Hassness Country House (Guided Walking 4 nights)

We wish you a very warm welcome to Hassness Country House. 

Your hosts will be there to welcome you and ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Your holiday starts upon arrival at Hassness Country House in Buttermere where you are welcome to arrive from 3pm. Your evening meal will be served at 6.30pm. If you anticipate arriving after this time, we kindly request that you telephone Hassness Country House to confirm your expected arrival time.

Your holiday includes three days of guided walking.

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available depending on the local weather conditions at the time.

Grade 4 Walks

• Rannerdale and Buttermere - no trip to the valley would be complete without a walk taking in a visit to the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale.  We start at Lanthwaite, at the northern end of Crummock Water, and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the lake.  Heading south by the lakeside we cross over the road and enter lower Rannerdale, where bluebells grow in profusion in May. At all times of the year the hills are a patchwork of greens and browns with the grey of the rock and boulders and the white tumbling water of the Rannerdale Beck. Crossing the footbridge we make our way back to Crummock Water where the path rises over Hause Point then descends to pass through woodland and pastures at the end of the lake.  The watering hole of Buttermere Village, with its pubs, tea room and ice cream shop soon comes into view.  There is a short direct route back to Hassness from here but our more interesting route takes us anti clockwise round the lake on what Julia Bradbury’s 2018 Britain’s Favourite Walks poll was voted number 7 in the country.  Reaching Gatesgarth at the southern end of the lake it is a short walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 8.4 miles (120m ascent).

• Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start at Lanthwaite and make our way down to Crummock Water. Crossing its outflow, the River Cocker, we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take lunch here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head back southwards along the western shore of Crummock Water. When we come to footbridges over Scale Beck, which flows down from Scale Force waterfall, the highest in the Lake District, it may be possible to walk up to inspect the Falls if time allows. The improving track then takes us to Scale Bridge and a lane leading back to Buttermere Village and Hassness. Total distance covered: 7.4 miles (70m ascent).

• Haystacks from Honister - this walk takes us to the top of Haystacks, favourite fell of Alfred Wainwright, and the resting place for his ashes. Starting from Honister Pass we ascend the track of an old mining tramway to the Drumhouse, then follow the quaintly named Moses Trod, here part of the Coast to Coast long distance footpath, onto the side of Brandreth and Grey Knotts. We see Haystacks over to our right, and hopefully enjoy views over Buttermere and Crummock Water to the Solway Coast and beyond to Scotland. Turning down below Great Round How we pass the sheltered Blackbeck Tarn, and then Innominate Tarn where Wainwright's ashes are scattered. The summit of Haystacks (597m) soon follows where we can admire the views below. Retracing our steps past the tarns we cross Warnscale Beck and come to Dubs Hut, recently renovated with financial assistance from The Ramble Worldwide Outdoor Trust. After inspecting the Hut, we follow the Miners Road back down to Honister. Total distance covered: 5.5 miles (525m ascent).

After a hearty breakfast, your hosts wave you goodbye when you'll leave with memories from your Lake District experience. Check out is by 10am. 

We hope you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.

We wish you a very warm welcome to Hassness Country House. 

Your hosts will be there to welcome you and ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Your holiday starts upon arrival at Hassness Country House in Buttermere where you are welcome to arrive from 3pm. Your evening meal will be served at 6.30pm. If you anticipate arriving after this time, we kindly request that you telephone Hassness Country House to confirm your expected arrival time.

Your holiday includes three days of guided walking.

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available depending on the local weather conditions at the time.

Grade 4 Walks

• Dale Head Tarn to Grange - this walk starts at Honister Pass and follows a path on the fence line north towards Dale Head. However we contour round its eastern flank to a sheltered break stop by the peaceful Dale Head Tarn. A short ascent brings us to High Spy (655m) and a stroll down the wide airy ridge to Maiden Moor (576m) with ever-changing views down into the patchwork fields and woods in Borrowdale and to Derwentwater and Skiddaw beyond. At Hause Gate we have the option of making the short extra ascent to the iconic viewpoint of Cat Bells (451m) to share vistas over Derwentwater and its numerous islands with walkers up from the landing stages and car parks at Hawse End below. Descending east to Manesty, the tearoom and other facilities at Grange beckon. Excluding Cat Bells total distance covered: 6.7 miles (520m ascent).

