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Overview
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This guidebook describes the best low-level walking in the Lake District, enjoying walks around the lakes, smaller fells and beauty spots such as Windermere, Wansfell Pike and Tarn Hows.
New visitors to the Lake District will be delighted by the selection of walks taking in some of the most picturesque parts of the National Park, such as Windermere, Grasmere, and Ambleside as well as quieter areas like Buttermere and Thirlmere. Even those who have done a lot of walking in the Lake District may have missed some of the beautiful low-level walks included in this book.
Routes range from 7 to 17km and are suitable for walkers of all abilities. Each route is illustrated with OS map extracts and present no technical difficulties over terrain from wide constructed trails to narrow paths on open fell.
Located across the whole of the Lake District, the walks are divided into five sections: South Lakes (Windermere, Coniston, Duddon and the south), Central Lakes (Ambleside, Langdale, Grasmere and Thirlmere), Western Valleys (Eskdale, Wasdale and the Buttermere area), North Lakes (Keswick, Borrowdale and Derwentwater) and Eastern Lakes (Ullswater and Patterdale).
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Table of Contents
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Introduction
Geology
Wildlife and habitats
History
Weather
Where to stay
Getting around
Waymarking and access
Maps
Dogs
Clothing, equipment and safety
Using this guide
SOUTH LAKES: WINDERMERE, CONISTON, DUDDON AND THE SOUTH
Walk 1 Tarn Hows and the Monk Coniston estate
Walk 2 Kelly Hall Tarn and Coniston Water
Walk 3 Swinside Stone Circle
Walk 4 Claife Heights, Windermere and Latterbarrow
Walk 5 Hampsfell
Walk 6 Seathwaite Tarn
CENTRAL LAKES: AMBLESIDE, LANGDALE, GRASMERE AND THIRLMERE
Walk 7 Elterwater, Little Langdale and the waterfalls
Walk 8 Great Langdale
Walk 9 Circuit of Loughrigg Fell
Walk 10 Orrest Head and Wansfell Pike
Walk 11 Grasmere and Rydal Water
Walk 12 Easedale Tarn and Tarn Crag
Walk 13 Thirlmere circuit
WESTERN VALLEYS: ESKDALE, WASDALE AND BUTTERMERE AREA
Walk 14 Stanley Ghyll Force and River Esk
Walk 15 Upper Eskdale
Walk 16 Hardknott Fort and Harter Fell
Walk 17 Loweswater Corpse Road
Walk 18 Buttermere
Walk 19 Crummock Water and Rannerdale Knotts
NORTHERN LAKE DISTRICT: KESWICK, BORROWDALE AND DERWENT WATER
Walk 20 Walla Crag and Great Wood
Walk 21 Derwentwater circuit
Walk 22 A Borrowdale ramble
Walk 23 Castlerigg Stone Circle and High Rigg
Walk 24 Outerside and Barrow
Walk 25 Wythop’s Fells
EAST LAKE DISTRICT: ULLSWATER AND PATTERDALE
Walk 26 Grisedale and Lanty’s Tarn
Walk 27 Aira Force and Gowbarrow
Walk 28 Steel Knotts and Hallin Fell
Walk 29 Ullswater shore
Walk 30 Ullswater and The Cockpit
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
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Maps
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The map extracts used in this book are from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:50,000 Landranger series. They are meant as a guide only and walkers are advised to purchase the relevant map(s) – and know how to navigate using them. The whole area is covered by sheets 89, 90, 96 and 97. The OS 1:25,000 Explorer series provides greater detail, showing field boundaries as well as access land. To complete all the walks in this guide using Explorer maps, you’ll need sheets OL4, OL5, OL6 and OL7.
Harvey publishes an excellent series of Superwalker maps at the 1:25,000 scale. Its six Lakeland maps cover most of the Lake District National Park.
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Updates
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December 2021
2021 reprint route updates
June 2020
Stanley Ghyll
Due to unstable rock in Stanley Ghyll, the path beyond "the third and final bridge" (penultimate line of page 96) is temporarily closed while safety work is being carried out. This was always only a spur off the main route so it doesn't affect the rest of the walk description. However, it does mean that views of the waterfall are limited.
