Elterwater, Elter Water, Colwith, Slater Bridge, Little Langdale

Approx. 5.5 miles. Undulating in places but easy. Good clear paths, can be wet in places.

I originally saw this walk in Bob Allen’s book, On the Lower Lakeland Fells, but it took me some time to try it out. My perception that you had to gain height to really enjoy the Lake District was forever changed by this brilliant walk that constantly provides wonderful views and the odd surprise!

The walk is ideal for pretty much any weather! It starts from the picturesque village of Elterwater. There is a car park (post code LA22 9HP) in the village, right opposite the Britannia Inn. 

Leave the car park by the path heading for Skelwith Bridge that runs alongside the Great Langdale Beck, keeping the beck on your right. 

The path meanders next to fields of grazing sheep before entering a small wooded area.

When the beck is in full flow, the water makes a wonderful, excitable companion as it races your progress along the path. When there has been little rain however, the tamed beck is a whispering companion and you can even get down on to the river bed in places.

As you come out of the wooded area, you have Elterwater to your right.

There is normally a small beach with ducks waiting expectantly to share walker’s sandwiches, and wonderful views across to the Langdale Pikes.

The path now makes its way across open grazing pasture, although it’s not unusual to see the River Brathay – fed by Elter Water – extending its reach over the banks and onto the fields. 

You will soon come to another wooded area. The river is now being squeezed as the banks move in from both sides; the water picking up pace as it fights its way over and between the increasingly rocky terrain. 

Soon, you hear the roar of Skelwith Force; the waterfall that while of a modest drop carries a vast quantity of water from Elter Water onwards towards Lake Windermere, creating a spectacular feature. There is a small iron bridge which – with care - allows you to get really close to the roar of the water.

Meanwhile, the path continues on its way towards and between the workshops of Kirkstone Quarries.

In the past, the associated Kirkstone Galleries was a mecca of local, slate based trinkets and more exotic (and expensive) slate products with one or two brought in items. Now, it is just like other niche homeware stores with a very limited range of local products, and so for me has lost all it’s charm. Chester’s – the café – is, however, a fine place to take a break, particularly if you can get an outside table overlooking the river.

Follow the vehicular entrance next to the river – paying attention to the traffic – and go out onto the main road, turning right over the road bridge which crosses the River Brathay. 

Following the Coniston Road for a short period where you will see a public footpath to the right sign posted for Colwith Bridge.

This path climbs through a small wooded area parallel with the A593, joins a farm track, then becomes a path again beyond the Park House farm.

From here, you can look across to your right and see the meadow next to Elter Water you walked through before.  On this path, you will some permanent caravans and the buildings of Park Farm.

You will see an arrow on a wall pointing the way. Keep to the path and cross a number of metalled drives, then by-pass Low Park Farm and follow the path as it slopes down towards the River Brathay. This is the section of the river that links Little Langdale Tarn with Elter Water.

You will then enter more woods and come to a stile which brings you out onto the road that jons the A593 Coniston road with Elterwater and Little Langdale. 

Turn right onto the road and look for another stile this time on the left that takes you back into the woods towards Colwith Force.

Follow the path to the right, keeping the ravine and river on your right. Soon, you will hear the roar of the water cascading over the double drop of Colwith Force. 

With care you can get close to the falls from a number of angles which provide some great opportunities for pictures. Also of interest are the buildings and steep staircase on the far bank; evidence that at some time in the past the water’s power was harnessed, perhaps for industrial use.

As you leave the falls, the path moves away from the river, through the woods to emerge close to the buildings of High Park Farm. Follow the bridleway through between the farm buildings and take the metalled track to the right, which heads down hill towards Stang End Farm.

There are some great views of Lingmoor Fell to your right and the route ahead towards Little Langdale Tarn.

Through Stang Farm, you will need to take a quick left, right to stay on the path. Cross a cattle-grid and small beck then follow the path as it follows the base of a small tree covered hill.

As you come through the woods, ignore the path that emerges to your left, then “keep left” rather than crossing the footbridge / ford to your right.

The path how hugs the base of a hill littered with slate quarry spoil on your left. 

After passing two gates, cross a stile on the right and follow the path which leads down to the picturesque Slater Bridge. 

The bridge crosses the outflow from Little Langdale Tarn and will eventually cascade down Colwith Force. You will want to stop and take pictures of this most tranquil of Lake District scenes, and perhaps stop for a snack. It is idyllic here.

When ready, cross the footbridge and take the path straight in front of you, keeping the emerging stone wall on your left. 

As you walk up the slight slope, you will see marvellous views across Little Langdale Tarn, across to Mickledon and Langdale Fell, with Lingmoor Fell to your right and the Tilberthwaite Fells to your left.

Stay on the path that heads towards High Birk Howe Farm and then the narrow road leading to the Little Langdale road. Turn left, then immediately right and follow the track’s gentle incline onto the lower edge of Lingmoor Fell. 

From now on, keep to the right whenever there is a choice, and the track will become a rough lane, bounded by trees and a stone wall. Take care here as the surface lane is basically lose stone and rock. 

The lane comes out to a metalled road. Follow the road to the right and at the junction just after Elkterwater Hall, turn left and hed back into Elterwater over the road bridge that crosses the Great Langdale Beck. 

The car park is to your right….and the Brittania Inn to your left!

