Hawkshead

Hawkshead is a delightful village from which to start this walk. The route follows well waymarked paths across low pastures to the charming settlement of Colthouse. It then begins the steady climb through glorious mixed woodland to the stile at the foot of Latterbarrow. This 800ft/240m hill is the highest point of a broad ridge of undulating ground that lies between Windermere and Esthwaite Water, and is named Claife Heights. From this stunning viewpoint the route descends to High Sawrey and then, after a short road walk, you return to Hawkshead along arrowed footpaths, across pastures.Wild flowers you might see Harebells, tormentil, hardheads, betony, rosebay willow herb, milk thistle, spear plume thistle, yarrow, lady¹s bedstraw, scabious, cross leaved heath, heather, bird's foot trefoil, tufted vetch, bramble, agrimony.

1. Turn right out of the parking area and then go left along the 'relief road' for 200m. Cross with care and take the hedged track, signposted Scar House Lane, that curves right. Pass Black Beck Lodge and Cottage, continue on to cross the footbridge over Black Beck and follow the path as it bears left to a stile. 2. Continue, half right, over the next pasture to a stile in the hedge. Beyond, take the narrow path, ascending right, in the direction of Colthouse. Climb the next stile onto the narrow track, Scar House Lane. Walk right and stroll the delightful way, where sweet smelling honeysuckle clambers over the hedgerow trees. Notice the Brathay flags used for walling. At the end of the lane, turn left onto a narrow road and climb a short hill. Then take a narrow lane, on the right, signposted to the Society of Friends Meeting House. Continue along the lane to pass an old mounting block outside Town End farm. The brewery lies a short distance along, on the right. 3. Return to the end of the lane and bear right to continue uphill. Pass a turn on the left and, just beyond, take, on the right, the signposted bridleway for Claife Heights. Stroll the slope and, at the brow, follow the waymark that directs you ahead. Go through a gate and follow the track as it winds gently left through open fell, with scattered mature larch. Just before you enter denser woodland, look right to see the delightful lily tarn. Go through the gate into woodland and continue on to come to two gates. Take the gate on the left and follow the signposted direction for Latterbarrow. Pause here for a superb view of the fells. 4. The clear path through mainly conifers is now delineated with white topped marker posts. These lead you towards a wall, high up on a slope. Climb the narrow steepish path that ascends, naturally stepped, to a gap in the wall and, beyond, turn right to carry on along the waymarked path. The pleasing way continues for half a mile through the trees to reach a sturdy gate with a dog gate beside it. Beyond, climb the wide grassy path, ascending through dense bracken, to arrive at the tall cairn on the summit. Walk on to the rocks, from where you can enjoy the view of Windermere. 5. Go on down a narrower grassy path, in the direction of the lake, which leads to a stile. Stroll on along the pleasing permissive path through deciduous woodland and continue until you reach a stile onto a reinforced forest road. Bear left and follow it as it winds right to a gate. Once through, press on, left, to descend a good track through pastures to the road at High Wray. Turn left and walk the narrow hedged lane, with care, for half a mile. 6. Descend, right, a very narrow hedged lane towards Hole House. Follow the lane as it winds left and, at a Y-junction, look for the signpost, almost obscured by vegetation, directing you along the right branch. Well before the farmhouse, Tock How, bear left to the stile for Hawkshead. Go on over a pasture to take the stile by the right of two gates. Continue with the wall to your left, following the path, which is fairly clear on the ground and is intermittently stiled and waymarked. After climbing two stiles next to each other, turn right and walk beside the wall, on the right, to cross a ditch. Then walk along beside the ditch before heading slightly right to the next stile in the hedge ahead. 7. Continue on to pass to the right of High Loanthwaite farm. Then turn left and walk the lane to take the next signposted kissing gate (the signpost almost tucked out of sight of the lane). Then go along a reinforced path, beside the hedge on your right. Watch out for the place where it passes through the hedge and continues on the other side, along the edge of a large pasture, to reach the stile onto Scar House Lane. Walk left and soon climb the stile on the right to retrace your outward route to Hawkshead, which you can see over the pastures.

Getting there

Parking: Hawkshead car park

Waypoints