The Lake District National Park closed the path on June 5, 2020. At the time, they didn't know when the work would be completed.
January 2020
Walk 9 (Circuit of Loughrigg Fell):
Due to changes in path furniture, the last line of the walk description on page 69 should now read: “Go through the gate and turn right along the gravel lane.”
August 2019
Route updates and corrections
Walk 8 (Great Langdale):
There have been several changes to this walk following work in the valley by the National Trust.
The most significant of these is that, following the installation of a bridge, walkers no longer have to get their boots wet when crossing Mickleden. This means the last paragraph on page 64 and the first paragraph on page 65 should now be replaced with: “Cross the bridge and walk downstream beside the beck for a few strides. A stony trail then climbs the embankment. When it vanishes, continue in the same direction to reach a broad track. Bear left along this and then bear right at a fork close to a gate with a ‘private’ sign on it.”
Other changes to the route description:
1. Page 63, third full paragraph of route description: Delete third and fourth sentences (starting “Look over to the left...”) and replace with: “You’ll see a path signposted to the Old Dungeon Ghyll on your left. Next to this is a lump of smooth rock. Head to the right of this rock and cross the stile in the fence ahead.”
2. Page 65, second full paragraph of route description: The signpost from the road into the National Trust campsite now reads “Blea Tarn” instead of “Side Pike and Lingmoor Fell”.
3. Page 65, third full paragraph of route description: Delete the first and second sentences (starting “The faint path goes through a gate...” as far as “to a ladder stile”) and replace with: “The faint path goes through a gate, continuing parallel with the fence on your left. From the fence corner, descend slightly across some boggy ground and then keep right, on a clearer, narrow path, which contours the hillside to a ladder stile.”
4. Page 65, fourth paragraph of route description: Delete the second sentence (starting “When you reach”) and replace with: “Soon after a gate, walkers are funnelled between old walls. Follow the path around a sharp bend to the right and as far as an old barn. Bear left at this junction – signposted Great Langdale.”
July 2019
Walk 21 (Derwentwater Circuit):
There are two changes to this route description:
1. Due to the closure of the bridge over Watendlath Beck behind the Lodore Falls Hotel, the route no longer visits the Lodore Falls cataract. This means the second full paragraph on page 132 no longer applies. Instead, after passing through the gap in the wall opposite the Kettlewell car park to pick up a path through the woods, the route description should now read:
“Keep right whenever the path splits, and, after about 500 metres, you’ll come back out on to the road. Turn left along the asphalt, past the Lodore Falls Hotel.”
The third full paragraph (starting “About 200m beyond...”) still applies.
2. On page 134 (second line, third paragraph), the kissing-gate used to access the fenced path no longer exists.
Walk 22 (A Borrowdale Ramble):
There are two changes to this route description:
1. Page 139, the second sentence of the first paragraph of route description currently reads: “Cross the fence via a stile and wooden ladder, and follow the path down to a clear track.” This should now read: “Go through a small gate, and follow the path down to a clear track.”
2. Due to the closure of the bridge over Watendlath Beck behind the Lodore Falls Hotel, the route description on page 140 has changed. Please ignore the first full paragraph starting “Turn left and follow the path...”
This paragraph should now read: “Turn left and walk beside the road for 500m. Having passed the Lodore Falls Hotel, you’ll see a signposted path leading into the woods on your right. Ignoring the path towards Keswick running almost parallel with the road, keep right. The path swings right, joining a route from the left. Nearing the Lodore Falls Hotel, ignore any lesser trails to the right – keep to the clearest route straight ahead. Before long, you’ll reach a bench with a superb outlook over Watendlath Beck and the Lodore Falls. Head up to the left to reach a distinct fork at the base of the wooded slope. Bear left here.”
Walkers are also advised that the “narrow, stony trail on the left”, referred to in the third full paragraph on page 140, is easy to miss in the vegetation.
March 2018
Walk 17 (Loweswater Corpse Road):
Some of the path furniture on walk 17 (Loweswater Corpse Road) has changed.
