Langstrath

A walk of timeless tranquility through an area of outstanding scenic beauty in the heart of Borrowdale.

1-2 With the village stores on your right, walk along the road for 30 yds, then turn right onto a hard-surfaced track, signposted 'Public bridleway Stonethwaite - Watendlath'. Cross the bridge over the Stonethwaite Beck, to reach a X-junction of paths. Turn sharp right onto a narrow path, signposted 'Stonethwaite' and follow the line of the beck on your right for 0.75 mile, to reach a bridge on your right.

2-3 Continue straight ahead, signposted 'Grasmere via Greenup Edge' and proceed alongside the wall on your right for 0.5 mile, to cross over a flat wooden bridge. Pass through a gate seen 150 yds away, then continue along the well-defined path for a further 0.33 mile, to locate a narrow wooden footbridge on your right spanning Greenup Gill. Cross over the bridge, then follow the grassy path straight ahead (which an be very muddy in places), to pass through a small swing-gate after 250 yds. Proceed parallel to the Langstrath Beck on your right for a further 200 yds, then turn right across a narrow footbridge.

3-4 Join onto a stony track and turn right, to pass through a gate after 200 yds. Continue downhill for a further 300 yds then, at a point where the broad track bears left towards a house, (seen 200 yds away) turn right signposted 'Footpath' to climb over a ladder-stile within 50 yds. Follow the line of the beck fore 250 yds and cross over a ladder-stile situated at the top of a rocky outcrop. Proceed across flat meadow land, to eventually arrive at Stonethwaite.

4-5 Pass through the centre of this hamlet, to link up with a tarmac lane. Continue for 0.33 mile, then turn left onto a short track (by the side of a single row of houses), signposted 'Borrowdale Road via Chapel Farm' Pass by the parish church on your left, to reach the entrance to Chapel Farm. Go diagonally across the yard and in the opposite right-hand corner, by the side of the farmhouse, turn left onto a stony track.

5-6 Follow this broad track for 225 yds, to reach a Y-junction. Bear right, signposted 'Public footpath' and proceed across the centre of this pastureland, to join onto the Borrowdale Road 250 yds away. Turn left and walk along the roadside footpath for 0.25 mile, to arrive at a line of cottages on your right. At the far end of these cottages, turn right onto a public footpath signposted 'Longthwaite' then, after 75 yds, cross over a stile to enter a field.

6-7 With the Seathwaite Beck down on your left cross over the stone bridge 100 yds distant. On the opposite bank, bear right and ascend a grassy slope for 125 yds, link up with a broad footpath. Turn right and pass through a gate across the route after 300 yds. Descend along the edge of a lightly wooded area, to rejoin the Seathwaite Beck.

7-8 Proceed with care across the rocks forming the left bank of this beck, to aim for a swing-gate 100 yds further on. Pass by the front of a Youth Hostel and follow the driveway for 75 yds, to recross the beck via a stone pack-horse bridge. Ascend the lane for 80 yds, then on the corner of a right -hand bend, turn left through a field-gate signposted 'Footpath' Walk towards the far right-hand corner of this pasture-land and go through a gap in the stone wall, to enter the adjoining field.

8-1 Bear left (towards a line of houses) and cross over a stile in the left-hand wall, to enter another field. Walk alongside the wall on your right, to go through a small wooden field-gate. Turn right, to link up with a lane 30 yds away. Turn left, to return to the start of the walk in the centre of Rosthwaite.

Getting there

Parking: Rosthwaite Car Park.