555 StagePaththe family way to walk

Ride & Stride withthe LakelandPathfinder bus

Map KeyLine - Journey of the 555 bus serviceDashes - The route of the StagePathDots - Request and Timetabled bus stops

555 StagePathSTAGE 1 Windermere | Brockhole 41⁄2 miles 3 hours

STAGE 2 Brockhole | Ambleside 3 miles 2 hours

STAGE 3 Ambleside | Rydal 11⁄2 miles 1 hour

STAGE 4 Rydal | Grasmere 2 miles 11⁄4 hours

STAGE 5 Grasmere | Wythburn 43⁄4 miles 3 hours

STAGE 6 Wythburn | Thirlspot 31⁄4 miles 2 hours

STAGE 7 Thirlspot | Dale Bottom 4 miles 2 hours

STAGE 8 Dale Bottom | Keswick 31⁄4 miles 2 hours

ALWAYS Check the timetable - usually displayed ateach bus stop - to confirm bus times for the beginningand the end of each walk stage.You can also phone TRAVELINE 0871 200 22 33Or visit www.stagecoachbus.com for advance planning.

The StagePath in the booklet has been carefullyresearched and described for clarity of route finding.The maps on the other hand are very basic. There isno substitute for carrying and referring to the correctOrdnance Survey Explorer Map. Make sure you gethold of OL7, OL5 and OL4 and/or the handy HarveyLake District Outdoor Atlas before you start.

555 StagePath the family way to walkRide & Stride with the Lakeland Pathfinder bus

INTRODUCING the first walking route dedicated to aLakeland bus service. Eight walk stages link theregular bus stops for the 555 Stagecoach bus betweenWindermere and Keswick.

This is perhaps the most popular bus journey inEngland and certainly one of the most scenic. Now youcan use the bus to enjoy both the picturesque scenery andan inspirational health-giving walk. The walking routeincludes such iconic and exquisite locations as OrrestHead, Brockhole, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Dunmail Raise,Thirlmere and Castlerigg Stone Circle – pure magic everystep of the way, to enjoy with family and friends at anyseason of the year.

The two-way route description in this booklet givesyou the flexibility and freedom to walk either north orsouth from each bus stop. The whole walk tracks the buslargely at valley level, gaining only modest height abovethe road to take advantage of viewpoints. The gradientsare easy and the paths firm and well-marked.

Although it’s not ‘proper fell-walking’ it wouldnonetheless be wise to carry a light daypack with a snackand drink, and wear comfy boots. Some measure ofweather protective clothing will come to your rescue if theelements – wind, rain or intense sun – threaten to spoilyour ‘off-bus adventure’.

Taking the bus is relaxing – if you sit upstairs the viewsget even better – and if you walk one stage at a time youcan have fun building up the stages to complete thewhole romantic 26-mile journey both on foot and by bus.

The walk can also be studied in greater detail onlineby visiting www.markrichards.info and clicking on ‘Ride &Stride StagePaths’.

Window-gazers can also reflect on the walk andmountain scenery with the aid of the 555’s uniqueguide to the ride leaflet ‘From A to B to SEE’.

STAGE 1 NORTHBOUNDA leisurely three hours up hill, down dale

Windermere Station > Brockhole National Park CentreAn inspiring start to your StagePath adventure climbing to thetop of Orrest Head to survey the great lake with its inspiringbackdrop of Lakeland Fells. A thrilling moment enjoyed byearly tourists from well before the arrival of the railway, therecould be no better stagesetter.

Leave Windermere from the Railway Station bus stop.Walk past Booths Supermarket (go under the canopy) toreach the road junction with the Gateway TouristInformation Centre to your left. Turn right, carefully crossthe main A591 via the traffic island, overlooked by TheWindermere Hotel. Turn left along the footpath, after 50mspot the ‘Footpath to Orrest Head’ notice on your right.Follow its pointing hand and ascend the metalled lane.Ignore the path fork and continue to follow the yellow‘Windermere Way’ waymark and ‘Orrest Head Viewpoint’white arrow. The road winds uphill passing the entrance toOrrest How to enter woodland. Stay on the road. Pass acottage selling refreshments and hand-crafted ironwork.The road becomes a track after a yew tree before thewoodland. At the edge of the woodland turn right at thewall. Here the path becomes confined leading to a metalkissing-gate (with Heywood memorial stone) and youenter the Orrest Head Viewpoint enclosure.

Ascend the rough steps to the bare rock summit, withseats facing in various directions to suit the appreciativeaudience. Sadly the topograph – for all the legendary view– is devoid of legend! The plinth points north-west overthe head of Lake Windermere to the stirring heightsabove Great Langdale. The panorama is amazing. Lingerawhile, regain your breath and restore your belief in ourwonderful world. Note thevertically-tilted and cracked barerock beneath your feetindicating the effectsof glacial smoothing.The place-name‘Orrest’ is a very rareinstance of the Norseorrusta ‘battle’, meaninga meeting of armies.

Head north, straight on overthe top, and, taking the left-handfork, descend to a kissing-gate and wall-stile in the enclosure corner. Crossthe wall-stile signed ‘Causeway’ andgo gently downhill, keeping the wall

Brockhole

Troutbeck Bridge

Orrest Head

Windermere Station

and open to the public. Go through a new field-gate andfollow the open track across the field ahead, descendingto a galvanised gate onto the road. Turn left and followthe road downhill passing the entrance to Low Longmire,Fusethwaite Yeat (which is Viking for ‘cow-house clearing,gate’) and lower down, ironically, High Longmire.

Cross over the junction at the foot of the hill, turn rightalong the path to a bus stop (The Kirkstone Rambler 517summer bus service) and kissing-gate. Descend the greentrack into the valley bottom to a hand-gate and cross twofoot-bridges over Trout Beck – for one brief moment youare on an island! Ascend the sunken path to the westernend of Troutbeck village. Some 400m right is ‘Townend’,a beautiful vernacular yeoman farmhouse (NationalTrust). Ascend the facing brick-cobbled drive besideTownfoot. As it rises through a gate it becomes a confinedbridle-path to the road. Turn left and, as the road swingsright, go straight on down the bridle-way, Wain Lane. Thisrough-tracked way passes several handsome old barns,narrowing as it goes to pass the well-screened MiddleriggTarn. Cross the main road carefully and follow thecycle/footway to the north-bound bus stop at Brockhole(meaning ‘the badgers’ set’).

left. Cross a stone flag over a gill to arrive at a wall-stileonto the road. This was the original Roman way fromMedibogdum (Watercrook Roman Fort, near Kendal) andGalava (the Roman fort at Ambleside). Turn right, take theroad to Near Orrest – was this the battleground referred toin the name ‘Orrest’ ie near the battleground? Traversingthe high wall-stile on the left signed ‘Far Orrest’, pass thelarge bank-barn and after the kissing-gate cross the nextpaddock to a further kissing-gate, and continue via a smallopen copse to a wall-stile. Traverse the damp pasture to awall-stile, advancing with the wall now to the right, cross aladder-stile then step over a wall-side gill. Traverse the fieldhalf-right, cross a second ladder-stile and follow the left-hand wall to a kissing-gate/gate close to Far Orrest.

