Top Windermere Historical Tours

Witness the grandeur of the Lake District’s central mountains and western fells on this full-day small-group High Mountain Passes tour from Lake Windermere. Travelling in a Mercedes Sprinter minivan, follow a route first traced by the Romans over the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes, two of Britain’s steepest. Ascend the breathtaking Lakeland fells without having to go hiking and visit Roman Hardknott Fort. After a lunch break, admire spectacular views of Wastwater before returning to Windermere via Coniston Water.

On this tour you get to see:

See the worlds of ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Jane Eyer’ brought to life on a 8.5-hour small-group tour around Yorkshire. Departing from Windermere, all-inclusive transportation makes it possible to visit numerous locations, which would otherwise be difficult to reach on your own in one day. Explore the hometown of the Bronte sisters and the sights that inspired their iconic novels, including moorland landscapes and their childhood school.

See the Lake District in one day without missing a thing! Visit 10 of the National Park’s famous lakes and learn about their geological past and historic importance in culture, art and literature. Enjoy scenic drives through valleys and dales, spot waterfalls and explore ancient landmarks, like the stone circle at Askrigg. Take memorable photos at specially-chosen look-out points and hear tales about the local folklore of the fells and villages you pass by.

Enjoy a seamless introduction to the Lake District and discover its scenic highlights on this half-day driving tour. Over the course of your tour, see numerous lakes (including Lake Windermere—the largest in the area); visit the Neolithic Castlerigg Stone Circle; discover the photogenic Ashness Bridge; chart the Kirkstone Pass; and much more. As you go, learn all about the region and its history from your guide’s commentary.

Visit the Beatrix Potter house and some of the Lake District’s prettiest locations on an afternoon tour from Windermere. After a scenic Lake Windermere cruise, travel through idyllic countryside to Hill Top, the Beatrix Potter home where the beloved children’s author lived during the early 1900s. See the garden and rooms left as she would have known them and learn about her life here. Finish with a visit to the quaint village of Hawkshead, where poet William Wordsworth attended school; and Tarn Hows, one of Lakeland’s most gorgeous spots. Please note Hill Top is an additional £11.80 per adult and £5.90 per child. This must be booked with Mountain Goat at least 24 hours before the tour departs

Experience some of the highlights of the Lake District National Park on this full-day Ten Lakes Spectacular small-group tour from Windermere. Traveling by air-conditioned minivan with an expert guide, explore the beauty spots and villages of central Lakeland as you learn about its history. Ascend high mountain passes, visit a waterfall and see ten of the most beautiful lakes, including Buttermere and Thirlmere. Discover Borrowdale and quaint villages such as Grasmere; visit Castlerigg Stone Circle; and enjoy free time for lunch in the market town of Keswick.

If your time in the Lake District is limited, this tour is the perfect choice for you. You won’t have to worry about navigating, as you’ll have a route organized for you. See six different lakes in one tour, as well as stunning scenery. Highlights included traveling over Kirkstone Pass, and passing through Grasmere.

Without a rental car, rounding up the Lake District spots beloved by Beatrix Potter in a half-day is near-impossible. Ideal for time-crunched visitors, this small-group tour from Windermere, Bowness, and Ambleside visits many such places in a few hours. Explore Beatrix’s Hill Top home, see Esthwaite Lake where she fished, visit Hawkshead, and learn detail about her life and characters via the onboard commentary that you might never otherwise hear.

On this in-depth, full-day tour, you’ll follow in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter. Go behind the scenes to get a comprehensive overview of the acclaimed writer, illustrator, and scientist, best known for her “Peter Rabbit” series. Tours include stops where the author lived and worked, plus admission tickets to the Beatrix Potter Gallery and Armitt Museum.

Discover the dramatic limestone valleys and emerald countryside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park on an 8-hour tour from Windermere. Travel with ease from the Lake District and visit the quaint towns of Hardraw and Wensleydale, famed for its cheese, and Bolton Castle, in which Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. See, too, Aysgarth Falls and the lovely English village of Dent.

Spend a day at Hadrian’s Wall, a site that was once the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. With a guide, you’ll travel north from Windermere, through the Lake District towards the region known as the Debateable Lands. After a stop at Lanercost Priory, you’ll spend most of your day at Hadrian’s Wall, discovering the ruins and beauty spots that abound. A stop at the Roman Army Museum and a visit to the Vindolanda fort is also included.

Gain insight into the relationship between the English Romantics and their beloved landscape on a Lake poets tour, ideal for literature lovers, history buffs, and nature enthusiasts alike. Discover landmarks including William Wordsworth’s former school, family home, and church, with insights provided by your guide, and benefit from round-trip transfer from a pickup location of your choice for a hassle-free excursion.

Spend a half day exploring the scenic surroundings of the Lake District while a guide provides commentary throughout the tour. Visit highlights such as Tarn Hows, Coniston Water, and Coniston village; then head over to Great Langdale and Little Langdale to admire these valleys. You’ll get a more informed glimpse with a sightseeing tour than going solo, and relax with the ease of transport between destinations.

