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.
