The first weekend offers you an introduction to Grasmere. It includes a reception at our residential centre on Saturday evening, a candlelight visit to Dove Cottage, a reception at the Wordsworth Museum and a visit to Rydal Mount, Wordsworth s home for the last thirty-seven years of his life. On Sunday morning Wordsworth Matins is celebrated at St. Oswald's Church, where the annual Wordsworth in Grasmere Church poetry reading is held that evening.
Afternoons are devoted to climbs, walks, and visits to places of local interest.
A preparatory mountain safety session is held at the beginning of the Conference. We will send you a copy of the Conference Guidelines for Walkers in advance. For your own safety, you will need to adhere to these guidelines throughout the Conference. Since the Conference's earliest days the popular, but optional, pre-breakfast walk around Grasmere Lake has marked the beginning of each day. On Saturday evening you are invited to the Wordsworth Trust's annual charity auction of books, pictures and manuscripts.