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WalkingWomen ----------High Level
Winter/Spring
From now to the end May 2009
8-23 Dec - High Level Patagonia
Full |
| Tents, hostels & hotels-Sara B &
Maria-Argentina/Chile |
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15 nights part board + flight +
7 eve. meals: £2785 Price without UK flight:
£2050 |
A challenging high level holiday
trekking in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, walking in the
dramatic Mt Fitzroy region of Argentina; includes visit to the Moreno Glacier.
Fuller detail
Patagonia in the southernmost portion of South America
contains some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the world. It is a land of
wilderness where broad expanses of pampa meet the glacially sculpted spires of
the Andes. Unique in its flora and fauna, and the wind blows strongly here much
of the time. This high level holiday includes the spectacular 5-night 'W' trek
in Las Torres del Paine National Park taking you to the foot of the soaring
spires of Las Torres and close to Glacier Grey. We will also visit the
spectacular Moreno glacier where huge blocks fall off into Lake Argentino to
float away as ice bergs. The holiday finishes with 3 days walking in the
magnificent Mt Fitzroy region of the Andes, including walking past Laguna de
los Tres to reach close up views of Fitzroy's incredible North Face. Though not
at altitude, non-technical, with day pack only, the walking in these areas is
strenuous with plenty of 'up', and some long days in challenging terrain. The
accommodation will be in hotels in Buenos Aries, tents or refuges on trek, and
a hostel in Chalten near Fitzroy. Besides the internal flight between Buenos
Aries and El Calafete, there will be a total 19 hours of transfer by minibus
during the trip:
north on Route 40 to the Paine National Park, and south to el
Chalten. The first and last nights are spent in Buenos Aries with time to
relax, take a city tour, see the historic area of San Isidro, or shop for
souvenirs. The holiday includes the flight from London Heathrow to Buenos
Aires. (See WW website Accommodation page for the full itinerary).
Travel - Flight to Buenos Aries is included:
Indirect overnight return flight most likely with Argentinian Airlines via
Madrid, or Air France via Paris. Click buttons for
more Grade, Accommodation & Guide
details:
Price will include: Indirect
overnight flight to Buenos Airies, 13 nights part board in Argentina &
Chile, staying in a range of accommodation Ensuite twin rooms in Buenos
Airies hotel, shared dormitory accommodation in refuges & hostel, 2 person
tents on trek.
Includes: all breakfasts,
10 packed lunches, 7 evening meals; international flight incl. fuel surcharges
& taxes; transfers & transport to walks/trek; local guide Maria;
porters, & most other costs.
Atol No. 6497
Not included:
Flight from Buenos Aries to Calafate (approx £100 with Lan Chile); 4
snack lunches, 6 eve. meals in Buenos Aries, Calafate, & Chalten; Paine NP
entrance; tips; any optional extra trips. (The Lan
Chile flight to Calefate will be released soon. We will be happy to buy it for
you on the Internet.)
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456 445335
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9-13 Apr - Intermediate &
Slow High Grasmere |
| Guest house - Marian & Lorraine - Lake
District |
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| 4 nights full board:
£325 |
An Easter holiday where you can choose
between Intermediate and Slow High walks each day. Slow High walks allow you to
get higher without worrying about the pace.
Fuller detail
This Easter holiday with
Lorraine & Marian offers a choice of Intermediate and Slow High walks (Slow
High walks involve the same 'up' and distance as High Level walks but are taken
at a slower pace). Grasmere has wonderful Intermediate walks to tempt us -
ridges like wild Blea Rigg, Helm Crag, or Heron Pike with its striking views
over Grasmere and Rydal Water. Alternatively you might want the challenge of
going higher - onto Fairfield, High Raise, or Helvellyn - without worrying
about the pace. You can choose which grade you prefer, or swap between them to
stretch or take it easy according to how you feel. This holiday is based at
comfortable and friendly Glenthorne Guest House in Grasmere with ensuite twin
and standard single rooms without a supplement, excellent food, and a lovely
garden.
See photos & feedback from last
year's Int & Slow High holiday in May? Use your browser Back button
to return here. Travel - nearest train
station: Windermere, then frequent bus from the station to
Grasmere. For full Accommodation, Grade, &
Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 4 nights full board at
Glenthorne Guest House Staying in ensuite twins & standard single
rooms. Ensuite single rooms also available (Ensuite single suppl. £10 a
night). Includes: Breakfasts, packed lunches,
evening meals, + and a choice of guided walks.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456 445335
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16-19 Apr - High Level Newlands
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| B&B - Marcelle - Lake
District |
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| 3 nights full board:
£275 |
A chance to get off the beaten track
from a new and better accommodation that we've found in the Newlands Valley -
Littletown Farm.