Turn right to a second kissing-gate/gate. Turn left andpass on behind the farmhouse to a third kissing-gateentering a walled green lane. Stay in the green lane to thekissing-gate beside a field-gate. Do not go through theobvious gate opposite. Keep the wall close left. Glanceover the wall for a fine view towards the head ofWindermere; they are hidden from view but you aredirectly above ‘Holehird’, the Lakeland HorticulturalSociety’s beautiful gardens, maintained by volunteers

Windermere from Orrest Head

places of refreshment lie at the furthest end – two pubsand a village shop tea room. Cross straight over anddown the sunken path to reach Trout Beck, a lovely spotto linger with two footbridges linking across an island.Go through the hand-gate and ascend the green way to akissing-gate beside a bus stop (The Kirkstone Ramblerservice 517, summer only).

Go right with the footway to the road junction. Crossand walk up this road (no verges so watch for traffic). Passup by Fusethwaite Yeat, and directly after the entrance toLow Longmire find a signposted footpath ‘Far Orrest’ onthe right. Go through the galvanised field-gate and followthe open track to a gate. Continue with a wall to the rightand pass through a kissing-gate/field-gate into a walledlane. Follow the lane to where a footpath crosses, gothough the left-hand kissing-gate and turn right. After 60marrive at a kissing-gate/gate on the right. After Far Orrestfarmhouse, go through the immediate kissing-gate ahead.Advance with a wall on the right to cross the ladder-stileand maintain your course to a second ladder-stile, thistime with a tiny gill in front. Continue to the wall-stile inthe next corner and cross a damp pasture to a wall-stileinto a small spinney leading through to a kissing-gate.Advance right to Near Orrest, via a kissing-gate to the rightof a muddy farmyard entrance gate. Continue passing thelarge bank-barn to cross a tall wall-stile onto the road.

Turn right for 200m to cross a wall-stile beside a field-gate on the left, signed ‘Windermere Way’. OrrestHead forms the horizon. Follow a green track and cross astone flag over a gill by the wall, keeping fairly close to theright-hand wall rising up to a wall-stile in the field corner.

STAGE 1 SOUTHBOUNDBrockhole National Park Centre >Windermere StationAscending by old lanes to catch a brief glance of Troutbeck, oneof Lakeland’s most authentic vernacular villages. The routethen crosses Trout Beck itself, before climbing again to venturethrough quiet pastures and to stand on top of Orrest Head, theacknowledged classic Lakeland viewpoint. Here you can surveynot just the greatest girth of Windermere but also the distantmountain heart of Lakeland – a sight to gladden the heart andfeast the eyes.

Carefully cross the road and walk left along thecycle/footpath some 170m. Cross back over the busyroad with the utmost care. Enter Wain Lane with its bluebridle-way sign (and discouragement to motorcycles).This walled lane leads via a barn, over a stone flag bridgeto pass Middlerigg Tarn, gaps in the wall permittingglimpses of the shy waters and resident swans. The lanerises by several handsome old stone field barns beforeemerging onto a minor road. Go forward find abridleway signed right as the ‘Windermere Way’. Descendthe confined path via a gate and down the cobbled drive by Townfoot, a well-tended traditional farmhouse.The village of Troutbeck is a string development of traditional barns (many converted) and yeoman’s houseslining the road for a good mile to the north. Sadly all the

Westmorland bank-barn in Wain Lane

Townend pix to come . . .

STAGE 2 NORTHBOUNDAllow two hours, gently undulating

Brockhole National Park Centre >AmblesideAnother steady climb rewarded with memorable views over theupper reaches of Windermere visiting Jenkin Crag in SkelghyllWood, which provides a wonderfully intimate view of the backdrop of the lake, the beginnings of mountain Lakeland.

From the southbound bus stop follow MirkLane as directed on the bus stop post. This

private metalled road leads past Merewood Lodge(holiday lets). As the road ends after MerewoodCottages bear up the narrow path flanked by an

old wall, climbing as a rough lane betweenNewclose Wood and pasture. Stay

on the lane leading down to agate and cross the flagstones

over a stream and beside thegarden walls of Wood Farm.

Stepping onto a roadway turn left, signed ‘To

Troutbeck & HolbeckLane’. Respect the privacy of

the large residence. Keep ahead,off the road and up the winding

lane via a gate, still with woodland left and pasture right.Leaving the woodland at a stile/gate the walled track,hereon known as Grand Ma’s Lane, rises to Castle SykeFarm, with the barn conversion farmhouse right andbank-barn left.

At the road turn left, following Holbeck Lane (minorroad) with handsome views over Windermere. After

Ambleside

Brockhole

Jenkin Crag, the perfect place for a family picnic

The second footbridge of the two-part crossing of Trout Beck

Entering the Orrest Head enclosure follow the green pathflanked by bushes and bracken to the summit. Wow –what a wonderful all-round panorama! The topographplinth points north-west over the head of Windermereinto the heart of mountain Lakeland. Cross straight overthe bare rock top descending the flight of steps tothe kissing-gate and follow the path right. Enteringa woodland watch for a left turn immediately beforethe path steepens. This leads onto a track that smartlybecomes a metalled road. Passing a cottage descend thewinding road to the main road. Go left along the footway50m and cross the busy road via the pedestrian refuge.Bear left into the railway station car park by Boothssupermarket to catch your bus.

Family walking in Skelghyll Lane

STAGE 2 SOUTHBOUNDGet away from the crowds and lakeshore traffic to surveyWindermere and the grand backdrop of mountain Lakelandfrom on high. The route having climbed to Jenkin Crag andHigh Skelghyll progressively descends by a series of lovely lanesto Brockhole, where you may fill your mind with the wonders ofLakeland for another day.

