YHA Coniston to Windermere Station

(S) From YHA Coniston Holly How, go down to the road (A 593) and cross over to take the side road along Yewdale Beck.

(1) At Shepherd Bridge, join the Cumbria Way heading north-east up to High Guards. At the end of the forest (on your right) go past a spring, straight on to pick up the track that goes left to Low Yewdale.

(2) Keep on the Cumbria Way along the beck then veer off to the right to go into Tarn Hows Wood. Still on the Cumbia Way go through Tarn Hows Cottage farm and then on up to the lane. Follow the lane left to reach Tarn Hows.

(3) Take a few minutes to drink in the scenery of this very picturesque spot, that is very popular with visitors and locals. There are great views looking north to Scafell, the Langdales and the Helvellyn range.
Take the Cumbria Way that runs to the left of the tarns and heads north away from the water.

(4) At a junction of tracks, turn right to head east as far as the Iron Keld Plantation (a National Trust property). Go through the gate and head north through the plantation. The forest track leads out into the old mining area and Arnside Plantation before reaching Black Crag (Wainwright 322m).

(5) AW describes the view in this way, "The lovely countryside around the head of Windermere is delightfully pictured, this being the best viewpoint for the sylvan charms of the area between Ambleside, Wray Castle and Hawkshead. Southwards, Coniston Water is seen above the indented and wooded shores of Tarn Hows, which appears as beautiful as ever but a trifle foreign to the district. The mountain scene, although restricted, is good, the Langdale Pikes being especially well displayed. There is a peep of Scafell Pike, just overtopping the north ridge of the Crinkles. North, the various tops of the Helvellyn range are not seen distinctly, the mass appearing as a single mountain."
The route continues south-east through the Pullscar Plantation and out onto the track that goes down to Sunny Brow farm.

(6) Turn right to reach the farm and continue south along the country lane to Knipe Fold and the junction near Sandy Ground. Continue southeast to stroll down Skinner How Lane. This comes out onto the main road at Hall Bridge.

(7) From here, continue south-east along the road for a short distance and take the public footpath off to the right that goes past Keen Ground. At a cross-road of paths, bear left to a junction, then right to another junction and left to reach the church on a small mound overlooking Hawkshead.

(8) Hawkshead is a good place to have lunch and maybe a pint of the local beer at The Queen's Head. There's plenty to see in Hawkshead, but don't forget to visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery and William Wordsworth's school, The Old Grammar School.
Leaving Hawkshead by the side of the Red Lion pub (signposted Public Footpath to Latterbarrow and Claife Heights), walk along the tarmacked path to reach the B5285 road. Go straight across and follow the path (signposted Public Footpath Wray Castle and Ambleside). The path goes across fields to reach Scar House Lane. Keep straight on until you reach Loanthwaite Lane.

(9) Here, turn right and follow the winding road up to a crossroads. Turn left and then right through a gate to start the ascent to Latterbarrow. Once in the woods, there is a fork in the path. The left-hand path goes straight up to the summit, but it is preferable to take the right-hand path along the dry stone wall for about 300 yards until the path turns left to head up to the obelisk at the top of Latterbarrow.

(10) After taking in the 360º views from the top of Latterbarrow, head off south-east into the woods and pick up the path that leads down to a disused quarry. Here, be careful not to get confused with all the forest tracks. The route leads south to another forest track.

(11) Turn left and then right at the guideposts (Long Height) heading south until you reach a crossroads.

(12) Here, turn right through the Hollin Band Plantation. When you come out of the forest, Highs Moss Tarn should be on your left and further along the track Wise Een Tarn.

(13) Keep on this track, passing Moss Eccles Tarn until you reach a track that joins from the right. Turn left and follow the track to another fork, this time taking the right-hand track down to Near Sawrey.

(14) This is where Beatrix Potter's House is, if you want to visit the National Trust property Hill Top.
Turn left along the B5285 road for about 100 yards, then take the footpath off to the right leading to Town End.

(15) At Town End turn right along the road, then left to pick up a footpath behind the church that will take you down to the main road again. Follow the road until you reach the path going up to the Claife Viewing Station (from the car park).

(16) From the Claife Viewing Station, drop down the other side to reach the Windermere Ferry landing stage.
Put your feet up on the crossing on the ferry, but enjoy the views from this peculiar perspective.
Once on dry land again, head up the road and take the footpath off to the left heading to the camping and caravan site.

(17) Cross the road and keep straight on to meet up with the A592 next to the Tourist Information office in Bowness, near the ferries and jetties. From here, follow the A5074 through Windermere to reach Windermere station.(E)

See comments in the route description regarding Hawkshead.

This route starts in a busy village (Coniston), passes through a busier village (Hawkshead) and finishes in possibly the busiest village in The Lakes (Windermere), so you won't be short of places to eat, drink or buy souvenirs.