The ‘small wooden bridge’ across Highnook Beck (page 110, paragraph two) no longer exists, but it is easy enough to step across the beck in normal conditions.
When the route leaves the old corpse road by crossing a ladder stile to the right of the bridleway (page 113, paragraph one), the fingerpost now indicates this is the way to Hudson Place – not Loweswater as stated in the book.
The stile just after the buildings at Jenkinson Place no longer exists (page 113, paragraph two). Use the gate instead.
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Reviews
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If you want to see wildlife in the Lake District this is the book for you
If you want to see wildlife in the Lake District this is the book for you as the upland areas often offer limited species other than Alpine plants. So many walks show water so you are bound to find a mixture of geese and ducks from Tufted Duck on deep water to sulking Mandarin on Coniston. Winter sees both Goldeneye and Whooper Swans using the area with both Bassenthwaite and Grasmere ideal for both. Look out for the Great Northern Divers returning to Derwent Water or try Ullswater for a spot of gull watching with over 20,000 coming to roost on a winter’s night.
Woodland walks can be great in summer so listen out for Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler in Great Wood. Try Claife Heights for woodpeckers like Great spotted and Green Woodpecker along with Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Birds of Prey are always make a great day out with Buzzards in many regions but Coniston is where Red Kites still linger with Ospreys especially common in the south of the lakes where both Goshawk and Sparrowhawk can also be seen.
Mammals are always a great find with Roe Deer now covering the whole of the lakes but Red Deer at Thirlmere are a good bet and low down near Grange over Sands at Foulshaw Moss. Badgers and Foxes are still widely spread but look out for setts often high up on open hill sides. Otters seem to be everywhere with most lakes now offering views especially Bassenthwaite and Coniston. Dragonflies are another species becoming popular found on many waters but with Beautiful Damselfly found in the River Esk and Downy Emerald on Elterwater worth looking out for.
John Miles
"This is a beautiful and valuable little book; perfect for any day out in England's beautiful Lake District."
"All in all a great little book full of walks and glossy photographs to get your ramblers juices flowing. The book quality in your hand is spot on and it only measures 7 x 5 inches. As a hiker of 30 years on and off I can happily recommend this guide."
"This book appealed to me greatly with its less common take on the Lake District - with the exception of a few elevated sections, mostly low level walking away from the peaks. Please don't think that means uninspiring scenery though, because in addition to the lakes themselves, the treks also bypass tarns, waterfalls, stone bridges and ancient forest, often with the fells as an imposing backdrop."
"It's clear the author is very knowledgeable about the Lakes and loves the place herself, which adds to the enjoyment for the reader/user of the guide - the love of the scenery and landscape comes across. We haven't used a Cicerone guide book in the Lakes before as far as I can remember but after reading this one we will certainly be taking it with us and using it next time, and would definitely look at other walking/guide books by this publisher now. I'm really looking forward to doing some of these walks next time we go!"
Amazon, February 2015
"Heavy boots and heavier rucksacks may propel the hardy hillwalker to the bold, bare heights. Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Scafell and Blencathra provide their challenges and their exhilirations. But for others of less aspiring inclinations, there can be equally inspiring options.
Forget the strenuous hikes up daunting summits. Ramble in the valleys or stroll up gentle fells. The rewards are just as great. Vivienne Crow's little book is the perfect guide - she tells you of every twist and turn of the track, every stumpy signpost and wooden kissing-gate - and she is so enthusiastic you will want to put your walking shoes on and get out there straight away."
Steve Matthews for the Westmorland Gazette, October 2014
"The easy to follow routes include a riverside saunter, occasional 'little-used' paths and then the extra efoort of 'ups and downs' and rough ground all amply rewarded by stunning views and illustrated by stunning photography of the scenery as you will view it.....
Low Level and Lake Walks is not only a good introduction to walking in the Lake District but also the ideal guide for that gentle walk the day after a strenuous hike on the hill."
Gill Stables for Conserving Lakeland (Friends of the Lake District) Winter/Spring 2014/15