Ambleside > Brockhole NationalPark Centre

Walk up Kelsick Road, turn right by the Homes ofFootball gallery, bear left at the road sign ‘Old LakesRoad’. This side road rises and descends by AmblesideBackpackers and the Heart of the Lakes offices inFisherbeck. Notice the Norwegian cabin across the public car park on the far side of the main road. This wasoriginally located in Coniston and was used as W HeatonCooper’s studio (see his distinctive watercolours in theGrasmere studio shop). Pass on behind the MountainRescue base and look for Skelghyll Lane, the branch roadrising left at a white-washed house. The speed limitsign is signed ‘Jenkin’s Crag, Skelghyll and Troutbeck bridleway’.

Climb steadily, keeping right at the bridleway sign‘Jenkin’s Crag and Skelghyll Woods’. Enjoy the handsomeviews over Ambleside Waterhead and the upper portionof Windermere. The metalled road becomes a rough laneentering Skelghyll Woods (National Trust). Keep rising by

220m bear off right along the private road signed ‘SkelgillFarms and flats only’. Shortly after Close Cottage theLangdale Pikes come into view ahead; further along aregrand westward views over Windermere’s Pullwood Bay,backed by Black Fell and the Coniston Fells. From a gatethe unenclosed road leads on passed an isolated bank-barn rising via a hand-gate/gate, going under LowSkelghyll then up by a bank-barn and gate, winding tocross Hol Beck kissing-gate/cattle grid.

The roadway passes a bridleway sign ‘Ambleside 11⁄4miles’ then enters High Skelghyll farmyard, an activeworking environment. Redouble your respect for theoccupant’s privacy, as the right of way runs close to thefarmhouse. Continuing via the gated sheep pens, contouron the path to a gate into open woodland with a clearview down to the Low Wood Hotel, and down the lake toGummers How and Claife Heights. The path descendseasily, levelling beside a low wall. The National Trust signby a gap gives access to Jenkin Crag, a rocky headlandand a ‘must-see’. It overlooks the upper reaches ofWindermere with Wray Castle and Blelham Tarn intimatefeatures in view across the placid lake, and westward tothe Coniston Fells. The track continues winding on theold pitched way. Keep down left at a lateral path junctionand cross a culverted bridge over Stencher Beck. Duly thetrack draws by a laurel hedge and wall into SkelghyllLane. The lane becomes a walled road descending to thejunction with Old Lakes Road. Turn right passingbetween Heart of the Lakes/Organico and the AmblesideMountain Rescue Base at Fisherbeck. Continue on downto the main Lake Road, cross and go right. Turn leftalong Kelsick Road by the Homes of Football Gallery toarrive at the glass-canopied bus stop.

Family walking in Skelghyll Lane

Rydal Park

STAGE 3 NORTHBOUNDWalking time, barely half-an-hour

Ambleside > RydalA gentle wander through Rydal Park with the bonus of RydalHall’s lovely Old School Room Tea Shop and Rydal Mount,Wordsworth’s final home.

Walk through the car park, along KingStreet and turn right up Church Street.

Notice a wall-plaque recordingThe Office of William Wordsworth

as distributor of stamps for Westmorland 1813–43, below

Greggs on the right. Turn leftalong the main street roundingby The Market Hall and thePost Office-cum-Tourist Office,

offering plenty of retail diversion to lure you off thestraight and narrow. Wander on down the street passingthe tiny Bridge House (National Trust). (Built as an applestore for Ambleside Hall it was set on the bridge to evadeland tax.) After the roundabout pass (or visit) the ArmittMuseum, then follow the left-hand roadside footpathbeyond the Medical Centre. Cross to the Lodge at thegated entrance to the Rydal Hall drive just after the30mph limit signs and the bridge over Scandale Beck.Follow the fenced drive through parkland with handsomeviews ahead to the ridge-end Nab Scar and the high fellsat the head of Rydal Beck valley. Go through the camping site car park, cross over cascading Rydal Beck,via the Old School Room Tea Shop, behind Rydal Hall toreach Rydal Lane. Turn down left by the entrance to thelovely Rydal church, with its famous daffodil gardens.The bus stop is at the foot of the hill.

Rydal

AmblesideWindermere from Jenkin Crag

the wall, later a laurel hedge, then by a low level metalsign at a path fork. The roughly cobbled path rises,crosses Stencher Beck and comes level with a wall on theright. Take the opportunity to slip through the signed gapto visit the Jenkin Crag rock ledge viewpoint and revel inthe gorgeous prospect over Windermere. Return via thegap onto the broad path and go right, signed ‘Troutbeckvia Robin Lane’. The path rises a little further, passing aseat to leave the woodland at a gate.

The contouring path enters High Skelghyll farm’sgated farmyard. (Please respect the privacy of the peopleliving here, it is still an active farm.) The ensuing openroad leads past a three-way sign. Proceed along themetalled road via the kissing-gate and cattle grid.Descend by the barn and beneath Low Skelghyll via agate. Still on an open road descend the next pasture to afurther bank-barn, passing through a gate into a walledlane. Follow this private road via Close Cottage and turnleft at Holbeck Lane, a public road. Continue to thebridle-lane branching right at Castle Syke Farm. A signwith naïve lettering indicates that this is ‘Grand Ma’sLane’. Follow the track down between the farmhouse andlarge bank-barn via a gate into the edge of woodland,hereon known as Mirk Lane – ‘the dark way’. Wind downvia a further gate to the metalled roadway at Wood Farm,a private residence with an ornate garden. Leave the roadat the green ‘Private no right of way’ notice and low setpublic footpath sign to bear right by the garden wall.Cross a gill via flagstones and pass through the gate.Follow the lane beside the woodland leading down to theroadway at Merewood Lodge and continue to the mainroad at corresponding bus stops (with pedestrianisland).

STAGE 4 NORTHBOUNDAllow an hour for this easy undulating stroll

Rydal > GrasmereMost of this stage runs comfortably above the road providingromantic views over Rydal Water and the backing LoughriggFell, delightfully distanced from the traffic at lakeside andcoming easily down by Tow Top and Dove Cottage to enterGrasmere along Stock Lane.