Explore the natural beauty of the Windermere area without having to worry about organizing car hire with this private tour. Travel with ease between scenic nature spots such as Lake Windermere, Kirkstone Pass, Ullswater Lake, and Castlerigg Stone Circle. As you travel, the guide provides commentary about the local area, and Wi-Fi access and charging points are available in the vehicle.

Discover the life of William Wordsworth in the English Lake District on a half-day tour of Grasmere village from Windermere. Visit landmarks that were important to Wordsworth and his family, including St Oswald's Church, Dove Cottage, Dora's Field, Rydal Church, and the poet’s former home at Rydal Mount. This small-group tour explores this scenic destination through the lens of Wordsworth’s life and work.

• Tarn Hows surrounded by mountains with birdsong in the trees, regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the Lake District. • Coniston Water with spectacular views of the lake and Coniston Old Man. • Brantwood, the famous house once owned by John Ruskin with spectacular views over Coniston Water to the Old Man. • Coniston village, a bustling Lake District gem nestling between the tranquil lake and the looming fells. • Great Langdale the spectacular U-shaped valley surrounded by breathtaking scenery. • Little Langdale the secluded valley with Neolithic, Viking, Medieval and smuggling connections.

Discover Yorkshire’s wiley, windy moors and learn about their influence on the famous Brontë family on a winter tour of Haworth, the Brontë Parsonage, and beyond. Round-trip transfer from Windermere or Oxenholme allows seamless exploration of the dramatic landscape, while the small-group size ensures more personalized interaction with your knowledgeable guide.

This tour is a beautiful tour day, full of beauty and natural wonder, out but is rough guide to your days travel, as customers may amend the tour to suite there needs or wish list. Please contact Simon to alter your tour. Thank you.

This tour takes you to: • Grasmere Village where William Wordsworth lived. • Church Stile the former inn where William Wordsworth, his brother John and fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge stayed for several days during their Lake District tour in 1797. • Grasmere Gingerbread Shop where Sarah Nelson invented the world famous "Grasmere Gingerbread" in 1854. • The Wordsworth family graves. • St Oswald's Church where the Wordsworth family worshipped. • Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy lived from 1799 to 1808. • Views of Grasmere, the beautiful lake the Wordsworths knew so well. • Rydal Mount William Wordsworth's best loved family home from 1813 to his death in 1850. • Rydal Hall Gardens where Wordsworth admired the waterfall from the "grot" viewing house. • Rydal Church built on the site chosen by William Wordsworth which also inspired two of his poems. • Dora's Field bought by William Wordsworth in 1826. • Views of Rydal Water, one of the smaller lakes.

On this tour you get to see: • Wray Castle where Beatrix spent her 16th birthday and first discovered the Lake District where she was to later make her home. • Near Sawrey village which Beatrix visited often, used as inspiration for her illustrations and where she happily settled and married. • Hill Top, the house which Beatrix bought from the money she made from the publication of Peter Rabbit. • Esthwaite Water where Beatrix fished from her boat. • Hawkshead village • Tarn Hows bought by Beatrix  and regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the Lake District. • Coniston Water with spectacular views of the lake and Coniston Old Man • Yewdale Valley where Beatrix owned farms and land including Yew Tree Farm used in the film Miss Potter.

Are you looking for a way to see Lake District without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable audio tour. • Find out why two million sheep now inhabit the Cumbria landscape and why King Dunmail’s ghostly warriors try to reawaken him every year • Hear from producer Martin Wilson, a local whose passion for the area and its history led him to create Lake District Drives • Do it all in 150 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

On this tour you will get to see: • Wray Castle where Beatrix spent her 16th birthday and first discovered the Lake District. • Near Sawrey village which Beatrix visited often, used as inspiration for her illustrations and where she happily settled and married. • Hill Top, the house which Beatrix bought from the money she made from the publication of Peter Rabbit. • Esthwaite Water where Beatrix fished from her boat. • Hawkshead village • Tarn Hows bought by Beatrix  and regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the Lake District. • Coniston Water with spectacular views of the lake and Coniston Old Man • Yewdale Valley where Beatrix owned farms and land including Yew Tree Farm used in the film Miss Potter.

The Western Lakes are more rugged and exposed than the rest of the district and as such has its own unique character. Much less explored than the more popular lakes and hills this area has a serene and ethereal feel not found elsewhere in this region. Even in peak summer you’ll feel like you’ve got it all to yourself which is why it’s our favourite part of the Lakes. We pride ourselves on customising all our tours to suit your personal requirements. We can spend more time, or less, at places so use the itinerary as a framework for us to create the perfect day for you. Each tour includes one paid for experience highlighted* Although some guests actually want to see the Lakes at its wildest it can spoil it for others so, as "Pleasure first, Business second" is our mantra we, unlike most operators, will let you know in advance if we think the weather may be an issue to allow you to make an informed decision as to continue with your trip, arrange an alternative date or request a refund.