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Activity Windermere, England

Lake District Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: Grasmere & Keswick

4.3 (26 reviews) 2 h 30 min – 3 hours Free cancellation Private tour
Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Lake District Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: Grasmere & Keswick

About this activity

This self-guided driving tour costs less than one seat on a tour bus, because you pay per car, not per person.

Starting in Ambleside, it takes you through the heart of the Lake District to Grasmere, Keswick and the shores of Ullswater, with stories that play automatically as you drive. Pass Rydal Water and Rydal Mount, Wordsworth's home for 37 years, then stop in Grasmere, the village he called 'the loveliest spot that man hath ever found'. Climb Dunmail Raise, where legend says the last king of Cumbria lies buried, and hear how a valley was flooded to create Thirlmere.

Walk among the 5,000-year-old stones of Castlerigg, then wind along Ullswater before the final climb over Kirkstone Pass.

Download before you set off and it works offline in the fells. Buy once and keep it for life.

Stop when you want - the GPS will guide you.

Highlights:

  • Wordsworth's Grasmere and Rydal Mount
  • Castlerigg Stone Circle
  • Thirlmere and the legend of King Dunmail
  • Ullswater and the Kirkstone Pass
Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Car Tours Low Supplier Cancellation Rate

At a glance

Duration
2 h 30 min – 3 hours
Confirmation
Instant confirmation
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group
Your group only
People per booking
1–15
Audio guide
English
Operated by
VoiceMap Audio Tours

What is included

Included

  • Included: VoiceMap app for Android and iOS
  • Included: Start, pause and stop whenever you like; take a break in Grasmere and pick up where you left off
  • Included: One purchase covers everyone in your car, not each person
  • Included: Lifetime access to this self-guided tour in English
  • Included: Help by email if you get stuck setting up
  • Included: GPS-triggered audio that plays automatically as you reach each location
  • Included: Works offline once downloaded: no Wi-Fi or mobile data needed on the road

Not included

  • Not included: Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
  • Not included: Smarphone and headphones
  • Not included: Food and drinks
  • Not included: Car, fuel and parking charges

Itinerary

  1. Ambleside

    Passing by

    Start at Rydal Road Car Park. As you leave Ambleside, the story begins with how this small market town became the gateway to the Lakes.

  2. Stop 2

    Passing by

    Wordsworth's home for 37 years. You'll hear why he moved here and what he wrote while he lived here.

  3. Rydal Water

    Passing by

    The road follows the shore of one of the smallest lakes in the National Park.

  4. Grasmere

    10 min

    Park and stretch your legs in the village Wordsworth called 'the loveliest spot that man hath ever found'. Dove Cottage (Wordsworth Grasmere) is a short walk away; entry not included.

  5. Stop 5

    Passing by

    Cross the pass and hear the legend of King Dunmail, the last king of Cumbria, said to be buried under the cairn.

  6. Stop 6

    10 min Admission not included

    One of the few buildings left after the valley was flooded to make the Thirlmere reservoir that supplies Manchester.

  7. Castlerigg Stone Circle

    10 min Admission not included

    Walk among 38 stones set up by Neolithic farmers around 5,000 years ago, with a 360° view of the fells. One of the most dramatically placed stone circles in Britain.

  8. Glenridding

    10 min

    Stop on the shore of Ullswater, the lake many people think is the most beautiful in England.

  9. Stop 9

    Passing by

    Hear how this small lake got its name as you drive up the valley.

  10. Kirkstone Pass

    10 min Admission not included

    Pull in at the top of the highest road pass in the Lake District, then drop back down to Ambleside.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

  • Set this up before you arrive, using Wi-Fi. After booking, look in your email for your VoiceMap code. Install the free VoiceMap app, enter the code and tap Download so the tour works offline. Start at Rydal Road Car Park in Ambleside and press Start when you are ready to go!

End point

  • Set this up before you arrive, using Wi-Fi. After booking, look in your email for your VoiceMap code. Install the free VoiceMap app, enter the code and tap Download so the tour works offline. Start at Rydal Road Car Park in Ambleside and press Start when you are ready to go!

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

───

Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

───

Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

Create an account

Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

───

You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.

This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.

When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.

SUPPORT

───

For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]

ADDITIONAL INFO

  • Download before you drive: Install the VoiceMap app and download the tour on Wi-Fi before you set off. If the tour isn't downloaded, the audio won't play automatically and you'll have to skip ahead by hand.
  • Hands-free: Once downloaded, GPS plays each story automatically as you reach it. Keep the app open, and keep location access set to 'Always' or 'While using'.
  • Listen through your car: Connect your phone to the car stereo with Bluetooth or a cable.
  • Parking: Car parks in Grasmere, Keswick and Glenridding fill up by mid-morning in summer. Start before 10 AM, or skip a stop and drive on; the audio plays from the road either way.
  • Narrow roads: Kirkstone Pass is steep and narrow. Avoid it in snow or ice, and drive carefully in poor visibility.
  • Supported phones: iPhone or Android smartphone with GPS.
  • More Lake District tours: VoiceMap also has self-guided tours of Windermere, Ambleside, etc.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel You get back
At least one day before 100%
Less than a day before 0%

Good to know

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Traveller ratings

4.3 out of 5 · 26 reviews
5
73%
4
12%
3
0%
2
4%
1
12%

Activities, prices and reviews are from Viator. Booking and payment happen on Viator; Vacantier may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Lake District Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: Grasmere & Keswick

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