Ascend Rydal Lane from the bus stop, passing theentrances to Rydal Hall and The Mount. Climbing theshort concrete way turn immediately left along laneabove Rydal Mount, with the bridleway sign ‘Grasmere’.Go through the gate and along the high walled lane,briefly glimpsing Wordsworth’s romantic style landscaped gardens over the left-hand wall. After a second gate the lane opens with the path winding onahead, with lovely views through the trees to RydalWater. The undulating path is never in doubt and leadsto a gate at a wall corner. Contouring on through anopen gateway the path leads by two stone benches, thebacking stone of the first being the base of a coffin rest,now somewhere for you to rest your legs too! Afteranother gate, the path now runs on close to a wall leading via a hand-gate to a path junction below BrockleCottage. Continue on the track, then metalled road atDunnabeck leading by Skater’s Tarn at the junction withthe bridleway from White Moss (bus stop). Flanked bytrees and bracken the road leads via How Top with thelovely view of Silver How ahead, across Grasmere lake.Winding downhill the road passes by Dove Cottage and

Coffin rest on old Coffin Route

STAGE 3 SOUTHBOUNDRydal > AmblesideThe ultimate stroll – giving you time to indulge in RydalChurch, Dora’s Field, Rydal Mount and the tea shop, beforeventuring through the gracious park and Ambleside, whereanother pleasurable hour can be spent in the Armitt Museumbefore availing yourself of the many retail and refreshmentoutlets in this popular little Lakeland town.

Ascend Rydal Lane. Foran early diversion go left through St Mary’schurchyard for a simplestroll around Dora’sField, abundant with daffodils in spring. Higherup the hill is RydalMount, one of Cumbria’scultural treasures, dedicatedto the life of WilliamWordsworth. The world-renowned poet lived hisfinal years here and wasresponsible for laying outthe romantic gardens.It remains in the care ofhis descendants (entryfee/café).

Ignore the first access to Rydal Hall and take the laneabove, clearly waymarked ‘footpath to Old School RoomTea Shop’. What more inducement do you need? Passclose behind the imposing Rydal Hall, which is nowCarlisle’s Diocesan ecumenical conference centre,retreat, and youth centre.

Enjoy Rydal Beck’s dancing waters, tucked in beside thetea room, before heading on along the track waymarked‘footpath to Ambleside’ accessed via the camp site carpark. At a gate the footpath becomes a fenced lane leading to a Hall Lodge and gate onto the main road(request bus stop). Cautiously cross the main road, go leftalong footpath, keeping left cross Scandale Beck to dulyenter Ambleside. Pass the Health Centre (request bus stop)to reach the roundabout by the Armitt Museum, anothertreasure well worth investigating. Pass Bridge House (TheNational Trust’s smallest property) and follow the mainroad lined with shops. Crossing Rattle Gill go up by thePost Office/Tourist Information Centre, swinging downright by The Market Hall. Turn right into Church Street byGreggs bakery, noticing the wall plaque to WilliamWordsworth immediately below. Coming to the formerAmbleside Conservative Club turn left along King Street toreach the Kelsick Road bus stop.

Dora’s Field daffodilsafter an Easter snowfall

STAGE 4 SOUTHBOUNDGrasmere > RydalThe easiest stage yet, and for many the most romantic. For allthe popularity of the Wordsworth story, there is a magic in theair as you walk by Dove Cottage and embark on the far-from-morbid Coffin Route. This bridle-path leads on well above thebusy road to give enchanting views over Rydal Water toLoughrigg Fell to reach to Rydal Mount, an experience to beenjoyed at any season.

From the crossroads by Sam Read’s book emporium,walk south along College Street, passing Sarah Nelson’slittle shop, source of a much-loved gingerbread. Williamand Dorothy Wordsworth’s grave can be seen inSt Oswald’s Churchyard. Continue along the footpathbeside Stock Lane leading to the main road roundabout.Keep to the right and immediately cross the main roadinto Town End, passing the Wordsworth Trust’s smartcontemporary visitor centre. The road leads via DoveCottage and ascends the hill to How Top. Keep left,climbing with the road by Skater’s Tarn. Continue alongthe level road, which becomes a gravel lane afterDunnabeck then leads on to Brockle Cottage. After ahand-gate the bridleway continues as a wall-side path,effectively contouring along the hillside. Never in doubt,the path leads through a gate to reveal two stone seats.The block of stone at the back of the second wasoriginally the basis of a coffin rest. You might wish to restyour bones here temporarily to enjoy the lovely view overRydal Water! The level path leads via a further gate, rising by fallen trees to a gate into a lane. Glance over thetall wall to glimpse Rydal Mount’s beautiful landscaped

Skater’s TarnWalkers soak up the view from How Top

the Wordsworth Trust’s contemporary visitor centre inGrasmere Town End (tea rooms close by). Cautiouslycross the main road. From the roundabout turn intoStock Lane. The footpath leads into Grasmere. Follow on

round by the church and Sarah Nelson’sGingerbread Shop, branch right along

College Street to the crossroads by Sam Read Bookseller. (The

northbound bus stop is facing and thesouthbound to the left,opposite the HeatonCooper Studio.)

Grasmere

Rydal

White Moss

Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

STAGE 5 NORTHBOUNDThree hours of comparatively wilder country walking

Grasmere > WythburnQuiet back road to the entrance of Ghyll Foot. After theentrance to Greenburn Dale you are almost fell-walking on theclimb over the shoulder of Steel Fell to reach the top ofDunmail Raise. An easy descent via the cascading Birkside Gillgains entry onto a fine forest track running on well above theroad with marvellous views over Thirlmere.

From Sam Read’s bookshop walknorth along Easedale Road passing the entrance to ButharlypHowe Youth Hostel andGlenthorne Quaker Guest House.Slip through the hand-gate left,follow the fenced footpath adjacent to the roadside hedgeand emerge at a further hand-gate crossGoody Bridge. Turn right at the nextroad junction (brown sign Thorney HowYH 400yds). Follow this quiet byroad,a real contrast with the A591 headingnorth over Dunmail Raise across the valley. Thankfully it makes little impacthere. Pass the active farmyard ofUnderhelm and then descend towardsLow Mill Bridge. Go left immediatelyprior to the bridge at the road junction,advancing by Ghyllfoot cottages to where a private drive meets the road.

Bear up this gravel track beside tree-screenedHelmside, then via two cattle grid hand-gates.Pass by two cottages at Turn Howe (date plaque1577) to reach the fell-gate, at this pointentering Greenburn Dale (National Trustsign). Ignoring the inviting green trackleading into the wild dale beside the wall, veer right up thegrass path, the start of the south ridge of Steel Fell.

