Is in Glaramara, a purpose-built walking centre at the foot of the Borrowdale Valley in the heart of the beautiful Lake District National Park. The centre is ideal for walker and sits in a commanding position in the beautiful vale of Borrowdale. It offers a mixture of small double rooms ensuite for use as single rooms, large double rooms ensuite for use as sole occupancy and twin-bedded or double bedded ensuite rooms. Some of the bedrooms have lovely views of the surrounding valleys and hills and all have complimentary tea/coffee facilities. There is a well-stocked cosy bar and comfortable lounges, so you can relax in the evenings. Their catering has an excellent reputation amongst walkers for good wholesome food, the portions are plentiful and the packed lunches satisfying! Then, should you have any excess energy there are also two excellent country pubs within walking distance for an evening drink, at least one of which is always open!!

To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, we will provide a minimum of two walks on each day led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On each day there will be a harder walk of 10-12 miles with 2500+ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 6-9 miles with less ascent. However, the programme is flexible and can be altered to suit your needs. All walks are weather dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts.

If you like to follow the routes you are walking on a map, we reccommend

1:25 000: EX004: Ordnance Survey Explorer Lake District Map- English Lakes NW Area

1:25 000: EX005: Ordnance Survey Explorer Lake District Map- English Lakes NE Area

Covid/Infection Guidance: As a matter of respect to other members when attending events, we ask that you take the following guidance into account.  People with symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and who have a high temperature or do not feel well, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with others. Those who are asked – or choose to test – and get a positive COVID-19 result should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days following the day of their positive result. Normal Walkwise Terms & Conditions apply.

Travel Insurance: It is also recommended that when travelling on holiday or attending Spice weekends away in the UK or overseas that you have adequate travel insurance in case of emergency, cancellation, etc. Travel insurance is an important aspect to booking a weekend or holiday, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances. We also strongly recommend a personal travel insurance policy that includes COVID-19 cover. While we cannot recommend specific insurance policies as everyone’s requirements are personal to them, Spice have linked up with market leader Staysure Travel Insurance which you may like to take a look at.

You MUST have:

• Walking boots

• A Water bottle (minimum 1 litre)

• A Rucksack with a plastic liner

• Waterproofs: jacket and trousers

• A Warm hat

• Warm gloves (not leather)

• Thick walking socks

• Base layer: (thin thermal or warm T-shirt. Best not to be cotton as it gets cold when wet)

• Over layer: (warm sweater or fleece)

• Extra layer: warm top for when cold (eg. when stopped for lunch)

• Comfortable walking trousers (not jeans as they are too cold & heavy when wet)

• Personal Medication

• A face covering and hand sanitiser

• Smart casual clothes for the evening.

You may wish to bring:

• Trekking Poles

• Vacuum flask (if you like hot drinks on the hill)

• Medium size Tupperware container or plastic bag, to put picnic lunch in.

• Sit mat 

• Sun glasses

• Lip salve

• Camera

• Personal first aid kit

In good weather and/or summer, you may also wish to bring

• Short trousers

• T - Shirts

• Sun hat

• Sun tan lotion

In poor weather and/or winter, you may also wish to bring:

• Gaiters

• Balaclava

• Extra warm clothing

Quite simply this centre is one of the finest walking locations anywhere in the country, truly immersed in the deep Lakeland valleys and surrounded by majestic mountains and inviting Lakeland fells. From the front door of the centre, there is a massive range of walking to choose from, with something for everyone! There are the towering heights of Great Gable and Scafell Pike, Castle Crag, the beautiful Derwentwater, the superb cafes throughout Borrowdale and some traditional Lakeland hostelries! Simply a superb place for a winter break. By contrast, there are delightful river valleys with tranquil lakes, dancing waterfalls and peaceful woodland, providing enchanting scenery for all levels of walkers.

For the hard walkers, there are some truly wonderful high-level options, there is a smorgasbord of temptations with the Gables, Glaramara, Allen Crags, Eagle Crag, Sergeant Crag, High Raise, Ullscarf, Dale Head, Hindscarth and Robinson to name a few. As if that’s not enough it’s only a short hop over Honister Pass to a range of walks in the beautiful Buttermere valley. The final choice of walks and routes will be selected closer to the time when the weather and everyone’s ability and previous experiences of Borrowdale have been established.

Meanwhile for the gentler walkers there are some beautiful lower fells that can be reached without too much effort: Castle Crag, Kings How and Bessy Boot are all wonderful viewpoints providing excellent value for your efforts. Styhead Pass and Sprinkling Tarn lie at the very heart of the most spectacular mountains in England, and there is also the dramatic scenery of Dale Head Tarn and the Newlands valley. But we must not forget the beautiful Langstrath and Buttermere valleys, and the hidden tea shops in the hamlets of Watendlath, Seathwaite and Rosthwaite, all of which add to the delights of the lower walks.

By Road:

Make your way to Junction 40 on the M6 (faster than travelling through the Lakes via Windermere/Ambleside). Depart M6 J40 on the A66 (West) for 14.9 miles towards Keswick.

At the first signpost for Keswick, turn left and travel down the hill for 0.5 miles to a T junction. Here, turn right and follow the road down the hill and through Keswick to a mini-roundabout. Here, turn left signposted Borrowdale B5289. 

Follow signs for the B5289 Borrowdale for approximately 7.5 miles towards Seatoller via Rosthwaite.

Approximately 150 yards before Seatoller, the Glaramara Centre is set back from the road on the right hand side and is the big Swiss looking property. If you reach Seatoller village and/or start to go very steeply uphill, you’ve gone too far!

By Train or Bus:

The nearest main station to reach would be Penrith, and then buses can be caught to Keswick and again down to Borrowdale - however, these become less frequent in the evenings! For up to date travel information, contact the Cumbria Traveline on 0870 608 2 608, or on-line at www.traveline-cumbria.co.uk. If there’s a few of you on the same train then try Glaramara centre 01768 777222 they may be able to pick you up on selected trains, although we can’t guarantee it, give them a call to see which ones. 

If you are having problems finding the centre, please call them directly, or you could call one of the WalkWise guides…however mobiles don't work if a guide is already at the centre!

Andrew Casey: 0774 894 2263

Gideon Wheater: 0780 907 0257