This full-day adventure departs from Chester and heads straight towards the luscious countryside. Admire the views as you travel to the UK’s largest national park, the Lake District, stopping at the underground Rheged Discovery Center along the way. During the partially narrated 2-hour journey to the Lake District, the tour also stops by the famous Castlerigg Neolithic Stone Circle where you can feel ancient, mythical energy flowing around you. Afterwards, continue onto Grasmere Village which boasts an array of beautiful 19th-century architecture, as well as the grave of well-known poet William Wordsworth. Afterwards, let your nose lead the way to Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop, where you can taste a selection of traditional sweet treats from the region. After you’ve filled up on gingerbread, it’s time to explore the national park and navigate through the Langdales, also known as “Little Switzerland.” As you wander around the park, marvel at the breathtaking views that sprawl across the landscape, which offer some of the most dramatic and diverse scenery in the UK. Throughout the tour, there are plenty of stops to make the most of your trip to the Lake District. One of the highlights of the day includes an amble around Blea Tarn before a stop at Ambleside where you can get lost in the maze of twisting streets or shop at a selection of picturesque stores.

Drive along the seaside and enjoy views of craggy peaks on this day trip from Manchester to North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park. Along the way, admire the sparkling waters of Llyn Ogwen lake and the impressive fortifications of Conwy Castle. Hop aboard a climate-controlled minibus at the centrally-located meeting point in Manchester and relax on the drive to the Snowdonia National Park where incredible views await passengers. Travel towards the grassy Great Orme headland and the charming coastal town of Llandudno. Leaving Llandudno, catch your first glimpse of the world famous Conwy Castle as the tour heads towards the honeypot village of Betws-y-Coed via Ros on Sea. Have time here to find a cozy spot to purchase some lunch and to explore. Continue to the majestic Snowdonia National Park on a stunning mountain road with a stop at Llyn Ogwen, a beautiful lake with amazing mountain views that is rumored to be the final resting place of King Arthur's sword Excalibur. Finally, stop at Castle where there will be an opportunity to take in views and photograph the famous Conwy Castle. After leaving Conway the tour returns back to Manchester.

Fun for those who are familiar with the Swallows & Amazons stories. Arthur Ransome used many places around Coniston Water to populate the imaginary lake of his books. Enjoy our 90 minute cruise as we discover these places including Wild Cat Island. Of course there is no lake exactly similar to the one that Ransome used for his children’s adventures, but he did use real locations for the places that he worked into his stories. On Coniston Water we will see Beckfoot, Holly Howe, Kanchenjunga, Wild Cat Island, the Amazons’ boathouse, and a host of other spots that Ransome used to create his fascinating world. Coniston Water was used as one of the filming locations for both the 1974 and 2016 films Swallows and Amazons. As soon as you board our launch, you step into the world of the Swallows and the Amazons. During the cruise we discover the various locations that Ransome used around Coniston Water in his ever-popular Swallows & Amazons series of books.