WythburnChurch

Dunmail Raise

Grasmere

Armboth road-end

garden just before passing through another gate.Continue by the back wall of The Mount and bear rightdown the concrete roadway beside the Rydal Mount carpark. This is a prime opportunity to visit this famoushouse (café) and traditional ornate garden, or, to visitthe Old School House Tea Room, go left along the lanebehind Rydal Hall. Otherwise descend Rydal Lanestraight to the bus stops at the foot of the hill.

Wordsworth Trust Visitor Centre

Helm Crag from Grasmere Townend

Family walking along the lane from Ghyllfoot

Family walking along the forest track above Wythburn Church

The StagePath has no such overarching ambition, but forwalkers with a head for heights the full ascent and summitridge traverse may be undertaken, crossing by Dead Pike anddescending the corresponding steep grassy north ridge to Steel EndFarm to reach the Armboth road-end bus stop.

StagePaths are tailored for country walkers notmountain trekkers but nonetheless, it is necessary tofollow the path, beating back the bracken, up throughthe fell enclosures to reach a kissing-gate/gate in theintake wall. Climb on, only a matter of sixty strides, to apace or two short of a clump of rushes. Find a sheep pathbranching right, through bracken; this comes alongsidethe top of the intake wall and contours beyond wherethis wall swings downhill. The sheep path duly easesdownhill and, coming close to an obvious pile of rocks,veers downhill more purposefully over Cotra, a marshyhollow, thankfully not too soft. Upon joining a greentractor track, turn left after skirting glacial moraine, tocross a minor ford. Bear down right along the minortrack to ford Raise Beck. Continue left with the wet trackto reach a gate in the fence, and thereby arrive beside theroadside barrier. Turn right and carefully cross to thelay-by (and request bus stops).

Nearby is the Achille Ratti Climbing Club hut, and arare 1950s AA call box (now a Grade II listed building).But motorists have no need to feel stranded – there isalways the 555! Crossing the light fence-stile go left, parallel to the road fence coming level with the ancientDunmail Raise cairn, traditionally associated withDunmail, the last king of Cumberland. Go through the

Helm Crag from Easedale Road

Helm Crag from Dunmail Raise

Wythburn Dale and Armboth road-end from the forest track

STAGE 5 SOUTHBOUNDWythburn > GrasmereFrom forest track to open fell with a smidgen of adventure inclimbing over the shoulder of Steel Fell. The stage concludesalong a quiet back road beneath Helm Crag. There are requestbus stops at the southern end of Dunmail Raise, enabling youto break this stage in two.

From Wythburn Church (southbound bus): follow theaccess roadway into the car park behind the church. Passthrough the kissing-gate and ascend the pitched path toreach the forest track at a kissing-gate. Turn right alongthe forest track to reach a big blue signboard. From theArmboth road-end (northbound bus): carefully cross theA592 and follow the facing forestry track rising south.This curves left to reach the big blue signboard.

Turn right as directed for ‘Grasmere’. Go through thekissing-gate, cross successive footbridges over the excitedwaters of Birkside Gill. Above is a majestic sequence ofcascades, well worth a closer look. The path continues ona gently rising line close to the intake wall with Helm Cragvisible over the road pass ahead. At the wall-end turnright crossing the broad footbridge and observe thebeck’s unnatural structure: Raise Beck was redirectedwhen Thirlmere was constructed. Bear half-right to thekissing-gate at the right-hand wall-end close to the roadand the massive Dunmail Raise cairn. Continue besidethe roadside fence crossing the original course of RaiseBeck, now a dry stony bed. Ignore the ladder stile,advance to a light fence stile beside a gate and cross tothe large roadside lay-by, just short of the climbing clubhut and the historic AA kiosk, now a Grade ll listed building (request bus stops either side of the road). Crossthe wide road to the barrier: be alert. Turn right to find ashort track leading left down to a gate in the fence.

hand-gate in the wall; bear half-right to cross the footbridge over Raise Beck, re-aligned to boost watercatchment into Thirlmere. Turn left at the wall cornerwith the permitted footpath sign; follow the clear pathrunning on north, parallel to and above the enclosurewall. Continue up, under the small plantation, to crossthe two footbridges spanning the foot of Birkside Gill.The gill is renown for its marvellous waterfalls. It istempting to detour up the fellside to have a look. Proceedto the forestry track via a hand-gate. A left turn leadsdown to the southbound bus stop at the Armboth road-end. The northbound bus stop is reached by following the forestry track ahead, with numerousdelightful elevated views over the upper reaches ofThirlmere. The path from Wythburn Church crosses thetrack at a gate. Descend left via the cobbled way enteringthe car park behind the church by hand-gate. Follow theaccess roadway left to the Grasmere-bound bus stop.

Birkside Gill from the Thirlmere forest track

Witnessing two 555 buses crossing Dunmail Raise

Family walking along the field-edge path beside Easedale Road

Dunmail Raise from the intake wall leadingoff the south ridge of Steel Fell

STAGE 6 NORTHBOUNDAllow two hours

Wythburn > ThirlspotThirlmere’s surroundings have been radically improved over thelast year with strategic tree felling restoring the intrinsic wildmountain demeanour of the valley. Centre-stage, the formerlysombre mere has become less the reservoir, more a Lakelandlake. The StagePath leads on as forest track, forest trail andfirm fellside path.

From Armboth road-end(northbound bus): follow the forest track leading south directlyopposite the bus stop. This linksup with the path from DunmailRaise, with the blue signboarddirecting to ‘Swirls’. From Wythburn Church (southboundbus): follow the access track-way leadingto the car park behind the church andpass on via the hand-gate up the cobbledbridle-path in the forest to meet the foresttrack (see text above).

Turn left accompanying the newlysurfaced track, quickly crossing Comb andWhelpside Gills to the doublefootbridge crossings of Mines Gill(Whelpside refers to the historic ‘highbreeding ground of wolves’). From theensuing kissing-gate the bridlewaybecomes a cobbled forest path thatwinds slowly through the tangle ofconifers. Ultimately the path comes

From the gate follow the green track leading left,latterly following a stream and cross a ford in the southerly-flowing Raise Beck. The track continues rising toa track junction at a smaller ford. Follow the green trackleft rising round glacial moraine onto a low ridge onCotra. Skirting a shallow marshy hollow bear off rightover undulating ground to ascend the bracken bank withevidence of a sheep path. This climbs easily up the fellsideslanting leftwards. Contour above the intake wall, soon tounite with a grass path on the south ridge of Steel Fell.

