Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival at Diamond Resorts' Pine Lake Resort
Guests arrive at Pine Lake Resort. Members make their own travel arrangements to Pine Lake Resort. Those who have been on the Scotland escorted journey prior to the member event will be transferred to Pine Lake from Edinburgh for the start of the English Lakes Member Event. There will be a meet and greet with your Big Journey Company guides for the week- look out for us in the Reception area.

Day 2 – Explore the best of the Yorkshire Dales
You will see the best of the Yorkshire Dales on our first touring day from Pine Lake Resort. We travel through the famous Dales of Swaledale, Wensleydale and Dentdale. Stopping to admire the famous Asygarth Falls, a triple tiered waterfall, carved out from the limestone which featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Bolton Castle is our main stop of the day, with an opportunity to hear the stories from the 14th century castle where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned. Travelling through the Dales villages of Muker, Sedbergh and Reeth you will have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful National Park. Remember to buy your cheese as we visit the famous Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes!

This evening there will be a welcome dinner in the restaurant at Pine Lake Resort, provided by Diamond Resorts to enable you to get to know the rest of the group better and hear more about the upcoming events.

Included: Entry to Bolton Castle and tour.
Not Included: Welcome dinner – provided by Diamond resorts.

Day 3 – Hadrian's Wall Tour
Travelling northwards the first stop of the day is at Lanercost Priory, originally dating back to 1169, the current structure’s roof was stripped by Henry VIII. The Priory and Church at Lanercost were built from some of the stones from Hadrian’s Wall itself. We then begin travelling along the wall, with the opportunity to see the mile castles along the way. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch today (included). As our trip along the wall nears the end, it is time to explore at the Roman fort of Vindolanda, where excavations are still taking place. We travel back towards Pine Lake, with stunning views of the Lake District Fells in the background.


This afternoon we’ll be treated to “high tea” at one of the original stately homes of England overlooking the calming waters of Bassenthwaite Lake and framed by the dramatic Skiddaw Mountain and Lake District Fells. When we have had all the tea, scones, cake and biscuits we can manage we’ll head back to Pine Lake for the evening.

Included: Entrance to Vindolanda and entrance to Lanercost. Picnic lunch and High Tea at Armathwaite Hall.

Day 4 – Day at Leisure
The bus will leave Pine Lake at 10:00 a.m. and will stop at Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside – you choose which location you will explore for the day. It will return to collect you at designated pick-up points in the afternoon. Cruise England’s largest inland water, Lake Windermere. If you prefer your feet on solid ground, explore the Windermere Steamboat Museum in Bowness. A short walk will take you from Ambleside to Stock Ghyll Force, a spectacular 70 foot waterfall – so don’t forget your camera!

Day 5 – Ten Lakes Spectacular
You will be admiring the best of the Lake District today, taking in ten beautiful lakes in one day. One of the first lakes you will have the chance to admire is Ullswater, ‘the most beautiful lake in England’, and the second largest lake in the National Park. Once arriving in the Northern Lakes area, we stop at Castlerigg, a 4000 year old Stone Circle surrounded by mountains, making it a great photo stop. You will have time to explore Keswick, a famous Lakeland market town, with links to poets Coleridge and Southey. Our lunch stop will be in Keswick. During the afternoon we will travel alongside Derwent Water and through the valley of Borrowdale up towards Honister Pass, where there is a working slate mine. Dropping down into our next valley you can admire picturesque Buttermere as we drive alongside it to reach the top of Newlands Pass and take in the view of Moss Force Waterfall. We head back towards the Southern Lakes journeying past Thirlmere, a reservoir which has supplied the city of Manchester with water for over 100 years. We end our day in driving alongside Grasmere, Rydal Water and the largest Lake in England, Windermere.

Day 6
This morning we head to the South Lakes area to the West of Windermere, which is associated with famous Children’s Author Beatrix Potter. We visit the stately home of Holker Hall, home of the Cavendish family. Here we will be greeted by their expert guides for a tour of the house. We travel along the historic steam train branch line between Haverthwaite Station. And the Lakeside Pier, a scenic route making it possible to aslo enjoy a cruise on Lake Windermere to the picturesque town of Bowness-on-Windermere. Here you will have the chance to visit the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction or enjoy some free time in this scenic Lakeland town on the shores of Lake Windermere.

We return to the resort for a fabulous farewell dinner this evening, arranged by Diamond resorts.

Included: Entrance to Holker Hall. Train ride on Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. Lake cruise. Beatrix Potter Attraction.

Day 7
Time to say goodbye to Pine Lake Resort and the Lake District Event. For those requiring transportation to the airport for their return flight home please speak with the resort front desk for assistance OR perhaps you may wish to continue your UK adventure and join us on our member escorted journey of 'Essential Scotland'. Should you wish to join us on the Scotland journey, we will depart for Edinburgh from Pine Lake resort around 9.00 a.m.

(When the Essential Scotland is complete in Edinburgh, transfers will be arranged from the hotel to Edinburgh Airport or you can return to Pine Lake from Scotland by motor coach.)