Jill Durnford
Profile updated 20/02/19
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 now live near the World Heritage Site of Bath where the Roman Baths are a "must-see" for anyone interested in this part of our history.
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 such as Bath Abbey and the cathedrals of Wells and Salisbury. 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 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 |
| Stonehenge and Avebury |
| Homes and Gardens |
| Literature |
| Georgian Bath |
| Countryside Walks |
Special Interests:
| Castles & Palaces | Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, Carlisle Castle. |
| Churches & Cathedrals | Bath Abbey, Wells Cathedral, Cartmel Priory. |
| Countryside | Lake District, Cotswolds, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset. |
| Gardens | Hidcote, Holker Hall, Kiftsgate. |
| History & Prehistory | Stonehenge, Avebury and Castlerigg stone circles. |
| Literature | Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth, Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen |
| Regional Tours | The Lake District, Cumbria, Cotswolds, Bath, Bristol, Oxford, Windsor. |
| Royalty | Windsor Castle. |
| Stately Homes & Country Houses | Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth, Dyrham Park, 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 | Georgian Bath is something special but I equally 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. |
Driver Guide:
No