Turn left, descending through the kissing-gate/gate passing down the ridge via gateways with Greenburn Daleto the right and Helm Crag ahead. Note the ‘Lion and theLamb’ rocks prominent on the skyline. At the foot of theridge join the Green Burn valley track beside a wall, gothrough the fell-gate (National Trust ‘Green Burn’ sign)and descend the gravel lane from Turne Howe, the white-washed cottage. Proceed via two hand-gates besidecattle-grids adjacent to Helmside. At the road at the footof the slope, turn right and follow the valley road pastGhyll Foot Cottages. Notice the pollarded willows in thepasture to the right. Traditionally branches were cut notonly to create sheep hurdles (see fence) but also as asource of minerals for sheep, extracted by chewing thebark. At the next road junction, adjacent to Low MillBridge, turn right gently rising by Helmside Farm then pastseveral cottages near Thorney How Youth Hostel to a roadjunction. Turn left crossing Goody Bridge and goimmediately through the hand-gate, along the fencedfootpath beside the roadside hedge. At the far end ahand-gate opens onto Easedale Road. Pass on byGlenthorne, guest house, and the entrance to ButharlypHowe Youth Hostel to the crossroads in Grasmere (northbound bus stop immediately left, southbound busstop right opposite the Heaton Cooper Studio).

Thirlspot

The Swirls

Wythburn Church

ArmbothRoad-end

StagePath crossing Mines Gill

Free-running path along the fellside aboveThirlspot, looking north to Great How andthrough St John’s in the Vale to Blencathra

down via a man-made rock step onto a forest track,signed ‘Thirlmere, Swirls’. Head on north up this track,duly descending into The Swirl car park via a kissing-gate(request bus stops left). Go through the car park andcross the footbridge signed ‘Helvellyn, Stanah, Sticks’.Continue following the ‘Helvellyn’ sign to a kissing-gatein a wall. Rising a few yards to a fork follow the ‘publicfootpath Sticks Pass, Stanah’ sign. The man-made pathgently angles up the rough fellside, with retaining stonesgiving a firm footing. Cross a small footbridge and comealongside an intake wall. Where this dips down contouron with the new path enjoying handsome views towardsthe tree-shrouded Great How, and in the distance animpressive view of Blencathra through St John’s in theVale. Coming to a wall encounter a path junction andbear down left, signed ‘Thirlspot Farm’. The slopingpitched path leads to a gate and then a gated crossing ofthe Thirlmere leat, gathering the waters of a string ofstreams north from Castle Rock that would otherwisehave missed the reservoir catchment. Head down to agate and gill, crossing left of the static caravans to passthrough the farmyard by gates. Bear right to a hand-gatebeside the farmhouse and continue along in front of theKing’s Head Hotel to reach the corresponding bus stops.

StagePath joining the forest track to The Swirls

STAGE 6 SOUTHBOUNDThirlspot > WythburnBeginning as a fellside path entering the forest running alongthe western flanks of Helvellyn to admire Thirlmere from anelevated trail. Judicious tree felling has enhanced the reservoir’ssurroundings restoring its wild mountain heart, from both roadlevel and ‘on high’. As a further bonus this is a nationalsanctuary for our native red squirrel. These delightful creaturesare actively protected from the unwelcome advances of theAmerican grey squirrel, carriers of the squirrel parapoxvirusthat destroys populations of reds.

From the bus stops immediately north of the Thirlspotwalk back to The King’s Head Hotel and pass the entranceto a hand-gate with a bridleway sign. Enter the gated laneleading through Thirlspot Farm. Cross the gated gillbeside a trio of static caravans and ascend the pasture toa gated crossing of the Thirlmere Leat, carrying waterseemingly up-dale to join Helvellyn Gill and thus enter thereservoir. Continue up to a gate in the intake wall, joininga pitched path climbing to a path junction at the top ofthe adjacent rising wall. Turn right, signed ‘Swirls CarPark’, to follow the stone-edged contouring path, whichthen comes alongside an intake wall with consistentlyhandsome views, particularly north towards Skiddaw andBlencathra. The wall dips away but the path continuescontouring and crosses a small footbridge beforedescending to a sign where the popular path toHelvellyn branches left. From here go right, down througha kissing-gate and subsequent hand-gate. Crossing a footbridge over Helvellyn Gill enter The Swirls car park.

Approaching Thirlspot upon the high intake wall path

STAGE 7 NORTHBOUNDOne brief climb, otherwise largely level going,allow two hours

Thirlspot > Dale BottomThe StagePath starts by climbing back above the intake wall tovisit the wild waters of Fisherplace Gill, before descending withthe Sticks Pass bridleway to cross St John’s Beck and thenwandering on firm tracks by Shoulthwaite Moss and the oldroad under High Rigg.

Pass the entrance of King’s Head Hotel and go through ahand-gate with bridleway sign at the end of the buildingto enter Thirlspot Farm’s gated farmyard (somewhatcryptic – ‘thirlspot’ means ‘the giant’s hole’). Exit throughthe gate to the right of the three static caravans,ascending the pasture to a gate and cross Thirlmere Leat.A short rough stony pasture leads to a gate in the intakewall. Climb the pitched path to a path junction where thewall levels. Turn left on a footpath signed ‘Stanah, SticksPass’. Follow the clear path above the wall duly dippingto cross a gated footbridge over Fisherplace Beck. Thereare two massive waterfalls above and it’s well worthclimbing up for a closer view of the action. Contourforward as directed by the waymark soon comingalongside the intake wall. The path descends lining upwith the Sticks Pass bridle-path at a signpost. Do not gothrough the hand-gate directly below; instead keep rightby the wall to cross Stanah Gill by an old bridge. Bear leftdown to a stile/gate over the Thirlmere Leat (At this pointthe leat had to be bored through a massive bedrockbluff.) Descend the pasture and cross the ladder-stileonto the farm lane leading down by ThirlmereCommunity Hall andadjacent car park.

