Begin in Edinburgh and journey to the green hills of the Scottish Borders • Enjoy a countryside walk to the 19th-century Waterloo Monument, built to honor the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon and offering wide-reaching views of the Scottish Borders • Settle into your castle hotel, perhaps relaxing with a spa treatment or a dip in the hot or cold pool.

Walk along Hadrian’s Wall with a local historian and explore the ancient Roman ruins of Housesteads Fort • Visit a Northumbrian farm for a sheepdog demonstration and insight into traditional shepherding • Walk winding lanes framed by hedgerows and old oaks to Edmundbyres and Muggleswick, passing stone walls and fields dotted with sheep • Step through the monastic past of the medieval village Blanchland on a guided walk and hear tales of Jacobite rebels who once hid in secret priest holes and passageways • Refresh yourself with cozy meals and warm Northumbrian hospitality in a centuries-old inn.

Journey west into the Lake District, England’s beloved mountain and lake country • Be immersed in classic Lakes District scenery as you hike through the lesser-traveled Potter Fell, place of wide-open views, quiet footpaths and hidden tarns tucked among heather and stone • Follow in the footsteps of William Wordsworth along lakeside paths as you hike from his hometown Grasmere to Ambleside, two iconic villages of the Lakes District • Pause at Rydal Cave, a wide slate cavern once mined in the 1800s, and take in its still, reflective waters • Browse for keepsakes in Ambleside’s quaint shops, where you might find hand-thrown pottery or woollens made from the local Herdwick sheep • Venture into Bowness-on-Windermere, a lively lakeside town where cozy pubs, elegant restaurants and lake views make for a perfect evening wander • Cross Lake Windermere by private boat to Wray Castle, a striking 19th-century neo-Gothic estate, once a holiday retreat for Beatrix Potter and now a fascinating site to explore.