Woods Travel and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines have joined together once again to offer you a unique cruise and stay holiday. After a three-night cruise on Boudicca from Southampton to Greenock (via Dublin) we join our coach tour to the Lake District for a three-night stay at the excellent Burnside Hotel. We will follow in the footsteps of Wordsworth whilst retaining the cruising theme as we have included trips on both Ullswater and Windermere. This is a particularly beautiful time of year in the Lake District and although there will not be “a host of golden daffodils”, there will be a stunning array of rhododendrons.

ITINERARY

Day 1 During the morning you will be collected from your home and taken by taxi to meet our coach before making our way to Southampton. We will then embark Fred Olsen’s ship, Boudicca, and set sail around 5pm.

Day 2 A full day at sea, rounding Lands End and into the Irish Sea on our way to Dublin. There will be plenty of time for relaxing or enjoying many of the facilities and activities that are available on board.

Day 3 The ship docks in Dublin early morning and departs at 5pm giving a whole day for you to explore Dublin as you wish. There will be organised excursions available for those who require them (prices to be advised).

Day 4 We dock in Greenock early in the morning with disembarkation at around 9.30am where a Woods coach will be waiting. We will take a scenic journey along the coast of the Firth of Clyde down past Largs and Irvine then turn inland through Dumfries and Galloway stopping for lunch at Gretna Green Visitors Centre. We travel further south via Penrith and Kendal to our hotel in Bowness, arriving mid afternoon. The rest of the day will be free.

Day 5 We travel north to Grasmere where time will be given for those who wish to visit Dove Cottage, Wordsworth’s home, and his headstone can be viewed in the village church. Our journey continues to Keswick for lunch. In the afternoon we make our way to Pooley Bridge and cruise the length of Ullswater returning to our hotel via the Kirkstone Pass.

Day 6 We make our way round the top of Windermere to Hawkshead giving you plenty of time to explore this quaint village. It was here that Wordsworth was educated in the tiny school. The journey continues past Coniston Water and out to the west coast. We make our way to Muncaster Castle which claims to have the largest collection of rhododendrons in Europe. There will be time to visit the Castle and Gardens and lunch is available in the grounds. Mid afternoon we travel to Lakeside at the southern end of Lake Windermere. There will be a launch waiting at the quayside to return you to Bowness.

Day 7 We depart the hotel after an early breakfast and make our way south down the motorways crossing through the Cotswolds from Worcester to Oxford stopping for lunch near Evesham. We will then return you to the South Coast where our ever faithful taxis will return you to your homes.