START/FINISH

N

1

2

3

4

5

6

WallowbarrowCrag

WallowbarrowCrag

dam

One km

One Mile

SeathwaiteNewfieldnn

Grassguards

Long Crag

Harter Fell

HighWallowbarrow

LowWallowbarrow

BirksBrandyCrag

RowantreeHow

LowStonythwaite

Troutal

Pike HowClose

Hinning House

SeathwaiteTarn

Walna Scar Road

LongHouse

Turner HallFarm

HighTongue

GreatWood

SwinstyHow

FickleCrag

LeadPike

BrockHow

Rive

r Dud

don

footbridge

One Km

One Mile

SeathwaiteNewfield Inn

Grassguards

Long Crag

Harter Fell

HighWallowbarrow

LowWallowbarrow

BirksBrandyCrag

RowantreeHow

LowStonythwaite

Troutal

Pike HowClose

Hinning House

SeathwaiteTarn

Walna Scar Road

LongHouse

Turner HallFarm

HighTongue

GreatWood

SwinstyHow

FickleCrag

LeadPike

BrockHow

Rive

r Dud

don

footbridge

S E A T H W A I T EF E L L S

S E A T H W A I T EF E L L S

Before setting off on any of these walks please make sure you have plotted the route using the appropriate map and compass.

spring in the duddon valleySheep have quite literally shaped this landscape; centuries of hill farming has led to the development of an intricate network of fields and pasture, bound by dry-stone walls. On the high fells sheep have groomed the slopes into smooth open expanses. Look out for local Herdwicks; these hardy beasts can endure rough conditions, even on the highest summits. As well as the Herdwicks, keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels in the coniferous woodland.

Start/Finish: Car park, near Hinning House (GR SD 234 995)

Distance: 13.8km (8.6 miles)

Time: 5 - 6 hours

Height gain: 590m

Maps: OS Landranger 96, OS Explorer OL 6, Harveys’ Superwalker Lakeland West and Southwest (1:25 000), British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000)

1. Leave the car park turning right; follow the valley road for about 200m to cross a bridge on the right. Turn left onto a permissive path through the trees, which climbs slightly, then descends to the River Duddon. Follow the riverside path for 1.3km to a junction.

2. Turn right and follow the bridleway as it climbs besides Grassguards Gill to join a track at Grassguards. Turn left and follow the track past the farm at Grassguards. The track continues across open fell side to the low col near an old farmhouse at Low Stonythwaite. Head south across the col and descend the steep zig-zag bridleway to the farm at High Wallowbarrow.

3. Ignore the bridleway through farmyard, turn left to follow the path through pasture, then trees to cross the arched footbridge. Follow the path through trees to another footbridge over Tarn Beck. Turn left and follow the valley road to the Newfield Inn.

4. Continue on the valley road, past the church, to turn right at the Walna Scar Road. Follow it to the end of the tarmac (gate/small car park).

5. Turn left and follow the Water Board access track that climbs steadily northeast across open fell to the dam at the mouth of Seathwaite Tarn.

6. Cross the dam/footbridge and turn left onto a footpath to descend alongside Tarn Beck, then turn north and follow a wall to the plantation at Pike How Close. Follow the path into the plantation and down to the valley road. Turn left and follow the road back to the car park.

autumn in eskdaleThis walk explores the Eskdale woodland and a delightful section of the River Esk. Look out for red squirrels stocking up on the autumn harvest, and stand quietly by the deep pools on the River Esk to catch sight of the salmon or sea trout as they make their way up stream to spawn. A bonus is the impressive waterfall at Stanley Gill; autumn rainfall adds dramatically to its cascade. Dippers can also be seen on the river through autumn and winter and magnificent ornamental trees create a cathedral like atmosphere.

