Long days and blue skies (as well as the occasional grey one!) make this a special time in the Lake District. The hills, filled with lark-song and idling sheep, relax in the heat before the busy-ness of the peak summer period. It’s a perfect time to catch the flowers in bloom, the water at a fine temperature for paddling or dipping, and every shade of green on display.
The gardens at Rydal Hall, where we base our Lake District walking breaks, are at their best at this time. This 30-acre site has its own collection of impressive trees, along with flower meadows, and a beautifully laid-out formal garden planned out by the accomplished designer Thomas Mawson and completed in 1909.
And through the centre of the grounds cascades Rydal Beck, descending from the Fairfield Horse Shoe in a 2-kilometre string of cascades and falls, some with up to 40 ft clear drop, creating attractive gorges and plunge pools at it finds its way into the waters of Windermere.
It’s hard to imagine a better base for a walking holiday, since we are already in the heart of hiking country and so many fabulous hikes start right from the front door.
Join us in July for a guided, no-worries, car-free walking holiday with a choice of dates: