⛰️ (Lake District) Hiking the Old Man of Coniston & England's Largest Lake

#################

Travel in a small group (max 14 people) by a private minibus and discover the most beautiful trails in Britain! This is our last trip to the Lake District in 2025.

We’ve created a list of FAQs to help you.

#################

The Lake District is England's largest national park and by far the most popular in the UK. Every year, some 19 million people pitch up to explore the region's mountains and countryside, and it's not hard to see why. Its postcard panorama of craggy hilltops, mountain tarns and glittering lakes has been stirring the imaginations of visitors for centuries. In 2017, the Lake District was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joining the likes of the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon on the illustrious list. It was the UK’s first national park to be given such status.

Departing from London early on Saturday morning, we'll head to Coniston village, at the foot of the Old Man of Coniston – one of the most famous Lakeland peaks, rising to 803 metres above sea level. We'll summit this mountain, taking in fantastic views of dramatic crags, hidden tarns, superb ridges and some of the highest fells in the Lake District. The return route is via the atmospheric Coppermines Valley, with its mining and quarrying scars and beautiful waterfalls. Mining for copper in the valley dates back to the 16th century, and at its peak in the 19th century, around 600 people were employed in the extraction, preparation and transportation of copper ore. After the hike, we'll drive to our hotel in Barrow-in-Furness, where we'll have dinner and rest.

Sunday will be much more relaxing. After an early breakfast, we'll depart to Ambleside, undoubtedly one of the most popular towns in the Lake District National Park. It sits at the northern end of Windermere, England's largest lake at over 10 miles long. Starting from the town centre, we'll take a wooded path to the spectacular 70-foot high Stock Ghyll Force waterfall. From there, we'll continue uphill to the summit of Wansfell Pike, which has superb views over Ambleside, Windermere and the surrounding fells. We'll then descend to Troutbeck and return via the ancient woodland of Skelghyll, passing the magnificent viewpoint at Jenkin Crag. After the hike, you'll have free time for a peaceful lunch by Windermere Lake, or, you may choose to head to the bustling Ambleside town centre, which has a great selection of cafés and souvenir shops.

ITINERARY

Saturday:

06:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
07:00 Sharp departure
13:30-19:00 Hike to the Old Man of Coniston (803m) via the peaks of Brown Pike, Buck Pike and Dow Crag (difficulty: Difficult, distance: 12km, ascent: 760m)
20:00 Check-in at Premier Inn Barrow-in-Furness Hotel, dinner and free time

Sunday:

07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Departure
09:00-13:00 Hike to Wansfell Pike (482m) from Ambleside via Stock Ghyll Force waterfall, Jenkin Crag and Windermere Lake (difficulty: Moderate, distance: 11km, ascent: 530m)
13:00-14:45 Free time for lunch next to Windermere Lake or Ambleside town centre
14:45 Departure
21:00 London, Hammersmith

DIFFICULTY & EQUIPMENT

Please note that this trip requires a good level of fitness. Good hiking boots with ankle support and waterproof clothing are essential (see the ‘What to bring’ section for more details).

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

PRIVATE ROOM

The default option is a shared twin room at the hotel (you'll share your room with somebody from our group of the same gender). A small number of private rooms, for your own use, is available for £30 extra – let us know if you would like an upgrade!

LUGGAGE

You can bring two small bags with you: one cabin size personal item bag (up to 10kg) and one smaller hiking backpack to fit under the seat. During the hike, you can leave your luggage in the minibus.

BOOKING

Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John Lake District):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 24 hours for the payment to arrive.

THE PRICE OF £268 INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
• Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader
• One night's accommodation at a hotel in shared twin rooms (you'll share your room with somebody from our group of the same gender)
• Professional event organisation
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
• Food

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.

Your guide will be Anna (07596844467, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain)
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Water bottle (min 1L)
• Nuts and energy snacks to last you during the trip
• Walking poles (optional)

REVIEWS ⭐

We have hosted over 500 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!

Facebook group link and Instagram

REFUND POLICY

You can check our refund policy here.