• Borrowdale - the Borrowdale Valley is one of the most beautiful in the Lake District. This walk takes in many of the best views and points of interest. We start at Seatoller and ascend gently into the ancient oaks in Johnny Wood before dropping down to cross the River Derwent. We then follow footpaths through the fields over ice age moraines to Rosthwaite, where we will have time to walk round the village. We cross New Bridge and follow the Cumbria Way downstream stopping to explore the cave of the eccentric Millican Dalton under the shadow of Castle Crag. Continuing north we reach Gowder Dub on the River Derwent then loop south, following the Allerdale Ramble footpath up past Castle Crag, with the option of tackling the winding footpath to the top, before our route contours round above the tree line affording us open views of the Upper Borrowdale Fells and then drops us back down to our starting place in Seatoller. Total distance covered: 6.5 miles (390m ascent). 1 mile and 110m ascent less excluding Castle Crag.

• Watendlath and Derwentwater - this walk may not literally scale the heights but it is full of interest, even when the clouds cover the high tops. We start in the village of Rosthwaite and follow a well engineered bridleway east, up through woods and then open fell, to Puddingstone Bank. Then we descend to the tarn and Farm at Watendlath and its welcome tearoom. Following the Watendlath Beck north our route takes us down into more oak woodland before Surprise View presents magnificent photo opportunities over Derwentwater. Further on the ancient stonework of Ashness Bridge provides another photo stop before the path contours round above the eastern side of Derwentwater then down to the shore at Great Wood. We follow the shore line paths to Keswick, and optional retail therapy, before catching the regular bus service back to Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 8.0 miles (310m ascent).

Grade 7 Walks

• Watendlath and Walla Crag to Keswick - we start in the village of Rosthwaite in Borrowdale and follow a well engineered path east, up over Puddingstone Bank, then a descent to the Farm at Watendlath and its welcome tearoom. Following the Watendlath Beck north, our route takes us down into more oak woodland before Surprise View presents magnificant photo opportunities over Derwentwater. Further on the ancient stonework of Ashness Bridge provides another photo stop before the path rises up the eastern side of Derwentwater to Walla Crag (379m). We descend to Keswick, and optional retail therapy, before catching the regular bus service back to Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 7.9 miles (490m ascent).

• Great Gable and its Satellites - walk to the centre of the fells. Great Gable is the hub from which the spokes of many of the Lake District ridges radiate. Today we start at Honister and walk up an initially steepish stone staircase to the craggy summit to Grey Knotts.   A gentle stroll over the plateau to Brandreth is followed by a nowhere steep descent and reascent to Green Gable. The rough descent to Windy Gap can be bypassed before we tackle the short but challenging climb up Great Gable, hands as well as feet being needed at times, to the summit with its famous War Memorial. We then return to Green Gable before dropping down onto Moses Trod, an old track leading to Honister or all the way back to Hassness either via Dubs Hut and the miners’ track or Warnscale Bothy and the Infinity Pool. Total distance covered: 8.0 miles (730m ascent). 5.9 miles and less descent if finishing at Honister.

• Glaramara - our walk up this superb little mountain starts at Seatoller in Borrowdale. A path leads slightly down the valley then over the River Derwent at Folly Bridge. Our route winds up beside Combe Gill before zig zagging up the side of Thornythwaite Fell to the cairn at 574m. The path is less steep now before it arrives at a seemingly unclimbable rock wall just short of the summit of Glaramara (783m). There is a way up here but our route takes us round the side to an easy slope leading to the two tops where we can join the debate as to which is the true summit. We retrace our steps back to Seatoller. Total distance covered: 6.4 miles (700m ascent).

After a hearty breakfast, your hosts wave you goodbye when you'll leave with memories from your Lake District experience. Check out is by 10am. 

We hope you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.

We wish you a very warm welcome to Hassness Country House. 

Your hosts will be there to welcome you and ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Your holiday starts upon arrival at Hassness Country House in Buttermere where you are welcome to arrive from 3pm. Your evening meal will be served at 6.30pm. If you anticipate arriving after this time, we kindly request that you telephone Hassness Country House to confirm your expected arrival time.

Your holiday includes three days of guided walking.

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available depending on the local weather conditions at the time.

Grade 4 Walks

• Buttermere and Rannerdale Knotts - the well trodden track round Buttermere is a superb introduction to the delights of the valley. It's likely that the local Herdwick sheep will be dotting the hillside and red squirrels can often be seen in the woods. Many bird species can be seen and heard in the area. Behind us the imposing ridge of Fleetwith Pike separates the deep gash of Honister Pass from the meandering river and tumbling waterfalls in Warnscale Bottom. Ahead of us the looming mass of Grasmoor is a backdrop to the green ridge leading down from Whiteless Pike to Buttermere Village below. We cross the bridge over Combe Beck and enter the quieter Burtness Wood, finally reaching Buttermere Village for a refreshment stop. We may look into the church to see the Wainwright Memorial, in a window framing a view of Haystacks in the distance. Then our path winds towards Crummock Water where we turn up a steep stone staircase to the viewpoint of Rannerdale Knotts (355m). Turning south east we traverse the ridge to the head of Rannerdale before descending back to Buttermere Village and the short shore-side walk back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 7.7 miles (300m ascent). 

