Jill Durnford
Profile updated 15/03/23
Regional Qualification(s):
Cumbria
Language(s):
English
Website:
Contact guide
Introduction:
Hello - and welcome! Originally from London, I lived in the Lake District for 20 years and would love to show you around my favourite places. From a walking tour in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth to a minibus tour of private homes and gardens - the possibilities are endless!
If you are interested in the Romans, we also have the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria - a fantastic day out for anyone who wants to find out about the 400 years in which they ruled Britain.
I love exploring the English countryside and am a walks leader for HF Holidays in my spare time. This takes me to places such as the Cotswolds, Exmoor, Dorset, the South Downs, Cornwall and the Yorkshire Dales. I am also a volunteer garden guide for the National Trust - enabling me to enjoy my passion for gardens whilst giving something back.
My other hobbies include visiting stone circles and prehistoric monuments such as Stonehenge and Avebury and I love visiting churches and cathedrals as well. I am happy to travel some distance just to see stained glass windows from my favourite historical period - the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th Century.
I am a qualified guide for Windsor Castle and the neighbouring town of Eton.
2023: I am currently training to become a Blue Badge Guide for the whole of Wales and hope to be qualified in May 2023. I look forward to seeing you soon in Wales!
I guide on coaches and minibuses and lead walking tours which can make use of public transport. I love planning itineraries to make the most of your particular interests so if you know you want to visit but aren't sure what to include in your trip, get in touch - I'll be happy to help.
I can guarantee you exceptional service and customer care, coupled with a fun and interesting tour.
Please email me: jilldurnford@yahoo.com or call 0755 764 5078
Personal Interests:
| Arts and Crafts Movement |
| Hadrian's Wall and the Romans |
| Homes and Gardens |
| Literature |
| Countryside Walks |
| Windsor Castle |
Special Interests:
| Countryside | |
| Gardens | Holker Hall, Brantwood, Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall, Muncaster Castle |
| History & Prehistory | |
| Literature | Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth |
| Regional Tours | The Lake District, Cumbria, Hadrian’s Wall, Windsor. |
| Stately Homes & Country Houses | Dove Cottage, Wordsworth House, Rydal Mount, Blackwell: the Arts and Crafts House. |
| Walking Tours | Lake District, Hadrian’s Wall, Cotswolds. There are so many easy rambles in the Lake District: gentle strolls along the shores of Windermere or Coniston Water; amazing views from the Coffin Route around Grasmere and Rydal Water; ancient woodland in Borrowdale and alongside Derwent Water. |
| Architecture | I love the vernacular architecture of the Lake District and the Cotswolds. Both very different but suited to the local stone and environment. |
| Decorative Arts/Arts & Crafts | Arts and Crafts Movement and Pre-Raphaelites. There are many churches in Cumbria with windows by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. There are also local craftsman whose work is equally special. |
| Agriculture | Farming is a huge part of what makes Cumbria special. The native sheep: Herdwick, Swaledale and Kendal Rough Fell not only impact the environment but the visitor experience. |
| Environment | I have the Eco-Tourism Qualification for Cumbria which involved looking at how tourism impacts the countryside and the lakes such as Windermere, Coniston Water, Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake. |
Endorsements:
Windsor & Eton, Virtual Tours
Driver Guide:
No
