in the film up in the branches of this tree. We then retrace to Steel Rigg CP. HOUSESTEADS FORT: The best preserved of the Wall forts is in a magnificent situation. Walk from car park is about half a mile to the 5 acre fort where 1000 infantry were housed. Visible buildings include walls & gateways, foundations of granaries, barracks, headquarters, latrines, commandant s house etc. Roman name: VERCOVICIUM We will also walk west along the Wall from the fort as far Milecastle 37 which is of interest because it still has part of its entrance arch. Return to Car Park/visitor centre. Return to hotels for approx 5.30pm

7 DAY FOUR TOUR OF THE BEAUTIFUL EDEN VALLEY THURSDAY 21 ST MAY am Depart Penrith/Ullswater area visiting the following locations. LOWTHER CASTLE Former home of the Earl s of Lonsdale a fairy-tale castle which is now a ruin, built and set in beautiful park. CLIFTON VILLAGE See WORKMAN homestead. Visit 12 th cent. St Cuthbert s Church and see Workman family grave & Fallowfield coat of arms. BROUGHAM CASTLE Splendid ruins of Norman castle built 1170 on banks of River Eamont. Restored in 17 th cent. by Lady Anne Clifford who died For 100 years from c.1500 to c.1600 members of the Fallowfield family were Constables of this castle (appointed by the Cliffords). Roman fort of BROCAVUM on adjoining site. COUNTESS PILLAR Erected 1656 by Lady Anne Clifford (Countess of Pembroke) to mark the spot where she last saw her mother alive. Travel East on the A66 which was the ROMAN ROAD TO YORK i.e. the modern road is on top of the Roman road see Roman milestone in situ. BROUGH CASTLE Norman Castle built on the site of Roman Fort (Verterae). Another castle restored by Lady Anne Clifford. KIRKBY STEPHEN A picturesque and historic market town on the River Eden. Market Charter granted Fine Georgian buildings include Cloisters of Parish church of St Stephen known as the Cathedral of the Dales contains many relics including a Viking LOKI Stone dating from 8 th cent. PENDRAGON CASTLE A romantic ruin set in scenic valley of Mallerstang beside the River Eden. Legend has it that this was the home of Uter Pendragon, 5 th cent. father of King Arthur. Rebuilt by Lady Anne Clifford in This is where we turn back and follow the River Eden downstream. WARCOP Army Camp here, where over 1 million British soldiers have trained. APPLEBY - Ancient Market Town & Royal Borough with Charters dating from 1174 & formerly the County Seat of Westmorland before it was incorporated into the County of Cumbria (1974). Fine castle (another Clifford stronghold) with Norman keep resembling the Tower of London, but larger! GEORGE WASHINGTON S father, uncle & half-brothers attended Appleby Grammar School & George also would have attended had his father not died & his mother preferred to keep him at Mt Vernon, VA. The town has a classic Norman street plan. Visit St. Lawrences s Church and see tomb of Lady Anne Clifford, also Almshouses she founded & built for widows in LUNCH HERE.

8 LONG MEG & HER DAUGHTERS One of the largest Stone Circles in Britain. Long Meg the largest stone is 12ft high & displays Bronze Age petroglyphs. KIRKOSWALD Elegant red sandstone village. 13 th cent. church with remote belltower. LAZONBY BRIDGE Fine 18 th cent. red sandstone bridge over the River Eden. HUTTON IN THE FOREST Visit this magnificent Stately Home of Lord & Lady Inglewood. The architecture shows historic development from Medieval to Victorian & contents of the house reflect many periods. BLENCOWE HALL Two Pele Towers linked with a hall range, mainly 16 th cent. Return to hotels for about 5pm. DAY FIVE TOUR TO DURHAM CATHEDRAL (WORLD HERITAGE SITE) on Friday 22 nd May am Depart Penrith/Ullswater area and travel East crossing the Pennine Mountains (England s backbone ) via STAINMORE PASS (used as a gateway since pre- Roman times) into County DURHAM (known as the Land of the Prince Bishops ). BARNARD CASTLE Historic Market town & gateway to Teesdale. Castle founded in 12 th cent. by Bernard Baliol. Blagraves House in the main street is the oldest inhabited building in town & dates from 16 th cent. Kings Head Hotel (now renamed Charles Dickens ) where the author Dickens stayed while writing Nicholas Nickleby. For photo-stop only we will visit BOWES MUSEUM, possibly the biggest surprise of the day a magnificent French Chateau built in 1869 by John Bowes, an ancestor of the late Queen Mother. DURHAM CITY Norman Castle & Cathedral tower above loop in River Wear. The Cathedral contains the shrines of the Venerable Bede and Saint Cuthbert and is a World Heritage Site. It was the prototype for all the great cathedrals of Europe, building having commenced in 1093 and was mostly complete by Look for the memorial plaque to John Washington prior of this Cathedral whose family has won everlasting fame in lands to him unknown. The guide will point his out! We will enjoy a good lunch in the Cathedral refectory. WASHINGTON OLD HALL The sign says: The Original Washington the old hall is the restored 17 th cent. home of George Washington s ancestors. A site of pilgrimage for US visitors. Return to hotels for about 5.30pm.

9 DAY SIX TOUR OF CITY OF CARLISLE followed by visit to HERMITAGE CASTLE in SCOTLAND on Saturday 23 rd May 2009 Carlisle is known as the Border City and is only 9 miles from Scotland, hence it has seen more warfare than any other English city. 9.30am Depart Penrith/Ullswater area & travel north. CARLISLE Walking tour of the City, perambulation as follows:- SALLY PORT The gate in the Medieval City Wall where tithes were delivered. WEST WALLS/TITHE BARN 14 th cent Barn for storing the church tithes. CATHEDRAL (England s 2 nd smallest cathedral). Building commenced around 1130 internal features include East window which is very special, the largest example of Flowing Decorated in England some of the stained glass is 14 th cent, the richly painted Wagon roof, a Flemish triptych or alter-piece which dates to c TULLIE HOUSE Wonderful example of a 17 th cent Mansion built CASTLE Magnificent border stronghold the Keep & curtain wall date to The whole castle is in wonderful condition because it was repaired many times over 500 turbulent years to guarantee the survival of the residents of the city. Mary, Queen of Scots was housed here for two months in 1568, first as a guest and later as a prisoner of Queen Elizabeth I. GUILDHALL Built 1407 after a disastrous fire in OLD TOWN HALL of MARKET CROSS of LOWTHER STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH View plaque on outside wall stating mother of President Woodrow Wilson was born in Carlisle & her father Revd Thomas Woodrow was Minister of this church the tablet is a memorial to President Woodrow Wilson s visit to the church 29 th Dec CITADEL GATE TOWERS of ( Architect was Sir Robert Smirke who also did Lowther Castle ). These towers replaced the Citadel Towers of Henry VIII s time. Lunch somewhere in City. Return to transport. TRAVEL OVER BORDER INTO SCOTLAND HERMITAGE CASTLE 14 th cent guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Britain. The castle appears as a gaunt chilling spectre in a very lonely setting beside the fast

10 flowing Hermitage Water. Violent history recalls stories of death by boiling, drowning and starvation. Return to hotels for about 5.30pm

ONE DAY 12:30 10:30.

ONE DAY 12:30 10:30. THREE NIGHT STAY This three night, four day itinerary follows the path of the Romans along the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hadrian s Wall, which stretches across the north of England. Travel the length