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WalkingWomen --------- High Level Summer
From now till the end of September...
5-9 Aug - Int & Slow High
Great Langdale |
| Small hotel - Brenda & Marian - Lake
District |
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| 4 nights full board:
£380 |
Great Langdale has some of the most
exciting walking in the Lake District - and on this holiday you'll have a
choice of Intermediate and Slow High walks each day!
Fuller detail
This Great Langdale holiday
offers you a choice of walks each day so that you can stretch or take it easy
according to how you feel. 'Slow High' walks are high level walks taken at a
slower pace. The holiday is based at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great
Langdale - a lovely old building with charm and character located beneath the
Langdale Pikes. From here we will have Lingmoor Fell, Pike O'Blisco, Crinkle
Crags and Bow Fell right on our doorstep. The Coniston Fells will also be
within reach, and of course, the shapely Langdale Pikes will be a 'must' for
both groups, offering magnificent views from their rocky tops. The ODG offers a
good mix of shared and single rooms, some of which have ensuite facilities
while others are standard with a washbasin and a bathroom nearby. Most of the
bedrooms have good views of the valley and the surrounding fells. The inn has a
popular Hikers Bar which we can enjoy after our walks, and dinner will be
served in the dining room at 7pm. Well-behaved dogs are allowed. (Extra nights:
£63.00 full board).
See photos from a previous year's
Int & Slow High Gt Langdale break? Use your browser's Back button to
return.
Travel - nearest train
station: Windermere (+ bus or shared lift/taxi from station to the
hotel). For full Accommodation, Grade, &
Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 4 nights at the Old
Dungeon Ghyll Hotel Staying in ensuite or standard twins. Single rooms
are available (Single supplements per night: Standard single £5; Std
double as a single: £10. Ensuite double as a single: £15).
Also includes: breakfasts, packed
lunches, evening meals + guided walks.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456 445335
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19-27 Aug - High Alpine Jungfrau
Full |
| High Alpine - Sara B - Inns, & refuges -
Swiss Alps |
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| 8 nights part board (ex.
flight/train): £685 |
The Jungfrau Tour is a classic Alpine
trek with superb Swiss Alps scenery to rival the TMB. You carry your extra gear
throughout (spare clothes & sheet sleeping bag).
Fuller detail
The Tour of the Jungfrau
region (TJR) is a horseshoe trek among some of the most spectacular scenery in
all the Alps. It is a journey into the Bernese Oberland that will leave you
awestruck: ridges, summits and passes, glaciers, waterfalls, gorges, beautiful
mountain lakes, and always the extraordinary backdrop of the Eiger, Wetterhorn,
Silberhorn, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Most of the places you stay are in
atmospheric locations with breathtaking views, ranging from Alpine refuges with
bunk beds and mattress platforms to comfortable small hotels with twin rooms.
At certain points the trek includes short sections of fixed cables and some
exposed sections that will stretch your comfort zone. No luggage transport is
feasible, so you carry the extra clothes you need in your pack. At the mid
point of the trek you'll walk the famous Eiger trail to the foot of the Eiger's
north face where the summit will feel within arms' reach. Yet while this trek
is strenuous, none of it is technical or at altitude. All bedding is provided
so you'll only need a sheet liner. Spare gear can be kept to a minimum, and any
unwanted travel gear can be left at the hotel in Interlaken where the holiday
starts and finishes. You can catch the train there from either Geneva or Zurich
airport, buying your ticket at the airport station for approximately £54
return. Alternatively you can do the whole journey by train from the UK,
leaving in the morning and arriving in Interlaken at 19.35 for approximately
£123 return. Whether you fly/train or train/train, we can help you book
your tickets. The amazing mountain train from Interlaken to the start and end
of the trek is included in the price. Guided by Sara B who will meet you in
Interlaken station. Group size 8 max.
See
photos & feeback from a previous year's holiday? Use your browser
Back button to return here.
Travel - flight or train to Interlaken
is not included: You can fly to Geneva or Zurich from several UK
airports & take the train from the airport to Interlaken. Alternatively you
can take the train from the UK to Interlaken (from £123 return, taking
all day). For full Accommodation, Grade, &
Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 8 nights part board
in Inns or small hotels, Pensions, and refuges Sleeping in 2-3 bedded
rooms, dormitories, or on refuge mattress platforms.
