Short Walks in Lakeland - Walks in the West Lake District

The third guidebook in this 'trilogy' of short Lake District walks covers the west – Duddon Valley and the Coast, Eskdale, Wasdale, Ennerdale, Lorton Vale, Buttermere and the north-west lakes. 50 routes between 4 and 8 miles for half- or full-day walks, mainly in lower fells and valleys, but grabbing the occasional peak.

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Walk 30 - Uldale and Dent

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Distance: 5 ½ miles (8.8km)
Grade: Moderate
Terrain: Forest, valley and low fell
Summit: Dent – 1155ft (352m)
Height gain: 1500ft (457m)
Map: OL4

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SUMMARY: Popular with local walkers, and the first taste of Lakeland for Coast-to-Coast walkers, this little corner of Cumbria deserves attention. Dent is a modest fell but its isolated position makes it a splendid viewpoint, whilst the trench of Uldale and Nannnycatch, formed by an ice-damned overflow channel in glacial times, is quite charming. Our starting point is on the high fell road (Cold Fell) which necessitates some effort on the return, but is worthwhile for the views through the forest into Uldale. An easier, shorter version of the walk could be achieved from the parking at the end of Nannycatch Road (see map).

HOW TO GET THERE AND PARKING: The Cold Fell road crosses the moorland between Calder Bridge and Ennerdale Bridge. Park near its highest point by the Lowther Park forest gate. (For an alternative starting point park at the forest gate at the end of Nannycatch Road gained from Cleator Moor.)

THE WALK: Go over the stile to the forest road where a fringe of gaunt trees shelters the young forest for this is a windy spot. Walk the short distance to a junction which allows a view, ahead right, of the hills we will circumnavigate the aptly named Flat Fell and part-forested Dent. Turn R down a sheltered green path leading towards Uldale, concealed in the interlocking folds of its fells. The descent continues steadily and the way is edged with ferns and flowers. Join a forest road at a bend, keep ahead, now on the road, and proceed down to the valley floor.

Leave the road as it bends away left and go ahead to stride over a fence, with the aid of footstones and a handpole, out of the forest and into the charming green valley. Turn R up the dale, cross a stream and make your way through the narrow defile of Nannycatch Gate. These valleys were ice overflow channels. Cross a succession of sleeper bridges as you make your way along. Pass an overhung crag and go over a stile* at the merging of two valleys. We have already joined the ‘C to C’, the Coast-to-Coast long-distance footpath from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay. Short return joins here*.

Fork up the R valley, which becomes narrower with a more active stream. On the left Flatfell Screes inch down their grey-blue and rusty rocks of Skiddaw slate. The well-maintained path is edged with stones of granophyre, a smooth pinkish rock. Ford a stream at the next valley junction and branch L. (The C-to-C leaves to the right.) Follow the rush-lined path round a bend then slant up L to a wall/fence with hawthorns. The little valley dwindles to a dip in the pasture. Turn L up the side of the wall/fence where views now extend – on the left of the fell road, with Grike peering above the forest beyond, over the wall right, the west Cumbrian plain with Frizington Salterhall limestone quarries and Meadley Reservoir.

At the highest point divert from the ROW path (somewhat disused as it follows the wall into a boggy hollow) and fork L on one of the traversing paths to avoid losing height. Keep one eye on the wayward traversing path and the other to scan Dent, now ahead. A valley separates Dent from Flat Fell on our left. Team up with the ROW path by the wall again and go down into the valley.

SHORT RETURN: Turn L along the valley and join the outward route at the Nannycatch Gate stile* at the merging of the two valleys. Turn R and go over the stile to retrace the outward route down the valley to a ford and gate***.

TO DENT: Follow the wall right on a track to the roadhead of Nannycatch…