• Loweswater Circuit – We start at the north eastern end of Crummock Water and make our way down through Lanthwaite Wood to the Lake. Crossing the river we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take a break here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head west to Maggie’s Bridge and the shores of Loweswater.  After a stroll through the oak woods by the lakeside we rise through walled pastures to a scenic elevated return route along the Coffin Road back to Loweswater Village and Lanthwaite. Total distance covered: 10.1 miles (375m ascent).

• Dale Head Tarn to Cat Bells - this walk starts at Honister Pass and follows a path on the fence line north towards Dale Head. However we contour round its eastern flank to a sheltered break stop by the peaceful Dale Head Tarn. A short ascent brings us to High Spy (655m) and a stroll down the wide airy ridge to Maiden Moor (576m) with ever-changing views down into the patchwork fields and woods in Borrowdale and to Derwentwater and Skiddaw beyond. At Hause Gate we make the short extra ascent to the iconic viewpoint of Cat Bells (451m) to share vistas over Derwentwater and its numerous islands with walkers up from the landing stages and car parks at Hawse End below. Descending east to Manesty, the tearoom and other facilities at Grange beckon. Total distance covered: 5.8 miles (420m ascent).

Grade 7 Walks

• Haystacks to Grey Knotts or Fleetwith Pike - Haystacks, or "The High Stacks" was Alfred Wainwright's favourite hill - he described it as "a shaggy terrier in the company of foxhounds". We start our ascent by following Buttermere to Gatesgarth Farm and taking the Public Bridleway up to Scarth Gap. Some short sections of easy scrambling follow giving added entertainment to the twisting path up to the rocky summit of Haytstacks (597m). We then traverse south east past Innominate Tarn and the idyllic Blackbeck Tarn before turning south east to follow the path up a fence line to the open viewpoint of Brandreth (715m). After walking north east along the wide ridge to the lumpy summit of Grey Knotts (697m) we drop down to inspect or take shelter in Dubs Hut. Finally, we may descend the old miners' track, or the path on the other side of the Beck, into Warnscale Bottom and on to Gatesgarth, or climb up to Fleetwith Pike (648m) and descend its north ridge, spurred on by the thought of drinks and cake at Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 9.2 miles (855m ascent, 1000m including Fleetwith Pike).

• The High Stile Ridge - the classic ridge walk on the south west side of Buttermere. We walk along the shores of Buttermere then ascend through oak woodland and open hill to a resting place by Bleaberry Tarn. Continuing on the good path to The Saddle we then pick our way up the track, over the stones which give Red Pike (755m) its name, to the summit. Our reward is hopefully open views stretching from the Isle of Man to the Southern Uplands of Scotland, and of course the other peaks of the Lake District. Our onward course takes up striding along the airy but never exposed ridge to High Stile (807m) and High Crag (744m) with unexpected views down into the combs which bite into the north eastern side of the ridge and over Buttermere to the oasis of Hassness Country House far below. We then descend on an ever improving path over Seat (562m) to Scarth Gap where we turn for the steady descent down to the lakeside and Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 7.9 miles (920m ascent).

• Crummock Water and Loweswater Village - no trip to the valley would be complete without a circuit of Crummock Water, taking in the site of the fabled Battle of Rannerdale, and a visit to the little village of Loweswater. We start in Buttermere Village and make our way to the shores of Crummock Water and Hause Point. Descending to the road we enter lower Rannerdale, where bluebells grow in profusion in May. At all times of the year the hills are a patchwork of greens and browns with the grey of the rock and boulders and the white tumbling water of the Rannerdale Beck. Crossing the footbridge we make our way back to Crummock Water where the path follows the shore through woodland and pastures to the end of the lake. Crossing the river we follow footpaths up to Loweswater Village and the famous Kirkstile Inn. We may take lunch here or in the quiet churchyard. After lunch we head back southwards into Mosedale and past the famous Mosedale Holly tree, the only individually named tree on the OS maps in the Lake District. When we come to footbridges over Scale Beck, which flows down from Scale Force waterfall, the highest in the Lake District, it may be possible to walk up to inspect the Falls if time allows. The improving track then takes us to Scale Bridge and a lane leading back to Buttermere Village and Hassness beyond. Total distance covered: 12.4 miles (450m ascent).

After a hearty breakfast, your hosts wave you goodbye when you'll leave with memories from your Lake District experience. Check out is by 10am. 