From the cottagesturn right, alongthe road, and passthe redundant timber building, originally a youthhostel. After some 250mfind a footpath signpostedfrom a hand-gate, enter thevalley pasture and follow theleft-hand wall towards the mainroad. Cross the wall-stile and climb thesteps up the embankment. Turn right and follow the verge, past a request bus stop, andthen carefully cross the main road. Turn leftwith the signed ‘Public road round the lake’leading past a caravan park atBridge End Farm. Immediately afterthe toilet block on the left, go

Pass through the car park taking the first kissing-gate left,with a big blue signboard ‘permissive path to Wythburn’.Joining the forest track enter the woodland on a risingline that later descends to a broad gate. Go left onto thebridle-path. Initially level, it rises and weaves through themature conifers with a firm cobbled base and stepsand one small footbridge. After a kissing-gate, crosssuccessive footbridges spanning Mines Gill and join theforest track – a welcome chance to restore a comfortablestride. Continue to Whelpside Gill and immediately aftercrossing the gill take the bridle-path that crosses thetrack. For the southbound bus turn down right toWythburn Church and follow the access roadway left tothe bus stop. For the northbound bus stop, continue withthe forest track and as the forestry ends swing down rightto reach the Armboth road-end bus stop.

Dale Bottom

Shoulthwaite

Thirlspot

The crags of Ullscarf and Thirlmere from the forest track

STAGE 7 SOUTHBOUNDDale Bottom > ThirlspotFor the main part this is a dale floor walk, journeying with alost road and along the edge of a peat moss before climbingabove the intake wall to survey the greater Thirlmere setting,with the added excitement of the option to visit the crashingcascades of Fisherplace Gill.

Follow the verge south from the bus stop and bear leftdown the side road leading between Dalebottom Farmand the caravan park. The road twists and turns passingBroadstones, and, rising by a road-gate, opens to aT-junction. Turn right on a bridleway (‘no through road’sign). The lane passes Shaw Bank and Brownbeck Farmcottages, becoming a green track advancing to astile/hand-gate. The bridleway continues below abracken-clad bank becoming a lovely green-way to reacha hand-gate/gate. Veer right as a green track convergesfrom the left, pass the old single-arched Rough HowBridge, to reach a hand-gate/gate onto the old road.Cross the newer bridge spanning Shoulthwaite Beck, andimmediately cross the low wall-stile left. Traverse the briefpasture to a second low wall-stile onto the main roadverge (request bus stop) and cross straight over into thelane leading to Shoulthwaite Farm (caravan park). Bearround to the left between the barns to a kissing-gateinto woodland. Take the obvious level path ahead,which shortly merges with a forestry track. Continuewith Shoulthwaite Moss left, passing by two further kissing-gates to meet a minor road. Turn right and firstleft after 60m, via the hand-gate on the left with a footpath sign. Follow the open track to a gate left of a

through the doublegates right into the farmyard, followinga footpath signed‘Smaithwaite’. Keepto the track by thelarge barns, bearingdown right toa hand-gate. Nowwith a wall on yourleft descend to crossSt John’s Beck, theoutflow of ThirlmereReservoir, over asequence of threefootbridges. Noticethe water flowmonitoring station,left. Keep the fence,then wall, to theleft, as you rise to agate. Proceed alonga green-way via a

gateway and then a gate into the farmyard atSmaithwaite (which means ‘the small clearing’). Pass onbetween the white barn, date-stone 1692, and the ‘new-build’ footings to a gate to the right of a secondbarn. Follow the open track to a hand-gate onto theroad. Turn right for 60m then go left along the forestaccess track (United Utilities blue permissive path signboard). The track runs level along the edge ofShoulthwaite Moss, coming in to the forest edge via akissing-gate. Watch for the fork where the forest trackbegins to rise and keep to the low path leading to a kissing-gate into the farmyard at Shoulthwaite Farm.Pass on between the barns (notice the humorous ‘stringweather station’ on the barn) and swing right from thecaravan park along the access lane to meet the main road(request bus stop).

With the utmost care cross straight over via the wall-stile beside Shoulthwaite Beck bridge and cross thebrief meadow to a further wall-stile into the old roadlane. Turn right for 50m, then left via the hand-gate withits advice for dog owners. Spot the old stone-archedRough How Bridge ahead, walled off and totallyredundant. Keep left to the gate as the track forks besidethe right-hand fence. The ensuing green-way becomes anundulating path beneath the bank leading to a hand-gate/stile and then alongside the level wall to join atrack becoming a road passing Brownrigg Farm (cottage)and Shaw Bank. On coming to a T-junction turn left withthe gated road, passing Broadstones and winding on topass by Dalebottom caravan park to the main road. Goright along the verge to the bus stop.

Castle Rock of Triermain from Smaithwaite

Thirlmere Leat above Stanah

STAGE 8 NORTHBOUNDA little under two hours of easy country walking

Dale Bottom > KeswickAn opportunity to visit Castlerigg Stone Circle by a less-frequented field path, continuing down into Keswick withthe ancient main road and concluding at the former railway,closed in 1964 and now a popular cycleway.

Directly oppositeCausewayfootFarm cross thestile beside thegate leading into alane and follow thelane past a barn to a furtherstile/gate close by the static caravans.Turn left along the track, lightly fenced to the right. This leads to field-gate. Keep to the open track, via a level stream crossing, to a wooden field-gate. Go through the gate,and climb up the pasture by the wall, then fence,then wall to the right, rising to a stepped wall-stile.Continue to a hand-gate. On reaching the main road turnright along the verge.

You can advance dry-shod and swiftly to CastleriggStone Circle by crossing and following the roadside footpath uphill, branching right along the narrow CastleLane. The far more pleasing option, with the emphasis onquiet country perspectives, turns right, into the lane leading to Low Nest. Immediately after crossing the cattle-grid go left via the hand-gate and follow the

barn, passing between the footings of a building and anold white-washed barn, to a gate. Follow the green-wayvia a gate, descending with a fence close right to crossa triple-gated footbridge over St John’s Beck, the outflowof Thirlmere. The central section is the remnant of abroader stone structure – note the stepping stones to theleft – not a right of way so do not cross over here. Thefootpath rises via a hand-gate onto the farm track leading by barns onto the road opposite the caravanpark. Turn left following the road past Bridge End Farmto meet the main road (with request bus stops).

Carefully cross the main road and follow the broadverge path right. Advance to find a footpath signed left,descend the embankment and cross over a wall-stile.Traverse the valley pasture with a wall close right and gothrough a hand-gate onto the St John’s-in-the-Vale road.Turn right and, at the small car park before cottages andThirlmere Community Hall, leave the road left. Followthe lane rising towards Stanah Farm. Crossing the ladder-stile at the top ascend the pasture to a hand-gate/stile beside the Thirlmere Leat. Note the hugerock bluff right. The reservoir engineers had to borethrough to create the water channel and one suspects thiswas not an easy process! Continue up and cross a stonebridge over Stanah Gill beside the wall – the ravine abovehas one massive double waterfall, but to see it you have tostay within the gorge. Be warned – it is slow, rough going.

