Mountain Goat Tours

About

With 40 years experience of the beautiful Lake District and a firm recognition as the No. 1 Lake District tour specialist, Mountain Goat has rightfully made its mark of distinction and won the ‘Minibus Operator of the Year Award’ 2010.

Established in 1972, Mountain Goat today are renowned for their exciting and inspiring choice of guided sightseeing tours around the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. They also provide exclusive group hire, walking guide services, the ‘Cross Lakes Experience’ Bus Service, Lake District Short Breaks and touring holidays in most National Park areas of the UK. The company work with and have built a strong rapport with many leading UK Tour/Coach operators in addition to many international tour companies particularly Japanese, American, and Australasia.

As a small local business the Mountain Goat are proud members of Nurture Lakeland and actively support the development of Conservation projects to maintain and preserve the Lake District’s unique environment. Over the years it has developed into a sustainable business providing local employment and working with local companies & produce to serve an authentic and unique product. In 2012 Mountain Goat were proud winners of the Sustainable Travel Ambassador.

Mountain Goat enjoys common ownership with the owners of the luxury 4* Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel and present joint promotions including accommodation, sightseeing tours, walking and other activities to guests seeking the perfect break in the Lake District.


Mountain Goat Tour A: 10 Lakes Spectacular

This stunning tour covers the North, South and central Lake District and is a perfect introduction to the area.
The Lake District is often referred to as the “most beautiful corner of England” and this full day tour introduces you to just that. Magnificent scenery of mountains, valleys and lakes from the south to the north. The tour includes a lake cruise, a visit to the 4,000 year old Castlerigg Stone Circle set high on the fells, and time in Keswick. You travel over passes, through beautiful valleys, see waterfalls and Lakeland villages. You have plenty of stops for admiring the views and taking photographs.

This is a tour not to be missed!


Mountain Goat Tour B: Beatrix Potter's Countryside

Half-day tour visting many of Beatrix Potter's favourite past times and places.
This tour is the ideal way to explore the favourite places associated with Beatrix Potter. We travel north alongside Lake Windermere to Waterhead and then from here we drive to Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top farm where she wrote many of her famous children's stories in this little 17th century stone house. You have the opportunity to go in the shop, explore her garden and as an optional extra visit the house.

Our next stop is the medieval village of Hawkshead where you have time to explore this fascinating village. On our way to Coniston Water we drive through the renowned beauty spot of Tarn Hows where we stop for a photo. We board the ferry near Coniston for the lake cruise.
The tour continues through Yewdale, passing Yew Tree Tarn and Skelwith Bridge then back to Windermere and Bowness.
Complete this enjoyable half day tour with an optional cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, former home of Beatrix Potter’s mother, before returning to your accommodation.


Mountain Goat Tour C: The High Adventure

Spectacular tour exploring the Western part of the Lake District over the high passes visiting 'Britain's Favourite View', Wastwater and the splendid 14th Century Muncaster Castle.

Here we explore the Western Lake District and our route is that fashioned by Emperor Hadrian’s Roman legions in the first century AD. Over the Wrynose and Hardknott passes, the steepest in England we drive past the extraordinary remains of Hardknott Roman Fort 1000 ft up on the fells.You have the opportunity to walk through the fort and see the spectacular view to Upper Eskdale, Scafell and Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountains. We embark on the famous miniature Ravenglass and Eskdale railway through Eskdale before a lunch stop at one of the Valley inns. In the afternoon we drive onward to Wastwater, voted ‘Britain’s Favourite View and England’s deepest and most dramatic lake. Our next destination is the splendid 14th century castle of Muncaster surrounded by its internationally acclaimed gardens with magnificent examples of azaleas, camelias and rhododendrons. You also have the opportunity to visit the renowned World Owl Trust. The beautiful scenery of the Coniston Fells and Coniston Water bring to an end this classic of all Lake District tours.


Mountain Goat Tour E: The Yorkshire Dales

A full-day tour taking you to the Yorkshire Dales, visiting 5 Dales and many of their quaint picturesque villages.
This full day tour takes you to the best of the Yorkshire Dales. Leaving the Lake District behind us we head up to book town village of Sedbergh then on to Garsdale to see the Settle Carlisle Railway snaking its way over the highest part of its journey through Mallerstang. We drive under one of its big viaducts before heading down into Wensleydale and Hardraw for a coffee stop. From here we cross the moors past The Buttertubs and descend into Swaledale. We journey down through the valley to the small market town of Reeth for lunch. In the afternoon we cross the moors again to Wensleydale at Castle Bolton, where we see the imposing castle in which Mary, Queen of the Scots, was imprisoned. As we journey up the valley we stop at Aysgarth Falls to see this spectacular waterfall. From here we make our way to Hawes, the highest market town in Wensleydale, for a stop. Continuing on from Hawes, we drive up Widdale and drop down into Dentdale with its lovely village of Dent, famous for the Dent knitters. We complete our journey back to Windermere via Kirkby Lonsdale.


Mountain Goat Tour G: Hadrian's Wall

Explore the northern reaches of the Roman Empire with Mountain Goat.
Leaving Windermere we drive through the heart of the Lakes, beside Ullswater and on towards Penrith and the Scottish Borders. We stop for coffee in the village of Brampton with an opportunity to visit the church and see the 'Arts and Crafts' Sir Burne Jones' stained glass windows.

We continue into the remote 'Debatable Lands' of the Border Reivers to see the 8th century Bewcastle Cross and Church, before heading to Lanercost Priory, with time to see the church built withing the priory ruins and more Burne Jones windows.

We follow Hadrians Wall, following it past 'Mile Castles' and 'Towers' to our lunch stop at 'The Roman Army Museum'. In the afternoon we continue along the 'Wall' seeing the spectacular Fell End, Sunny Rigg, Great Chester and finally Steel Rigg. We return via Alston, England's highest market town and a tea stop at the Hartside Pass and superb views across Cumbria.


Mountain Goat Tour: Heart of the Lakes

Short on time? We have got the ideal afternoon scenic tour for you. The tour will focus on the famous valleys of Great and Little Langdale, with time to take in the picturesque view at Tarn Hows. You will also enjoy the view at Coniston Water, famous for world water speed records.

Tour Highlights - to tick off your list! Include:

- The Langdale Valley is a hub of Lake District Heritage.
- Spot many of our famous Herdwick sheep.
- Loughrigg Tarn, the inspiration for many artists and writers.

There are many picturesque views along the way including Tarn Hows & Loughrigg Tarn. Lastly, a quick stop in Hawkshead before returning to Windermere.

For included extras, itinerary's, highlights and more information, please see the website.
 

Winter Southern Lakes Highlights Tour

Experience the very best of the Southern Lake District this Winter in this small group mini-coach tour with local knowledgeable guide.

Highlights of this afternoon tour will include the famous mountainous valleys of the Langdales, taking in the view at Tarn Hows, and free time to explore the medieval village of Hawkshead. The tours includes a cruise on the longest lake in England, Windermere. Throughout the tour there will be plenty of time to admire the scenery, as your local guide takes you through one of the most beautiful corners of England.

For more information about included extras, highlights and itinerary's please see the website.

We provide services for coach and group operators. Ideal for coach drivers days off. Our 16 seater minibuses make the inaccessible accessible.
Group rates: on request.