Already put in an inquiry at ToursByLocals.com, but beyond that, we're looking for direction to find a guide to accompany us (group of 4 adults) on a walk through the countryside in Ambleside, UK. We'll also put in an inquiry at our hotel. If you have any resources, or you had a guide you's hire again, any advice is welcome. Thank you.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1344 posts
Hi -
I found a list of organised guides at this website:
https://www.visitcumbria.com/activities/walking/
However, you’ll notice that they chiefly feature guides for the surrounding hills, so might be a bit more ambitious than you had planned. They will make sure that you are sensibly equipped for the hills, i.e. have suitable boots and waterproofs before they take you out (or they should do).
I have never used a guide in the Lakes (or anywhere in the U.K. to be honest). The good news is that you might not have to either. There is pretty good signage and the doyen of fell climbing in the Lakes, Alfred Wainwright, has mapped virtually everywhere there is to walk in the area, with detailed instructions. Plus the Ordnance Survey maps if you know how to read them, are incredibly detailed and comprehensive. You just need the relevant Wainwright guide and OS map for your area. There will also be a plethora of written local step-by-step guides and even your accommodation should be able to give you helpful hints and tips about where to walk locally.
The right to walk through the countryside is one of the U.K.’s national treasures and was hard fought for so that everybody can take advantage of our open spaces. Just make sure you are equipped against the vagaries of the English weather and that you follow the Country Code. There’s virtually nothing out there that wants to eat you, such as wolves or bears, one kind of (mildly) venomous snake (of which I’ve seen precisely one in over fifty years of walking) and the biggest danger you face is from the very small (ticks) and even this is pretty low risk. If you think you are lost, ask people you see around and about - just about everybody will be happy to help you out. Be brave!
Ian
Posted by
OP
2 posts
HI Ian,
We appreciate your prompt response!
We'll check out https://www.visitcumbria.com/activities/walking/ to see if they have anyone interested in leading us ... imparting knowledge, culture, and context for our first walk, so that we'll more appreciate subsequent walks on our own.
Thanks also for leading us to the Countryside Code we found at https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/countryside-code.
For anyone else who may be interested, our first B&B directed us to two local guides, and a guide we contacted via https://www.toursbylocals.com responded right away.
In summary, from your advice above, the response from our hotel, as well as from ToursByLocals, I'm confident we'll find an excellent guide.
Thank you Ian!
Posted by
Yorkshire
1344 posts
Very glad to have been of any assistance. I’m sure that once you’ve been out with a guide you’ll soon have the confidence to ‘go solo’.
Have a great trip!
Ian