The StagePath rises to the wooden signpost for‘Swirls Car Park’ and forks up right, off the ancient StickPass route – the highest range-crossing bridle-path inLakeland, reaching 750m/2460ft. Our path comes abovethe intake wall then dips, but the path contours to a footbridge crossing of Fisherplace Gill. This is anotherravine famed for its waterfalls. When walking you need toclimb up from the path, but they can be clearly seenfrom the bus. The path reconnects with the intake wall, coming to a three-way sign where the wall breaks down.Take the bridleway ‘Thirlspot Farm’ descending on apitched path via three gates recrossing the leat to enterthe farmyard beside the trio of static caravans. Exitthrough the hand-gate right, beside the white-washedhote. The bus stop is at the far end.

Dale Bottom

Castlerigg stone circle

Keswick

Walkers crossing the valley bound for Legburthwaite

Castlerigg stone circle

STAGE 8 SOUTHBOUNDKeswick > Dale BottomThe StagePath takes leave of Keswick along the Railway Trail,climbing the ancient ridge-way to Castlerigg Stone Circle on thebrow, then ventures via field-paths to revel in an amazingsurround of mighty mountains from Blencathra to Helvellyn– stirring stuff indeed.

From the bus stop beside Booths walk towards thetown by advancing along Tithebarn Street to the mini-roundabout. Turn right with the main street to enterthe Market Place centred upon the eye-catchingMoot Hall (Tourist Information Centre). Leave thepedestrianised area taking the left-hand exit to St John’sStreet and turning first left with Station Street. Use thepedestrian lights to cross the main road to enter StationRoad ahead. This crosses the broad River Greta slicingthrough Fitz Park and rising to the entrance of KeswickLeisure Pool. Bear right to step onto the old railway passing through the car park beside the old RailwayStation platform. The original canopy from the age ofsteam remains. Steam on along the cycleway, once againcrossing the River Greta, and catch a glimpse left of theKeswick Bridge Timeshare apartments and Calvert Bridgebacked by the tree-clad slopes of Latrigg. Just before thetrail goes under a bridge, turn right on the rising pathleading to a hand-gate onto the main A591 road.

Cross and follow the roadside footpath bearing left atthe road junction with the Penrith Road, and fork upright with the side road with blue signs directing toCastlerigg Stone Circle. This is an ancient ridge-way

hardcore track up the pasture to a green-way, bearingright to a gate with three-way footpath sign. Oncethrough the gate follow the road-way passing High Nestold farmhouse and converted barn, to a gate entering ashort lane. This opens into pasture with Blencathrastraight ahead. Contour to a hand-gate beside theconifer copse. Continue by two further wall hand-gates,followed by a long traverse across a wet rush pasture toreach a gate onto the road by a stone sheepfold. Turn upleft and take the opportunity to visit Castlerigg StoneCircle in the pasture enclosure on the left. This NationalTrust property contains the most famous, and certainlythe most visited, ancient monument in Cumbria. Noticethe shallow rigg and furrow grassy corrugations,reputedly the result of ‘Dig For Britain’ ploughing duringthe Second World War. The stone circle is a massiveattraction for many visitors, especially at sunset anddawn when the spiritual magic is at its most tangible.

Follow the minor road beyond the junction alongCastle Lane, coming down by a ‘Welcome to Keswick onDerwentwater’ sign. The road descends to converge withthe modern main road. Cross this and follow the A591footpath to the junction with the A592, keeping ondownhill. Before crossing the road-bridge, short of TravisPerkins, cross the road and go through the hand-gatedown onto the Keswick Railway Footpath. Keep ahead,cross a bridge over the River Greta with a lovely view righttowards Latrigg with the Keswick Bridge Timeshare nearleft, and Calvert Bridge. The railway trail reaches the oldrailway station and Keswick Leisure Pool beyond. Go leftonto Station Road and follow the roadside footpathbisecting Fitz Park to cross the Greta again. Join the mainroad, cross via the pedestrian crossing into StationStreet, and bear right at the end. Pass through thepedestrianised Market Place, with the Moot Hall (TouristInformation Centre) and keep forward to the roadroundabout. Turn left to reach Booths supermarket carpark and the all-important bus terminus.

River Greta from the Keswick Railway Trail

Blencathra from the path between Castlerigg and High Nest

When walking the 555 StagePath put thebus to the back of your mind until youhave completed your stage or stages. Theday-time frequency of the service is suchthat you can be certain that, in time, a buswill roll up and gently and scenically speedyou on your way. This StagePath is not aformally designated route. It has nospecial waymarks. The onus is on theindividual walker either to follow thesuggested route, or to choose options oftheir own. Be safe and show respect forothers and the landscape through whichyou walk. Take pleasure from your timewalking – whatever the weather there isalways something unique to see, hear,sense and enjoy. Have fun.

ascent climbing easily up from the latter-day housing togain spacious views over the Greta gorge. Reaching thecrest the lane levels, and passing the end of Castle Lanecomes beside the enclosure containing the stone circle.Do make time to pause on your walk and stroll aroundthe circle to sense for yourself the very special spirit ofplace resonating from the stones, accentuated by theirmajestic setting. Continue with the road. As it begins todescend find the gate on the right beside a walled sheepfold with footpath sign ‘High Nest A591’. There isa clear path on the ground, initially with a fence rightthen straight on across the pasture, with much evidenceof rush growth indicative of damp ground. A sequence ofthree hand-gates through pasture brings the path besidea conifer coppice. Follow on to enter a short lane reaching a gate beside a converted barn. Walk throughthe yard at High Nest and along the approach drive. Gothrough the gate immediately left of a cattle-grid with athree-way footpath sign ‘A591 St John’s in Vale’. Followthe green-way bearing down with the rough hardcoretrack to a hand-gate and the Low Nest access drive. Crossthe cattle-grid and venture onto the road bearing leftalong the accommodating verge to a hand-gate signed‘public footpath’. A clear path descends to cross a wall-stile continuing down to a gate. Follow the opentrack leading to a gate then along a lane. Approachingthe caravan park turn right via the stile/galvanised gate.Go along the fenced lane by a barn to the stile/gate ontothe main road, opposite the entrance to Causeway FootFarm and reach the Dale Bottom bus stop (lay-by andtelephone kiosk).

Keswick Moot Hall

555 StagePath researched Jan/Feb 09StagePaths © Mark Richards 2009

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