Tucked away on the remote shores of Buttermere with expansive views of the lake and the craggy fells beyond, Ramblers Walking Holidays  (01707 331 133; ramblersholidays.co.uk) beautifully located Hassness Country House in the Lake District will reopen on 21 April 2018, following a significant refurbishment of its facilities.

As part of its new look, all 11 bedrooms, with their picture postcard outlook, have been refreshed with the addition of en-suite facilities to most of the rooms. In addition, with an emphasis on maintaining its warm and welcoming country house feel, the lounge and the dining room areas have also been comfortably upgraded to offer plenty of space to relax, drink in the famous peaks or curl up with a book in front of the fire, after an exhilarating day exploring the many, easily accessible trails. 

Providing a complete Lake District experience, Hassness Country House will continue to build on its culinary reputation, serving delicious home-cooked meals sourced from the very best of local ingredients, showcasing regional specialties, such as slow cooked Herdwick lamb, Cumberland sausage and Damson fruit tart as well as plenty of vegetarian options. Guests can also indulge in a hearty cooked breakfast with scrumptious homemade preserves, a substantial packed lunch on the hills and the promise of freshly baked cakes with coffee or tea on one's return. And despite the remote location, the nearest village, only two miles away, also makes an ideal stop on the way back from a walk for a pint of local ale in one of the two pubs, a traditional cream tea or a homemade ice-cream made from the milk straight from the cows on nearby farms.

With a plethora of walking trails and activities to suit all tastes and abilities, including three walks in the top ten of ITV's recently broadcast 'Britain's Favourite Walks: Top 100'*, Ramblers Walking Holidays offer a wide selection of holidays to enjoy the region's UNESCO World Heritage countryside. Choose from leisurely (grade 3) to challenging (grade 8) holidays, from gentle strolls on the fells to more strenuous days on the summits, and a wide selection of combined walking and special interest breaks. In addition, most of the walks also offer two leaders and the option of two different levels of walks each day, making an ideal way for walkers to improve their walking or for walkers of differing abilities to holiday together.

For people wanting to holiday privately in a group, there is also the option to book the whole house for exclusive use and organise tailormade walking programmes for groups of 16 people or more. For smaller groups, they can also offer exclusive use of Hassness Country House for a set price for 7 nights. 

Therefore, get fit for the summer and throughout the year in the comfort of Hassness Country House and one of its newly refurbished rooms with en-suite facilities on one of the following:

Lakeland Explorer  (Leisurely, Grade 3) 

For those who prefer walking and sightseeing at a leisurely pace the 7-night Lakeland Explorer is a gentle introduction to the region with an easy stroll around the shores of Buttermere – voted Britain's 7th favourite walk, before exploring the best of the Lake District. On half day walks into the fells and on cultural outings to areas frequented by Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, there's the opportunity to take a ferry across Windermere, ride the Eskdale and Ravenglass Railway (aka the La'al Ratty) and see picturesque Borrowdale - all perfectly punctuated by traditional creams teas or a stop for a Cumbrian pint. 

Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331 133; www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) 7-nights costs from £659/person including accommodation, all meals except one dinner, transport, entrance fees and one cream tea. Departures: 29 September & 27 October 2018.    

Navigation & Hill Skills  (Moderate, Grade 4 or Grade 6)

In these days of high tech gadgetry, we are all too reliant on apps, phone and satellite signals to find our way. But when modern technology fails it could be a life-saving skill to be able to navigate your way home. Using Hassness Country House on the shore of Buttermere as the base, Ramblers Walking Holidays offers the skills required to interpret maps and brush up on the intricacies of a compass whilst navigating through superb Cumbrian Lakeland countryside. With the added benefit of picking up your National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) Bronze or Silver certificate, choose from a three or four-night Navigation & Hill Skills course, including full board accommodation, tuition with maps, equipment and optional assessment for NNAS.

Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331 133;  www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) 3 or 4-night break starts from £225/person including accommodation, most meals, tuition with maps, equipment and optional assessment for NNAS. Departures: 21 April, 24 April, 16 May, 3 November & 6 November 2018. 

Mindfulness in the Mountains (Moderate, Grade 4)

Away from everyday distractions and the stresses of life, escape to Hassness Country House in one of the more remote parts of the Lake District to replenish diminished energy give yourself time to contemplate life and develop some tried and tested coping strategies. With both calming Buttermere and enthralling mountain views from the house, Mindfulness in the Mountains provides the opportunity to live in the moment through a programme of walking and reflection in inspiring and restorative countryside. Following trails around Crummock Water and Rannerdale Knots, some walking will be silence with targeted activities to help connect with both the scenic surroundings and yourself.  With resources to help familiarise yourself with techniques and theoretical concepts, there will also be gentle yoga and short meditations sessions. 

Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331 133; www.ramblersholidays.co.uk)  3 or 4-night breaks cost from £229/person and includes accommodation, most meals, local transport, meditation and yoga sessions.  Departures: 6 & 10 October 2018. 

Women's Activity Week (Moderate, Grade 5)

Staying in the comfort of Hassness Country House the Women's Activity Week is the perfect antidote to modern city living.  Relaxing in the company of other like-minded women, it's the chance to try something new, such as the skills required for Nordic Walking whilst on a daily selection of walks including the shores of Crummock Water and wooded trails in Whinlatter Forest. Try a half day kayaking on Derwentwater or an optional bracing morning dip in the waters of Buttermere. Interspersed throughout the week are yoga and Pilates sessions to restore and unwind, early morning circuit training and aerobics, all rewarded with home cooked meals and cakes.

Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331 133; www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) 
Women's Activity Week 7-night break cost from £585/person including accommodation, all meals except one dinner, activities and transport for activities.  Departures: 7 July, 11 August & 15 September 2018.  

Great Lakeland Ridge Walks (Challenging, Grade 8)

For experienced hikers, bag Helvellyn and Scafell Pike on a challenging high-grade week of hill walking along the Lake District's panoramic mountain ridges, enjoying a mix of 700 – 1000m ascents, some rock scrambling and 8 – 12 miles of trails each day on Britain's number one and fifth favourite walks.  Take the challenge of one of the toughest and most exhilarating week's walking in the UK on Ramblers Walking Holiday's Great Lakeland Ridge Walks. With Wainwright's favourite, Haystacks, as your backdrop at Hassness Country House, hike the likes of High Stile Ridge, Helvellyn and Striding Edge, Scafell Pike, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags, Skiddaw, Haystacks, Brandreth and Fleetwith Pike in the company of highly experienced and qualified guides. 

Ramblers Walking Holidays (01707 331 133; www.ramblersholidays.co.uk) Great Lakeland Ridge Walks 7-night holiday costs from £599/person including accommodation, all meals except one dinner, highest qualified leader and all necessary transport. Departures: 26 May 2018, 28 July 2018.  

For more information on Ramblers Walking Holidays, click here.

- Ends -

To download images, click here.

For further media information and images contact:  Anthea Yabsley or Judith Watson on pr@rwhtravel.com or Salvatore (Tony) Maniscalco on salvatore.maniscalco@rwhtravel.com  

Or call: 

Anthea Yabsley: 020 8578 6777 

Judith Watson: 020 7372 7732 

Tony Maniscalco: 01707 386755 

Notes to Editors: 

* For more information on Britain's Favourite Walks: Top 100 click here.

Company Background:

Ramblers Walking Holidays is the core brand for RWH Travel, the experts in guided walking adventures. Having celebrated its 70th Anniversary of holiday operating in 2017, other brands within the group include Adagio holidays – leisurely walking and cultural holidays at a gentle pace and Ramblers Cruise & Walk Holidays, small ship cruises with a dedicated shore walking excursion programme - in association with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. In total, the company operates over 200 holidays across over 60 countries.

Walking Grades:

Each of the Ramblers Walking Holidays has been graded to help clients choose their preferred pace, with categories ranging from Grade 1-3/Leisurely (usually two hours walking); to Grade 4-6/Moderate (a combination of full and half day walks); and Grade 7-9/Challenging (full day walks where stamina is key).

On some holidays, there is the chance to experience more than one walking grade with two leaders. Perfect for couples and friends who prefer to walk at a different pace or have different walking abilities.

Adagio holidays are largely ungraded.

Special Interest

To help clients choose the type of walking holiday that will appeal to their interest, Ramblers Walking Holidays also uses symbols that depict the main interest, style or theme of the walks. Categories include: Pioneer; Continuous Walks; Flora & Walking Holidays; Bird Watching & Walking; Lifestyle, Culture & Natural History; Hutting; Rail & Walk; Sightseeing.

Company Mission

The company's mission is to generate funds for walking charities by the provision of outstanding outdoor activity holidays worldwide.

With its not-for-profit philosophy and social enterprise philosophy, the company contributes monies to the Ramblers Walking Holidays Charitable Trust which supports walking related and environmental projects in the UK. The company also funds Heart & Sole - an initiative managed by company staff, with the aim of reaching into the heart of the communities visited both in the UK and overseas.

RWH Travel also runs The Walking Partnership - an initiative which champions walking at the 'grass roots' level by providing funding and support to walking groups and clubs throughout the UK.

Ramblers Walking Holidays is the Walking Holiday Partner of the Ramblers, Britain's walking charity which has been pioneering and championing walking and 'rights of way' for over 70 years across England, Scotland and Wales.

Customers travelling on all holidays operated by RWH Travel are fully protected via the company's membership of ABTA & ATOL. RWH Travel is also a member of AITO.