Fuller detail
In 2009 we are moving to new accommodation in the
Newlands Valley beyond Keswick - staying at Littletown Farm which nestles close
to the route up to Hindscarth & Robinson. Staying in this beautiful valley
will allow us to get more off the beaten track - setting our sights on the
Robinson to Dale Head ridge overlooking Buttermere, the fabulous Coledale
Horseshoe which includes Grisedale Pike, or even mighty Grasmoor overlooking
Crummock Water a short drive away. Littletown Farm has its own licensed bar,
and serves good home-cooked evening meals (as well as afternoon tea after a
hard day's walk!). The farm offers comfortable twin and single rooms (mostly
ensuite or with private facilities) each with its own stunning view looking
directly onto the fells. Guided by Marcelle. Travel - nearest train station: Penrith Station, then
bus to Keswick (+ 5 mile taxi to Littletown Farm). For full Accommodation, Grade, & Guide information
- click the buttons below or use left hand menu links.
Price includes: 3 nights full board at
Littletown Farm B&B Staying in twin rooms with ensuite or private
facilities. Single rooms also available (Ensuite singles rooms £10 a
night supplement). Includes: breakfasts,
packed lunches, evening meals, any transport to walks, + guided walks.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456
445335
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15-17 May - Int & Slow High
Grasmere w/e |
| Guest house - Diana & Anne - Lake
District |
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| 2 nights full board:
£165 |
A Lake District weekend break offering
a choice of Intermediate & Slow High walks each day - you choose which
grade you prefer!
Fuller detail
Here's a weekend break with a
choice of Intermediate and Slow High walks each day so that you can stretch or
take it easy without worrying about the pace. For Intermediate walks we have
many Grasmere fells to choose from - wild Blea Rigg, the Helm Crag ridge, or
Heron Pike with its fabulous views over Grasmere and Rydal Water. For Slow High
walks we'll surely reach the summit of Fairfield with striking views towards
Helvellyn and the Patterdale fells. On the Sunday we could walk to High Raise,
or tackle the fabulous Langdale Pikes from nearby Great Langdale. This weekend
is based at popular Glenthorne Guest House in Grasmere where the food is
excellent, and there's a lovely garden to enjoy after walking.
See photos & feedback from a
previous Int & Slow High Grasmere holiday? Use your browser Back
button to return here. Travel - nearest train
station: Windermere, then freqent bus from the station to
Grasmere. For full Accommodation, Grade, &
Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 2 nights full board at
Glenthorne Guest House Staying in ensuite twins or standard singles.
Ensuite single rooms are also available (Ensuite single suppl. £10 a
night). Includes: Breakfasts, packed lunches,
evening meals, + a choice of guided walks.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456 445335
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16-22 May - High Level
Rum |
| Castle hostel & bothy - Fran -
Scotland |
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| 6 nights full board:
£490 |
This high level holiday with Fran is
to the beautiful and mysterious isle of Rum off the west coast of Scotland....
a total Scottish walking experience!
Fuller detail
Rum is a diamond shaped jewel
of a place - an island of the Inner Hebrides of spectacular wildness and
beauty. Its glaciated 'cullins' (high rocks) Askival, Hellival, Trollaval, and
Orval, started life near the equator, and are the shattered remnants of a once
huge volcano. Apart from its incredible scenery, Rum has been a nature reserve
for over 40 years. We may be lucky and see otters fishing along the shores of
Loch Scresort, or red deer and wild goats in the heather as we walk. Golden
eagles often soar above the Cullins, while Shearwaters nest on their slopes and
skim the sea in significant numbers. There are many fabulous high walks to
choose from here, often off-path through the heather - along high cliffs
overlooking the sea, onto peaks with stunning views, or looking north to the
Skye Cullins from beautiful Kilmory Sands. To access the best parts of this
island, we will stay for 2 nights in a bothy,
walking there low level with 3 days' food and gear,
living in very simple bothy conditions with water from a nearby stream and
sleeping mats on the floor - a real Scottish walking experience! The rest of
the time our base will be the hostel in extraordinary Kinloch Castle near Loch
Scresort. Trains run from Glasgow to Malaig, and from Malaig you catch the
regular Rum ferry which is a magical journey in itself.
See photos & feedback from a previous year's holiday?
Use your browser Back button to return here. Travel: Car or Glasgow train to Mallaig, then ferry to
Rum (Ferry: £8 each way). If you fly to Glasgow you may have to stay an
extra night in Mallaig or Glasgow. For full
Accommodation, Grade, & Guide information - click the buttons below
or use left hand menu links.
Price includes: 6 nights full board in
Kinloch Castle hostel & bothy Staying in small hostel dormitories or
basic bothy shared with other members of the group.
Includes: breakfasts, packed lunches,
evening meals, bothy + guided walks. (Bring sleeping bag, sleeping mat,
lightweight camping knife, fork, spoon, large bowl or plate & cup).
Not included: Ferry to Rum (£8
approx each way)
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456
445335
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23-27 May - Slow High & High
Level Snowdonia |
| Centre - Anita & Jane -
Wales |
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| 4 nights full board:
£310 |
A double group holiday in the
beautiful Nantlle valley of Snowdonia allowing you to stretch as much as you
want with 2 walks to choose from each day at Slow High and High Level.
