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Walk 1059 - printer friendly version

Colwith Force and Skelwith Force Walk

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 4.8 miles / 7.8 km

Ascent - 650 feet / 197 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference NY327047
Lat 54.4332570 + Long -3.0374614
Postcode LA22 9HU (approx. location only)

This circular Lake District walk explores part of the Langdale and Elterwater area of Lakeland. While no tops are included, two waterfalls provide picturesque landmarks, Colwith Force and Skelwith Force. The latter is not clearly seen from the footpath on the west side of the River Brathay, but to see it properly requires only a minor detour on the other side of the river.

Starting outside the Britannia Inn at Elterwater village, cross the bridge over the river and follow the narrow tarmac road due south-west, then south, as it goes past the Youth Hostel on the right, though it was due for closure at the time of writing (August 2013). Pass the Eltermere Hotel on the left and leave the road to follow a bridleway uphill on the right, due south-west. As the track gradually turns left, a view opens out, also on the left, with a distant glimpse of Wansfell Pike.

The path passes another path coming in from woodland on the right as the landscape opens out to the left. Take a left turn along a signed public footpath to follow a route down to the farm at Wilson Place in half a mile with the whaleback shape of Wetherlam especially apparent ahead. On approaching Wilson Place, the knobbly outline of the lower height of Holme Fell forms the skyline, seen beyond the track to Stang End.

Just beyond Wilson Place, take care with any oncoming traffic as you follow the narrow tarmac road left for about fifty yards, then take the next public footpath to the right down a grassy field and across a narrow wooden footbridge over a stream, the outflow of Little Langdale Tarn, to continue up to Stang End. The track ahead to the right leads south to Hodge Close but continue left along the narrow lane to the next farm at High Park where the route leads downhill to the left to reach woodland and Colwith Force is just a few minutes walk away. A narrow path skirts round to the left to reveal a series of mini cascades in addition to the principal fall of water seen from the main path.

The path continues through woodland up a series of steep steps before descending to a road. Turn right here and then take the next public footpath on the left, the Cumbria Way, which you follow past Park Farm and Park House. Follow it all the way back to Elterwater village, passing Skelwith Force on the right before a footbridge. The view across the lake of Elterwater towards the Langdale Pikes, just before Rob Rash Woods, is quite possibly the best shoreline view of the lake which otherwise tends to remain elusively hidden.

Walk 1059 Route Map

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