Day One
We depart central Manchester at 08.30. A short drive north brings us to the southern Lake District and our first stop at Holker Hall.

Our minicoach then takes us alongside Coniston Water with the 'Old Man of Coniston' rising above us. This will be just the first of many astounding drives up over narrow passes with the lakes or valleys spreading out beneath us. At Coniston we'll visit the home of Victorian philosopher, John Ruskin. Perhaps his most appropriate quote for us as travellers would be 'there is no wealth except life'. Brantwood is indeed an extraordinary structure, perched on a narrow shelf at the foot of a steep mountain (or 'fell') side, high above Coniston Water and well illustrates Ruskin's concept of 'organic architecture'.

From here we climb another pass and drop down to Windermere, our base for two nights.

Day Two Our initial route takes us to Wordsworth's Cottage at Grassmere. Then, a back route around Thirlmere to Keswick. Next, a really gripping ride up, climbing some of the regions steepest gradients, traversing Borrowdale, with a stop at the falls en route, to Buttermere. More sublime Lakeland scenery follows as we run alongside Crummock Water and through the Whinlatter Forest. We'll have some time at the town of Keswick and see the prehistoric Castlerigg Stone Circle and, if there's interest, we could see the museum dedicated to the lead pencil as this is truly its home!

Day Three

This morning there'll be some free time to sample the gentle atmosphere of Windermere itself. Literary fans might enjoy visiting Beatrix Potter's home. Or perhaps the sailors amongst you will elect to take a rowing boat on the lake (not included in tour price), or the more sedate steam paddle boat!

This afternoon see us touring the undulations of the West Yorkshire Dales. First, to Kirkby Lonsdale, and to see a unique and frightening Viking gravestone. The Three Peaks area covers about 160 square kilometres of upland in the Pennines, with internationally famous limestone scenery. Much of the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, owing to the special nature and fragility of its upland ecosystem.

We'll focus on a couple of villages as we tour the region. Ribblehead, in the centre of the Three Peaks is itself famous for the Ribblehead Viaduct where the Settle-Carlisle Railway crosses the boggy moor. This was the site of an infamous shanty town during the railway construction; a task that required many tunnels, viaducts and bridges, and cost many lives. Settle's market charter goes back to 1249, and on Tuesdays its Market Place has retained many of its old buildings and its intimate atmosphere, with a wide range of small, independent shops. Near here is Austwick, the site of the famous Norber Erratics. These are boulders carried by a glacier during the late Ice Age and dumped on this limestone plateau. The limestone supporting them has been eroded away by rain and wind, leaving the huge boulders supported on small pedestals of white limestone.

Then, Ingleton, famous for its walks through the local 'glens'. Village streets are narrow and winding and centred on the tiny market place. Deep beneath Ingleborough Hill lies a hidden world which has been sculptured by nature over thousands of years. Imagine a subterranean landscape, beautifully lit, with gushing streams and waterfalls, exotic cave formations, and a huge ice-age cavern adorned with thousands of stalactites. It's the longest show cave in Britain and it provides us with a wonderful late afternoon stop. Finally, to Haworth, home of the Bronte sisters, afterwards you will be taken back to central Manchester.

This tour departs Wednesdays from Central Manchester on the following dates:
25 Apr, 09 May, 23 May, 06 Jun, 20 Jun, 04 Jul, 18 Jul, 01 Aug, 15 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sep,
26 Sep, 10 Oct