Great Langdale Valley to Stool End from New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel

Approx 4miles. Undulating in places but easy. Good clear paths, can be wet in places – especially when crossing a shallow weir!

This walk in the wonderful Langdale Valley starts from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel / Stickle Barn pub / National Trust car park. Using post code LA22 9JU will get you to the right place. On certain days, the field in front of the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel is also available for parking, payable at hotel reception.

Walk up past the left hand side of the Stickle Barn; from the National Trust car park. Go through the gate on the right and follow the path round to the left. The path then splits. Straight ahead will take you up the steep incline alongside Stickle Ghyll towards Stickle Tarn, but today, turn left. The path here is loose and rocky and you’ll be striding or scrambling over some large flat rocks.

Pass through another gate and swing left, picking out the path that hugs the lower slopes of Langdale Fell. You will see another path off to the right which takes you towards Dungeon Ghyll and up onto the fell above.

The path is well maintained and undulating in places but the views along the valley, across to Lingmoor Fell to the left and up the slopes of Langdale Fell are marvellous.

You will also cross a wooden bridge under which Dungeon Ghyll flows having made its journey down form the high fells; its crystal clear water cascading over the rocks and away to the valley floor.

The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel comes into view to your left as you continue to make your way along the valley. After the hotel, the path takes long lazy curve to the right and into the Mickledon valley, with spectacular views of Loft Crag and Pike of Stickle to your left.

The guidebooks say: “When the fields to the left end, turn left, off the main track, down to a footbridge over the beck.” On the last two occasions I have walked this way, the bridge had gone; its previous presence only evidenced by the concrete supports on either bank. So, make your way further along the track until level with a shallow weir, and cross here instead.

This can be quite a social experience as other walkers with same information seek out the shallowest place to cross!

Having crossed the beck, turn left and follow the path towards the nearby farm at Stool End.

Follow the signs through the farm buildings and continue along the road away from the farm and back towards the road. Turn left on to the road which crosses a beck via a bridge then take a left turn at the sign for a footpath.

From here, follow the way into a camp site and turn right beyond a wooden building. Follow the fence to your right and which takes you to a gate. Turn right after the gate and cross a small beck, then a stile and into a field. Climb half up the field then turn left along a faint track running along the slope.

Follow the path to Side House then just after, turn crossing a wider beck and heading back to your start point at the Stickle Barn pub.

Elterwater, Baysbrown Wood, Oak Howe, Chapel Stile, Elterwater.

Approx. 3 miles. Undulating in places but easy. Good clear paths, can be wet in places.

This walk is ideal for pretty much any weather! It starts from the picturesque village of Elterwater, takes in the near-by Baysbrown Wood, onto the base of Lingmoor Fell then back towards Elterwater along the Langdale Valley, alongside the Great Langdale Beck. It has the added advantage of starting from near the Britannia Inn in Elterwater and passing Wainwright's Inn in Chapel Stile; so no need to go thirsty!

There is a convenient if small car park in the centre of Elterwater which makes an ideal start point for this walk.

From the car park, turn left over the bridge that spans the Great Langdale Beck. If there has been heavy rain, the power and volume of water cascading underneath the bridge produce some impressive rapids.

Take the first turning to the right just past the Eltermere Inn. Follow the tarmac road around to the right, quickly passing a path that leads away to your left, and up onto Lingmoor Fell.

The road skirts the base of Lingmoor Fell and Sawrey’s Wood, climbing surprisingly steeply.

With Yew Crags to your right hand side, the tarmac road gives way to a wide track and enters Baysbrown Wood. The gaps in the tress give tempting glimpses of the fells on the opposite side of the Langdale Valley.

Coming out of the wood, you have a clear view across towards Chapel Stile before skirting behind Baysbrown farmhouse (I think). You will also see a well established camp site below.

The path picks up a stone wall to your left and arcs gently downhill towards Oak Howe. Be wary of the cattle that sometimes graze here.

Follow the path to the right, around Oak Howe (the left hand path takes you out into the Langdale Valley) and start to head back towards Chapel Stile.

Keep the Great Langdale Beck on your left and follow the path towards the camp site which will be on your right. Cross over the beck on the bridge, taking care on the cattle grid. Be wary of camp site traffic as you follow the track to the right, and rather than going onto the road, continue to the right, on the path that goes through Thrang Farm.

The path then goes behind the delightful Chapel Stile School buildings and meets the road just before Wainwright’s Inn. (If tempted, I can thouroughly recommend the lamb!) At the end of the inn’s car park facing the road, to the right is a gate; go through the gate and over the foot bridge that crosses the Great Langdale Beck.

Take the path to the right, perhaps taking some time to relax by the edge of the beck as it widens out before dropping over the recent restored weir.

Follow the path around the base of a slate slag heap; the unwanted material from the Elterwater Quarry on the hill above you. As the path rises through a wooded area, you will see the beck picking up power as the water is forced into increasingly narrow channels between ancient rocks.

Going up a steep incline, the path joins the quarry road. Turn left onto the road and head back towards Elterwater.

There are some fine views of the surrounding fells; in front of you (right to left) of Park Fell, Loughrigg Fell and Loughrigg itself.

The road then drops down back into the village of Elterwater. Turn left onto the bridge and the car park is on your right .... and the Brittania Inn is on your left.