Includes: breakfasts & 6 evening
meals; mountain train & mountain bus beyond Interlaken to reach start of
trek. Not included: flight or train to Interlaken; lunches - for
lunch we will stop at huts & refuges along the way - from
£6-£9; 2 evening meals.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456
445335
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21-25 Aug - Int & Slow High
Borrowdale |
| Walking centre - Lorraine & Sally - Lake
District |
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| 4 nights full board:
£315 |
4 days of wonderful walks on the fells
of Borrowdale with a choice of Intermediate or Slow High walks each day: you
can choose each day and swap grades if need be.
Fuller detail
This 4-night holiday with Lorraine &
Sally stays at Glaramara Centre in Borrowdale and offers a choice of
Intermediate and Slow High walks each day. You can choose which grade you
prefer and swap the next day if need be. Slow High walks are high level walks
taken at a slower, more intermediate, pace. For Intermediate walks we might
warm up on a walk to Watendlath Tarn via Rosthwaite with fabulous views back to
the valley. We will also include the fabulous High Spy ridge where our efforts
will be rewarded with views in all directions and a lovely descent overlooking
Derwent Water. On other days we might be tempted by Haystacks near Buttermere -
Wainwrights's favourite fell, or rocky Glaramara - the fell across the valley
where we'll pass waterfalls on our way to the summit. Slow High walks could
start with rocky Glaramara across the valley, perhaps continuing beyond over
Allen Crags, to descend next to a tumbling beck. On another day we might climb
steadily to Dale Head for views of all the Central Fells, then return via
Honister Pass to finish along an old miners track. Great Gable will also be
within our range, leaving something shorter and lower for our last day... For
this holiday we are staying at the Glaramara Centre near Seatoller. Though its
decor is simple and like a hostel in some respects, Glaramara has plenty of
single rooms without a supplement, serves delicious food, and is fantastic
value in every way. It has a bar and a large comfy lounge, and the general
atmosphere is warm and friendly.
See
photos & feeback from a previous year's Intermediate holiday? (in
March) Use your browser Back button to return here.
Travel - nearest train
station: Penrith Station, then bus from the station to Keswick, and bus
up the valley. For full Accommodation, Grade,
& Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 4 nights at
Glaramara Centre Staying in standard single rooms (without a
supplement).
Also includes: breakfasts, packed
lunches, & evening meals, & a choice of guided walks each
day.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456
445335
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4-10 Sep - High Level
Glencoe |
| Chalets - Anita - Scottish
Highlands |
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| 6 nights partl board:
£440 |
A repeat of this exciting new high
level holiday in the Scottish Highlands, easily accessible by train, and
everyone can have a single room!
Fuller detail
This 6 night holiday to Glencoe will stay in chalet
accomodation at Inchree Centre overlooking Loch Linnhe and the Corran Ferry.
You will have seen post card photos of the magnificent scenery of this famous
glen - with its 3 huge buttresses looking stunning in the sunshine, or moody
and threatening in dark weather. Our choice of walks will depend on weather and
local conditions and could include: the Ballachulish Horseshoe Beinn a Bheithir
- a lovely ridgewalk with coastal views; Buachaille Etive Mor via Coire
Tulaich; Buchaille Etive Beag; up to Sron Gharbh and back along the West
Highland Way for views across to the Mamores and start of the Aonach Eagach
ridge. If our legs are up to it, Bidean nam Bian, the biggest of the Glencoe
hills at 1150m or even one of the Mamores from Kinlochleven will also be within
our reach. When the forecast is good we'll have transport around to Glen Nevis
via Fort William to 'do the Ben' - at 1343, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain
in the UK. For off days there are lovely valley walks and lower hills, Fort
William is 10 miles away by bus, and Ballachulish and Glencoe villages have
small shops and pubs. The chalets at Inchree Centre have 2-3 bedrooms each, and
everyone can have a single room. This holiday is easy to reach by car, by train
to Fort William, or by flight to Glasgow then train. We will arrange a 4pm
shared taxi from Fort William station to Inchree. Breakfasts & packed
lunches are included in the price. Evening meals are not included - from
£12. We will take our meals in the Centre's diningroom. Guided by Anita.
Travel - nearest train
station: Fort William, then 4pm shared taxi for the 10 miles to Inchree
Centre. For full Accommodation & Guide
information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 6 nights at Inchree
Centre All staying in standard single rooms sharing the bathroom with
1-2 other women in the group (no single supplement).