We hope you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.

We wish you a very warm welcome to Hassness Country House. 

Your hosts will be there to welcome you and ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Your holiday starts upon arrival at Hassness Country House in Buttermere where you are welcome to arrive from 3pm. Your evening meal will be served at 6.30pm. If you anticipate arriving after this time, we kindly request that you telephone Hassness Country House to confirm your expected arrival time.

Your holiday includes three days of guided walking.

Below is a selection of walking trails commonly experienced on our Hassness Country House holidays. This will give you an indication of the nature of the walking terrain and the format for your chosen holiday. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other walks are available.

Please also note that this holiday is highly weather dependent and all planned walks can only be achieved in reasonably good weather.

Grade 6 Walks

• The Robinson Ridge - The high level ridge on the north east side of the lake. We start at Honister Pass beside the mine workings and take a straight route up the fence line to the north. The path takes us past more old workings as the views towards Great Gable and Helvellyn open up. When we arrive at Dale Head (753m) panoramic views down the Newlands Valley and towards Skiddaw are revealed. We turn west and stroll along the wide ridge to further viewpoints at Hindscarth (727m) and Robinson (737m). The descent down over Buttermere Moss can be wet, however rounding High Snockrigg we find the going firmer and the sight of Buttermere Village below which promises refreshments before the pleasant lakeside walk back to Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 7.7 miles (745m ascent). 

• False Esk Hause, Angle Tarn and Rossett Pike - Borrowdale to Langdale via the high passes. After the short taxi ride to Seathwaite in upper Borrowdale we walk up Ruddy Gill to the crossroads at False Esk Hause and continue south and east past Angle Tarn. A short there and back diversion takes the more energetic up Rossett Pike before the group reforms and drops down to Mickleden, under the Langdale Pikes. Then follows a valley walk through Langdale to the famous Old Dungeon Ghyll Hikers Bar to await our taxi back to Hassness. Total distance covered: 7.3 miles (720m ascent).

• Barrow, Outerside and Sail Pass - A beautiful linear walk back to Hassness from the east.  We take the local bus to Braithwaite and then climb steadily to Barrow Door where we have the option of the short walk to the summit of Barrow. Continuing over Outerside we reach Sail Pass, although a strong group might take in the viewpoint of Causey Pike overlooking Keswick before heading west along the main ridge to Scar Crags and the Pass.  Descending by Sail Beck a slowly descending path takes us towards the beckoning pubs and ice-cream shops in Buttermere. Total distance covered: 8.5 miles (700m ascent).

Grade 8 Walks

• The High Stile Ridge - The classic ridge walk overlooking Buttermere.  From Hassness we head north-west around Buttermere to Sour Milk Gill and the ascent to Bleaberry Tarn and Red Pike.  The ridge then leads us over High Stile and High Crag with tantalising views of Buttermere and Hassness far below.  Dropping down to Scarth Gap we can then continue over Haystacks and past Innominate Tarn where Wainwright’s ashes are scattered before descending into Warnscale Bottom and back to Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 11 miles (1145m of ascent/descent), 4 Wainwrights. Shorter variant possible omitting Haystacks.

• Best of the Mosedale Horseshoe - A walk into the wild side. We start from Hassness Country House and cross via Scarth Gap into wild Ennerdale and Black Sail Youth Hostel. Then onwards and upwards to Black Sail Pass and Pillar, the highest point of the day and a renowned viewpoint above the imposing Pillar Rock. Heading west then south around the horseshoe we ascend Scoat Fell and Steeple before traversing over Wasdale’s Red Pike and dropping down to Dore Head Tarn and then into Overbeckdale to our finish on Wast Water and bus back to Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 13 miles (1245m of ascent, 1300m of descent), 4 Wainwrights. Shorter variants possible omitting the tops of Scoat Fell and Steeple.  

• Esk Pike, Bowfell & Crinkle Crags - Borrowdale to Langdale via the high route. After a bus ride to Seathwaite in upper Borrowdale we walk up Ruddy Gill to the multi-path junction at Esk Hause and ascend Esk Pike. Then follows a delightful high traverse over Bowfell to Crinkle Crags before we descend into Greater Langdale via Red Tarn to the famous Old Dungeon Ghyll Hikers Bar to await our taxi back to Hassness Country House. Total distance covered: 10 miles (1105m of ascent), 3 Wainwrights. Shorter variants possible omitting the tops of Esk Pike or Crinkle Crags.  

After a hearty breakfast, your hosts wave you goodbye when you'll leave with memories from your Lake District experience. Check out is by 10am. 

We hope you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you again soon.