Start/Finish: Dalegarth Station (GR NY 173 007)

Distance: 4.8km (3 miles)

Time: 2 hours

Height gain: 150m

Maps: OS Landranger 89 & 96, OS Explorer OL 6, Harveys’ Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25 000), British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000)

1. Turn left out of the station and follow the valley road 250m to a lane on the right, opposite the Brook House Inn. Follow the lane to St Catherine’s Church beside the River Esk. The best way to cross is to turn left beside the church and follow the riverside path to cross the footbridge near Gill Force.

2. After crossing the footbridge turn left and follow the rough path until it reaches a wall. Turn right and make a short climb up the bank to join the Eskdale Bridleway. Turn right and follow the bridleway through the woods to cross a footbridge over Stanley Gill. Continue along the bridleway through a field to a junction with a rough lane/bridleway.

3. Turn left at the junction; follow the track to the access point for Stanley Force. The footpath up to Stanley Force climbs beside the beck within the narrow confines of Stanley Gill and crosses three footbridges. The upper section beyond the second bridge is up a series of narrow rocky steps, which are often damp and slippery. This section is very impressive but care should be taken particularly with young children. Once you have seen the waterfall retrace the route back to the junction.

4. Follow the permissive path along the lane, past the car park, and across a bridge over the River Esk to join the valley road. Turn right and follow the road back to the station.

START/FINISH

N

1/4 km

1/4 Mile

1

23

4

Esk ViewFarm

ChurchHouse

Esk ViewFarm

ChurchHouse

ES

KD

A L E

BrookHouse

DalegarthStation

steppingstones

Underbank

StanleyForce

footbridge

footbridgefootbridge

HighBank

River Esk

EelbeckBridge

DalegarthHall

Bull Crag

Ravenglas

s an

d Esk

dale

wall

BrookHouse

DalegarthStation

steppingstones

Underbank

StanleyForce

footbridge

footbridgefootbridge

HighBank

River Esk

EelbeckBridge

DalegarthHall

Bull Crag

Ravenglas

s an

d Esk

dale

wall

St Catherine’sChurch

winter in wasdaleThere is no grander place to experience winter than Wasdale. Carved by glaciers and ringed by mountains this deep dramatic valley catches more than its fair share of snow.

This walk includes the viewpoint at Countess Beck voted ‘Britain’s favourite view’ and at every turn there is a different perspective of the peaks of Yewbarrow, Kirkfell, Great Gable and the Scafell Massif.

Watch out for thrushes, field fair and red wing, and in winter listen for the call of ravens.

Start/Finish: Nether Wasdale (GR NY 124 040)

Distance: 9.5km (6 miles)

Time: 3 - 4 hours

Height gain: 150m

Maps: OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 6, Harveys’ Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25 000), British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000)

1. From Nether Wasdale head southeast to a junction. Turn right and follow the road to cross the River Irt over Cinderdale Bridge. Turn left to follow the track to the farm at Easthwaite.

Go through the farmyard and follow the access track to the pumping station for a fantastic viewpoint over Wastwater.

2. Ignore the onward path past the pumping station, and backtrack along the access track for about 200m to the start of a path on the right. Follow the path beside the River Irt to Lund Bridge (footbridge).

3. Follow the path into Low Wood as it works its way along the bank of the River Irt. Continue on the footpath past the boathouse and skirt round by the lakeshore.

Eventually the path feeds into the grounds of Wasdale Hall (YHA).

Follow it past the front of the hall, still beside the lake, until it reaches a stile at a wall. Cross the stile, turn right onto the Wasdale Road. Follow the road to the bridge, shelter and viewpoint at Countess Beck.

4. At the T-junction turn left and follow the pleasant road to the houses at Greendale. Cross the bridge then turn right to follow a bridleway south through trees, then southwest through fields and rough pasture.

Continue past the side of Ashness How ignoring the two paths on the left, and the bridleway on the right. Pass a little cottage and the bridleway becomes a track.

Follow the track to the Wasdale Road.