Also includes: breakfasts, packed
lunches, evening meals, all transport to walks, & guided walks.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456
445335
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24-26 Sep - High Level Grasmere
w/e |
| Guest house - Anne - Lake District
|
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| 2 nights full board:
£170 |
A weekend break with Anne offering a
fine choice of high level walks from the Langdale Pikes to the classic
Fairfield Horseshoe or Helvellyn.
Fuller detail
An autumn w/e for some great high walks
from Grasmere - choosing between the Fairfield Horseshoe with its striking
views towards Striding Edge, or Helvellyn via Grisedale Tarn with all of
Thirlmere before us as we descend. Then on the Sunday there will hopefully be
time for the Langdale Pikes from Great Langdale or the wonderful Helm Crag
ridge before travelling home - so don't book your train home too early! The
weekend is based at Glenthorne Guest House in Grasmere which has lovely rooms
and plenty of singles, excellent food, and a large garden with views in 3
directions.
See photos & feedback from a previous High Level Grasmere
w/e? (was a w/e also with Intermediate walks) Use your browser's Back
button to return.
Travel - nearest train
station: Windermere, then regular, frequent bus service from the
station forecourt to the bus stop in Grasmere, 4 minutes walk from Glenthorne
G/H. For full Accommodation, Grade, &
Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 2 nights at
Glenthorne Guest House Staying in ensuite twins or standard single
without a supplement. Ensuite singles available (ensuite single supplement
£10 a night).
Also includes: breakfasts, packed
lunches, evening meals + guided walks.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456 445335
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High Level grades explained...
There are now 3 high
level grades: Slow High, High Level, and Alpine High. You
can see the differences between them below:
Slow High - 8-12
miles, average 900m up & down
We introduced the Slow High grade last year
after talking to women who come on the holidays, and it has proved a huge
success! Many women love high level walks - and may always have loved them -
but now find they want to take them at a slower pace. For other women, 'high
level' is the next step up, but it's still an unknown quantity and they worry
about slowing others down. If these concerns have stopped you from choosing our
High Level grade - even though you feel, or know, you have the stamina to cope
with long 'ups' and 'downs' and long walking days, then this new grade is for
you! Slow High walks will be similar to High Level walks in all other respects
- see below - but will be taken at a slower pace with more stops along the way.
The walking day may be a little longer than usual, and as a result we arrange
them in Spring and Summer. (Intermediate walks are also offered at the same
time so that you can vary your walks or swap to Intermediate if you find you
prefer it).
High level - 8-12
miles, average 900m up & down
High Level walks are 'mountain' walks, offering the
most exciting and dramatic views - wild crags where buzzards and ravens fly,
expansive views, deserted high level lakes, and wonderful long ridges with
views to the valleys below. The walks will be from 8-12 miles in length, and
have an ascent and descent of up to 1000m (3300ft). The secret of getting up
there is to take the 'ups' at a steady pace without so many stops that you keep
losing your second wind. The gradients will vary over the day, but will
generally include longer steep sections
than the intermediate grades,
with 1.5-2 hours of ascent overall. In general, the higher you go, the rockier
the paths get, and in places you may use your hands; some high level walks can
be unnerving for vertigo sufferers.
If you have
reasonable balance for walking on rocky uneven ground and know you have the
leg, heart, and lung fitness to cope with sustained exertion - either from
recent hill walking or in some other sport - these wonderful walks could be for
you! (See alsoIntermediate, High
Intermediate, & Slow High above).
High Alpine -
8-14 miles, 850-1400m up & down
The high level
holidays that are graded 'High Alpine' have some of the most stunning walks we
offer - soaring views of snow-clad peaks, glaciers, ice-covered mountain lakes,
and alpine flowers all around. However, on certain days, there will be more
length or ascent than normal High Level walks - up to 14 miles a day and 1400m
(4600ft) ascent/descent. On some holidays you may experience some altitude
effects - e.g. headaches or shortness of breath.
As a result, these wonderful
mountains may require you to pace yourself, e.g. by swapping to an intermediate
walk in Gran Paradiso and Bulgaria. On the Langtang Trek in Nepal we build in
acclimatising days to diminish the effects of altitude, and you may need to
take it easy then.
If you're a hill
walker with good knees and stamina, who wants more of a challenge and
incredible views, these wonderful walks could be for you! If you are not
already a hill walker, Gran Paradiso or Bulgaria offer a choice of grades each
day and are the safest High Alpine holidays to try first.
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