The tour starts at Dove Cottage where Wordsworth wrote his famous Prelude and lived the “romantic” life. This included creating a wild flower garden. Walking via the “Coffin Path” to Rydal Mount, his later home, reveals a more contemplative garden with Zen-like features.

Depart Manchester for the Lake District.  Coffee, Grasmere and lunch

Visit to Dove Cottage, home of William Wordsworth from 1799 to 1808 and Wordsworth Trust Museum.  Walk to Rydal Mount, home of William Wordsworth from 1813 to 1850.
Tea at Rydal Hall and visit to Thomas Mawsons garden. Registration Rydal Lodge Hotel, Rydal.
Registration Rydal Lodge Hotel, Rydal.

Evening

A private visit to the garden of David and Diana Kinsman. For over 20 years David, a geologist, and Diana, an ecologist have created moss and woodland gardens extending from densely planted terraces close to their home.
The visit is followed by a light lunch at the Strickland Arms before moving on to Levens Hall.

In autumn the world famous topiary garden is having its annual clipping and this visit sees the culmination of the summer season's growth in the garden. The fruit and nut trees hang heavy with their harvest. In the picturesque park we walk through a 'gentleman's paradise’ of mature trees, wild goats and black deer grazing by a fish filled river.

Evening

Dinner at Rydal Lodge Hotel
Film night: Pandaemonium – a film that depicts the poetry, love and betrayal that characterised the friendship between the two giant poets of English Romanticism, Wordsworth and Coleridge.

Introduction to Beatrix Potter and the history of conservation in the Lake District. Hill Top is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the Lakes but maintains all the charm of a farmhouse and cottage garden in true vernacular style.  Afternoon walk to Hawkshead to visit the Grammar School attended by the Wordsworth brothers before continuing to Tilberthwaite with an Andy Goldsworthy Sheepfold.

Study group: The life and influence of Beatrix Potter                                       
Visit to Hill Top, Sawrey, home of Beatrix Potter

Walk to Moss Eccles Tarn, picnic lunch
Walk continues to Hawkshead.  Non-walkers can explore the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead
The afternoon ends in Wordsworth’s Grammar School (1779 - 1787). with a short talk by the custodian, David Warren.
Free time in Hawkshead
Return to Rydal via Tilberthwaite Gill

Pub supper

A lake cruise on Derwentwater with its many islands and a walk up Lodore Falls (waterfall) to the pretty hamlet of Watendlath re-enacts the excursions of late eighteenth century gentlemen who considered the scenery sublime and commissioned watercolours by Turner as souvenirs. Cruising on the lake reveals many houses with attractive gardens all built on viewpoints.

Study group The Grand Tour in England.
Free time in Keswick, Lakeland market town
Boat to Ashness Gate and the spectacular Lodore Falls.

A relaxing day with opportunities to create a very personal souvenir of the week, go fell walking or simply shopping!

Optional Watercolour workshop

Dinner at Grasmere.

Tolstoy called Ruskin “one of those rare men who think with their hearts”. His final home, Brantwood, is the private library, museum and garden of an art critic, defender of Venice, champion of Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites and radical social philosopher. It is also a place of great beauty and can be approached from (Lake) Coniston in a steam Gondola. The garden has been recently restored and its ascent gives panoramic views across the lake to the Coniston Fells beyond.

Truth to materials, truth to nature and context and above all truth to beauty.

Many of Ruskin's architectural theories are recognised in the “Arts & Crafts” masterpiece of Blackwell designed by the international architect M.H.Baillie-Scott.

Cruise on the Steam Yacht Gondola across Coniston Water to Brantwood, home of John Ruskin (born 1819) from 1872 to his death in 1900.

Lunch in the Brantwood Jumping Jenny restaurant or picnic lunch for walkers
Walk through the Brantwood estate to Crag Head (233m).
Continue to Blackwell via the Windermere Ferry.
Blackwell is an iconic building of the Arts and Crafts Movement.