Fuller detail
This holiday with Anita & Jane offers
an exciting choice of Slow High and High Level mountain walks off the beaten
track in the Snowdonia National Park. Slow High walks have the ascent and
length of High Level walks, but are taken at a more intermediate pace. You can
choose which grade suits you best - and change walks if need be. For this
holiday we will be based in the lovely Nantlle Valley at friendly Trigonos
Centre - perfect for WW groups with attractive twin rooms and plenty of
singles. The glorious Nantlle ridge - one of the best ridge walks in Wales -
will be right on our doorstep. Moel Hebog near Beddgelert is another likely
cho ice - steep but rewarding with breathtaking views of Snowdon. We can
also tackle the lesser used Snowdon Ranger path up the back of Snowdon,
returning over Moel Cynghorion with Llyn Cwellyn lying below. This would leave
nearby Mynydd Mawr as an obvious choice for the last day. Trigonos Centre is
set in its own grounds near Nantlle lake, and is accessible by 4pm bus from
Bangor station.
See
photos from last year's high level holiday? (single group) Use your
browser Back button to return here. Travel -
nearest train station: Bangor Station, then taxi or local bus to
Nanttle at 4pm. For full Accommodation, Grade,
& Guide information - click the buttons below or use left hand menu
links.
Price includes: 4 nights full board at
Trigonos Centre Staying in ensuite twin rooms. Plenty of singles
available (Ensuite single suppl. £10 a night. Ensuite twin as a single
suppl. £15 a night). Includes:
breakfasts, packed lunches, evening meals, transport to walks, + a choice of
guided walks each day.
You can book online - or phone us on: 08456
445335
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High Level grades explained...
There are now 3 high
level grades: Slow High, High Level, and Alpine High. You
can see the differences between them below:
Slow High - 8-12
miles, average 900m up & down
We introduced the Slow High grade last year
after talking to women who come on the holidays, and it has proved a huge
success! Many women love high level walks - and may always have loved them -
but now find they want to take them at a slower pace. For other women, 'high
level' is the next step up, but it's still an unknown quantity and they worry
about slowing others down. If these concerns have stopped you from choosing our
High Level grade - even though you feel, or know, you have the stamina to cope
with long 'ups' and 'downs' and long walking days, then this new grade is for
you! Slow High walks will be similar to High Level walks in all other respects
- see below - but will be taken at a slower pace with more stops along the way.
The walking day may be a little longer than usual, and as a result we arrange
them in Spring and Summer. (Intermediate walks are also offered at the same
time so that you can vary your walks or swap to Intermediate if you find you
prefer it).
High level - 8-12
miles, average 900m up & down
High Level walks are 'mountain' walks, offering the
most exciting and dramatic views - wild crags where buzzards and ravens fly,
expansive views, deserted high level lakes, and wonderful long ridges with
views to the valleys below. The walks will be from 8-12 miles in length, and
have an ascent and descent of up to 1000m (3300ft). The secret of getting up
there is to take the 'ups' at a steady pace without so many stops that you keep
losing your second wind. The gradients will vary over the day, but will
generally include longer steep sections
than the intermediate grades,
with 1.5-2 hours of ascent overall. In general, the higher you go, the rockier
the paths get, and in places you may use your hands; some high level walks can
be unnerving for vertigo sufferers.
If you have
reasonable balance for walking on rocky uneven ground and know you have the
leg, heart, and lung fitness to cope with sustained exertion - either from
recent hill walking or in some other sport - these wonderful walks could be for
you! (See alsoIntermediate, High
Intermediate, & Slow High above).
High Alpine -
8-14 miles, 850-1400m up & down
The high level
holidays that are graded 'High Alpine' have some of the most stunning walks we
offer - soaring views of snow-clad peaks, glaciers, ice-covered mountain lakes,
and alpine flowers all around. However, on certain days, there will be more
length or ascent than normal High Level walks - up to 14 miles a day and 1400m
(4600ft) ascent/descent. On some holidays you may experience some altitude
effects - e.g. headaches or shortness of breath.
As a result, these wonderful
mountains may require you to pace yourself, e.g. by swapping to an intermediate
walk in Gran Paradiso and Bulgaria. On the Langtang Trek in Nepal we build in
acclimatising days to diminish the effects of altitude, and you may need to
take it easy then.
If you're a hill
walker with good knees and stamina, who wants more of a challenge and
incredible views, these wonderful walks could be for you! If you are not
already a hill walker, Gran Paradiso or Bulgaria offer a choice of grades each
day and are the safest High Alpine holidays to try first.
ATOL Protection
The flight-included holidays
shown on this web page are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority since
we hold an Air Travel Organisers Licence granted by the Civil Aviation
Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 6497. ATOL Protection extends primarily to
customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom. click on the ATOL logo if you
want to know more.
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