5. Turn right and follow the road back to Nether Wasdale.

START/FINISH

N

One Km

One Mile

1

23

4

5

Wast Water

Low WoodLow WoodNether

Wasdale

Greendale

RoanWood

viewpoint

Wasdale HallYHA

AshnessHow

BuckbarrowGillTosh Tarn

Scale

Harrow Head

WoodhowTarn

Broad Stone

Eastwaite

TH

E

SC

RE

ES

Pens End

Lund BridgeMurt

Flass Tarn

Pike Crag

Long Crag

BroadCrag

NetherWasdale

Greendale

RoanWood

viewpoint

Wasdale HallYHA

AshnessHow

BuckbarrowGillTosh Tarn

Scale

Harrow Head

WoodhowTarn

Broad Stone

Easthwaite

TH

E

SC

RE

ES

Pens End

Lund BridgeMurt

Flass Tarn

Pike Crag

Long Crag

BroadCrag

Cinderdale BeckCinderdale Beck

summer at millom’s nature reserves

Millom was home to one of the world’s largest haematite mines and ironworks until the 1960’s. Now these fascinating industrial sites are home to a variety of wildlife.

This walk compares the sights and sounds of the flooded mines at Hodbarrow Lagoon with the natural dunes at Haverigg. This stunning and relatively easy walk has wildlife spotting opportunities at every turn.

Look for great crested grebes, pochards and red-breasted mergansers on the lagoon and on the sands catch sight of dunlins, oystercatchers and redshanks. Around a quarter of the UK natterjack toad population is found on the Duddon Estuary. The flora within the dunes includes the pyramidal orchid.

Start/Finish: Hodbarrow Nature Reserve Car Park (GR SD 177 786)

Distance: 8km (5 miles)

Time: 3 hours

Height gain: 50m

Maps: OS Landranger 96, OS Explorer OL 6, Harveys’ Superwalker Lakes Southwest (1:25 000), British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40 000)

1. Follow the track past the old lighthouse to a junction of paths at Hodbarrow Point. The headland is worth exploring for wonderful views stretching from the Lake District fells across the Duddon Estuary.

Pop into the bird hide (on the sea wall) to observe the breeding Sandwich and Arctic Terns. If you’re lucky you might even spot the Little Tern.

2. From the junction follow the track right around the seawall to a T-junction beside the water-ski club / caravan park.

3. Turn left and follow the lane into Haverigg.

4. Cross the bridge over Haverigg Pool and turn right to follow the road to the Lifeboat Station and car park. Walk past the Lifeboat Station along past the rugby club and campsite until you reach a bridge at Stoup Dub.

5. Don’t cross the bridge, turn left and follow the path beside the watercourse over the dunes and onto the beach. Turn left and follow the foreshore to the Lifeboat launch ramp.

Walk up the ramp to the Lifeboat Station and car park. Retrace the route through Haverigg to the T-junction beside the water-ski club / caravan park.

6. Walk straight on past the T-junction and follow the road through the caravan park to the turning on the left for The Commodore Pub.

7. Follow the right of way around the left-hand side of the pub and join the access road. Follow the road around the top of Hodbarrow Lake to a junction.

Turn right and follow the track back to the car park at the start.

START/FINISH

NOne Km

One Mile

caravanpark

Borwick RailsHarbour

Steel Green

Haverigg Bank

HodbarrowPoint

HodbarrowLagoon

DuddonVilla

Cumbria Coastal Way

A5093

A5093

LifeboatStation

Quarry

New Hall

BullstoneBed

NatureReserve

old lighthouse

1

2

34

5

6 7Haverigg

Millom

BorwickRails

Red Hills

Stoup Dub

Folk Museum

CrabMarsh

old lighthouse

Haverigg

Millom

BorwickRails

Red Hills

Stoup Dub

Folk Museum

CrabMarsh

old lighthouse

Oxenbows

sand dunessand dunes

TheCommodore

Welcome to the Adventure Capital - the Lake District, Cumbria. Famous for its stunning landscapes of lakes and fells this is the country’s biggest adventure playground. This leaflet contains four walking routes in the Western Lake District and Cumbria, one for each of the seasons. From spring lambs, to summer toads, autumnal woodlands and snow topped fells, there is something to enjoy all year round.

wild walks in the western lake district

wild walks in the western lake district

onfoot

go wild in the wildzone!Wildzone is an outdoor, wild adventure and activity playground stretching across the whole of Cumbria.

