Summary
A mix of tarmac and easy bridleways and off-road forest trails. A run along the new bridleway on the western shore of Windermere is followed by a climb up to High Cross and then down to the Visitor Centre on forest trails. The second half is predominantly on tarmac with one biggish hill.Distance 24 miles (39 km) Climb 1,950 ' (594 m) Grade – strenuous
OS 97 (Kendal) and small part of 90 (Penrith)
The ferry runs across Windermere lake from south of Bowness (Ferry Nab, off the A592 Newby Bridge road, Grid 395598, postcode LA233JN)
Map
To view elevation details please use this link and select "Elevation Graph" from the top left hand side corner of the map.
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=475908
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=475908
Description
The ferry to the western shore
(and back) runs every 20 minutes. Take this, and 400 yds/ m after leaving the ferry take the right
turn, National Cycle Network (NCN) 6, along the lakeshore.
Soon you leave the open shore
and tarmac, the track becoming a wide trail through woods. This is a family
friendly track, although there is one small hill. Pass through Red Nab car park
(NCN 6 signs) and continue along the lakeshore to a small climb to the public
road by Wray Church and the entrance to NT Wray Castle.
There are 2 choices here.
1 Stay on tarmac going towards Hawkshead. From
the bridleway end go left up a steady climb to High Wray and in one mile
further on (2- km) (ignoring the 2 little lanes to and from a farm ½ mile (1
km) from High Wray) turn right by a small grassy triangle down an unsigned
lane. In ½ mile (1 km) a new permissive bridleway comes in – see below.
2 Use a new bridleway to near Hawkshead. In
summer 015 several new permissive family - friendly bridleways were created by
the National Trust and other bodies.
This is one such.
From the end of the bridleway
at Wray Church turn right onto the public road and immediately drop down a
small hill. At the bottom (in 200 yds/ m) the new bridleway goes left (NCN 6
sign), and in 200 yds/ m go left on the track to Outgate and Hawkshead. The
track is flat to start with, but then climbs to some buildings and soon takes
you to the lane mentioned above – here turn right onto tarmac, both options now
being joined.
Quickly a T junction with the
sometimes busy main Hawkshead road is reached. Go right and climb gently
for 600 yds/ m, turning left onto a lane
to Field Head and Knipe Fold. This climbs too, being very steep but short
before meeting and going left at a bigger road.
Continue straight on and up
the road (14% steep in places) past several turns, following the Coniston
signs. In a mile (2- km) you come to a crossroads, and go straight over into
the Forestry Commission Grizedale Forest at High Cross. This is a car park, and
where the wide forest trails commence.
Go past the barrier and up the
track, turning left at the top (sign Hawkshead/ Moor Top). This is now the
Green Route, and is marked by green arrows on wooden posts. Follow this Green
Route down, up and down again towards Moor Top and then Grizedale Visitor
Centre.
For information only - Moor
Top is another car park and trail access point (similar to High Cross), and is
reached 2 ½ miles (4 km) from High Cross by going left on a blue route (where
the Green Route swings right) for the 200 yds/m to it. Should you wish, public
roads from here descend to either Grizedale Visitor Centre (right) or Hawkshead
(left).
Otherwise simply continue down
the Green Route, turning hard left in 2+
miles (3 km) which takes you down to the nearby Visitor Centre (and
cafe). This is slightly over half way in distance, and it is mostly tarmac from
here onwards.
Leaving the Visitor Centre go
right onto the public road, for a flat section, and a mile after Satterthwaite
turn off the main road, left – Dale Park/ Hawkshead sign. A few minutes brings
you to a T, where go left and quickly right at another T (both Hawkshead
signs).
Carry on this road towards the
head of the valley, where a stiff 14% climb is followed by an equally steep
descent to a T, where go right (Newby Bridge).
The first left turn can be
taken directly to Near Sawrey and the ferry if need be. Otherwise 1 ½ miles (2
½ km) after the T and an intervening small climb, leave the highway exactly
where it starts to rise steeply - onto a
bridleway signed Low Cunsey 1 mile.
This is narrow but flat and
straightforward, taking the left bridleway half way down to stay close to the
beck.
At the public road turn left
to return to the ferry. This is reached by turning right (unsigned) in a mile
(1 ½ km) on a steep climb by some houses, dropping down an unsigned little lane
to quickly join the main road (right) dropping down to the ferry.
