Guided Walking Breaks with Hassness Country House

About

Specialist Walking Holidays

Hassness Country House is beautifully located in its own grounds on the shores of Lake Buttermere. This is one of the remotest parts of the Lake District and has been recognised as offering some of Britain’s best views. The house offers respite from modern communications, however free Wi-Fi is available. All 11 bedrooms are lakeside and many overlook the lake and fells beyond, whilst a couple of rooms have a garden view. There are twins, doubles and one single room. At Ramblers Walking Holidays, we offer many walking holidays based at Hassness – it is a welcoming retreat from which to venture into the fells as gently or energetically as you choose. Our holidays suit individuals or groups looking for a walking break or the house can be hired to include accommodation and meals with our managers on site.



Guided walking breaks from 3 – 7 nights

We offer grade 4 (moderate) and grade 7 (challenging) walks.

Our programme of grade 7 walks is adventurous and challenging and includes time in wild countryside. We aim to take in peaks and rough ridges and you need to be comfortable with the odd bit of scrambling or scree. Stamina is important, and occasionally a good head for heights when there are steep drops. The walks range in distance between 8 to 13 miles with ascents and descents normally in the range of 700m to 1000m.

Our programme of grade 4 walks is designed to take in many of the most famous areas in the northwestern Lakes, including Haystacks, for example, on terrain which presents few challenges in fine weather. There may be occasional steep or rough sections, but these can be taken slowly. The walks range in distance between 6 to 11 miles with ascents and descents normally in the range of 300m to 500m.

Navigation & Hills Skills Course (Bronze Award)

Despite GPS technology, which we'll discuss and demonstrate, traditional map and compass skills are still an integral part of safe hill walking. This two day practical course will take you through all the essential map and compass skills you need to plan your own walks and navigate safely and confidently.

The course is aimed at beginners, or those wishing to improve their rusty skills and covers all the NNAS Bronze syllabus and overlaps with some aspects of the Silver syllabus. At the end of the course you'll have the opportunity to be assessed and to receive the NNAS Bronze award or just to take the experience gained.

We'll introduce you to the most important navigation skills such as: setting the map, identifying features, interpreting contours, taking and following a compass bearing, estimating distance travelled, identifying a practical route, understanding maps scales, distances, symbols and grid references.

Navigation & Hills Skills Course (Silver Award)

This two day practical course will take you through all the essential map and compass skills you need to plan your own walks and navigate safely and confidently.

Despite GPS technology, which we'll discuss and demonstrate, traditional map and compass skills are still an integral part of safe hill walking. This two day practical course will take you through all the essential map and compass skills you need to plan your own walks and navigate safely and confidently.

The course is aimed at beginners, or those wishing to improve their rusty skills and covers all the NNAS Bronze syllabus and overlaps with some aspects of the Silver syllabus. At the end of the course you'll have the opportunity to be assessed and to receive the NNAS Bronze award or just to take the experience gained.

We'll introduce you to the most important navigation skills such as: setting the map, identifying features, interpreting contours, taking and following a compass bearing, estimating distance travelled, identifying a practical route, understanding maps scales, distances, symbols and grid references.

Great Lakeland Ridge Walks

This is a Grade 8 challenging holiday. It will include hard mountain walking every day with long ascents and descents and scrambling. Stamina and a good head for heights is essential. Distances will probably not exceed 10 miles, but ascents and descents will normally be between 875m and 1,200m. Expect long and exhilarating days.

Lakeland Explorer

Our week of leisurely half day walks and visits to cultural highlights captures both sides of the Lakes. There's also time to stroll around Lakeland traditional villages and enjoy a cream tea, some locally made ice cream or a Cumbrian pint.

We visit sites associated with Wordsworth around Grasmere and Beatrix Potter above Windermere. We walk around Buttermere, beside Derwentwater, Rydal Water and Windermere. On other days we visit the delightful Borrowdale and Eskdale. We pay a visit to the fascinating Honister Slate Mines, ride the picturesque Ravenglass to Eskdale Railway (known locally as the La'al Ratty). We also visit the gardens of Muncaster Castle and take a ferry across Windermere.

Women’s Activity Week

This is a Grade 5 moderate holiday which includes full day walks and Nordic Walking with moderate amounts of ascent and descent. The paths are mostly good, but there may be some steep and rough ground. Walks will last up to 6 hours and could involve as much as 750m of ascent and descent. Some walks will be less demanding but equally rewarding. As well as walking, there are other activities planned throughout the week.

Mindfulness in the Mountains

Mindfulness in the Mountains will give you the opportunity to do just that, to really live in the moment without distractions or unnecessary concerns. The core activity will be walking in the fabulous restorative countryside around Buttermere, following some classic Buttermere based routes such as Haystacks and Rannerdale knots.

Some of the walking will be in silence with targeted activities to help you to connect with your surroundings and yourself. There will be time set aside for reflection and, if you are interested, resources to help you to familiarise yourself with techniques and theoretical concepts.

In addition, there will be opportunities to participate in some gentle yoga and short meditations. These activities will be suitable for both beginners and seasoned practitioners, planned as a generic restorative practice. The yoga practice will also pay attention to those areas of the body that support walking activity, ensuring that you can make the most of both the physical and mental activity.

About Hassnes Country House

The house can accommodate up to 21 people and comprises of 11 bedrooms (7 rooms have en-suite facilities, 4 rooms have shared facilities). The house has a dining room where breakfasts and evening meals are taken and also a large lounge for relaxing and taking in the views. There is also a bar in the lounge offering wines, beers and spirits at reasonable prices. A guest kitchen is also available with free tea & coffee for guests. Free W-Fi is available throughout the house.