The mission is to showcase the wow factor wildlife and enable even the most inexperienced nature explorer to pull on some boots, warm to a waterproof and twig what’s going on in the incredible, natural, wild adventure zone!

The Western Lake District is home to some of England’s most spectacular wildlife. From England’s largest land mammal, the Red Deer to England’s only nesting colony of Black Guillemots. It’s not just the wildlife that can be labeled spectacular; the scenery is rather impressive too and is home to England’s highest mountain and deepest lake.

So whether you’re eight or eighty; want a really wild walk or just a cup of tea in a cosy café with breath-taking views; discover ‘Wildzone’ in the Western Lakes.

For more information on all things wild in the lakes visit

www.wildzonecumbria.org

Useful information

Getting here and staying here

Visit www.traveline.org.uk or call 0871 200 22 33 to check transport information.

The scenic Cumbria Coastal Line runs between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle with stops close to the start of some of these walks. Timetables are available from www.northernrail.org Remember, there are no trains on Sundays!

For accommodation and tourist information visit www.golakes.co.uk/stay to search for local accommodation.

Further information about the Western Lake District can be found at www.western-lakedistrict.co.uk

For more information on all things WILD in the lakes visit www.wildzonecumbria.org

Weather

The weather in Cumbria can change quickly, particularly on the fells where clear morning skies can rapidly give way to rain, sleet or even snow on the summits, so be prepared. Changes in weather can dramatically alter the difficulty of a route so please consider this.

Call 0844 846 2444 or visit www.lake-district.gov.uk/weatherline to check the forecast.

Practical information

Appropriate clothing can make all the difference. It is important to be warm, comfortable, and dry when out exploring so carry the appropriate kit and plenty of layers.

A rucksack should hold everything needed and be carried comfortably. Have extra layers, a hat and gloves, enough food and drink, and a first aid kit. A compass, map and the knowledge to use them can prove invaluable.

Mobile phone reception isn’t always good. Leave route details and expected finish time with a buddy, if delayed please let them know. This will prevent mountain rescue, a team of volunteers, being called out unnecessarily.

If mountain rescue are needed, get a message to the police (999) as soon as possible and keep the injured or exhausted people safe and warm until help arrives.

An Autumn Wildlife Walk in the Western Lake DistrictRed Deer Stag

the western lake district

As well as being home to Britain’s Favourite View at Wastwater, the Western Lake District also has an amazing coastline with great beaches and stunning views that are sure to become new favourites.

Unspoilt beaches provide miles of scenic walking in a wildlife haven for sea birds such as guillemots and puffins. Nature reserves offer a chance to glimpse rarer species such as the Natterjack Toad and the peaceful woodlands make a wonderful home for red squirrel and red deer.

These walks offer an opportunity to escape the crowds and explore the diverse scenery and wildlife of the Western Lake District; from the Duddon Valley, to coastal nature reserves, autumn woodlands and low level routes surrounded by snow topped fells.

Osprey (Image: Lake District Osprey Project www.ospreywatch.co.uk)

pedal or paddle, hike or climb, conquer your competitive spirit or just get out there and enjoy

for more information, visit www.golakes.co.uk/adventure

supported by

on foot

on wheels

on ropes on course

on water

where to get on in the adventure capital

MuncasterDrigg

Foxfield

Seathwaite

Bootle

Walk start locations

promoting effective, welcoming communities southtourism copeland