Walk 3452 - printer friendly version

Ghyll Head & Strawberry Bank Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.6 miles / 12.4 km

Ascent - 1100 feet / 333 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SD402914
Lat 54.3146710 + Long -2.9207219
Postcode LA23 3PD (approx. location only)

This Lake District walk explores to the east of Lake Windermere. The route starts from Ghyll Head Reservoir where there is limited parking (grid ref. SD 398924) on the north side of the lane leading up from the A592 about 2.5 miles south of Windermere. After parking walk east with the reservoir to your right and continue for a kilometre along the lane to reach a junction (grid ref. SD402914). Turn left signed to Winster and Kendal, ignoring the left fork just after the junction.

Continue over the hill and follow the lane down into a broad valley. Approaching The Oaks Farm just after the road bends left, take the signed public footpath on the right to Birks Road. Go through two gates and follow a track through the field. At the end of the field turn right (yellow waymark) and continue to the end of the field. Cross the stile on your left by a wooden gate. Continue up a rise to the right and go through an old gate next to a tree. Continue on a grassy track. Continue through a small gate and enter a yard by a cottage. Cross the lawn using the steppingstones (left of the cottage), join a narrow path, pass through a small gate, and cross the stile in the wall to your left. Pass the cottage on your right, continue up steps by the barn and go through a gate into a field.

Continue ahead following the path to another gate. Pass through the gate and cross the field to a ladder stile. Once across the stile, join a track and continue to a wood. On this section there is an excellent view of Windermere and the fells beyond. Continue over a stile and follow the path through the wood. Reaching a path junction, turn left following the yellow arrow up the hill. Continue ahead where a track goes off to the left. Reaching a clearing at the top of the hill there is great view to the left.

Leaving the clearing, continue along a narrow path descending through woodland. Cross the stile and continue through a muddy section and into a conifer plantation. Turn left at the building (grid ref. SD401891) and cross a stile into a field. Continue to the left a rocky knoll and head down the field to reach a lane. Go through the wooden gate, and head right to reach the road junction by Lightwood Country Guest House. Turn left and follow the lane for 800 metres to pass the rear of the Mason's Arms. Turn sharp left and pass the front of the pub. After 300 metres turn right onto a bridleway that leads to Hollins Farm. Continue between the house and barn. Go through a gate down the walled track. Cross a stream and continue ahead to reach a lane (grid ref. SD408906).

Turn right down the lane. After 250 metres take the bridleway on the left. Continue ahead to reach Wood Farm. As you approach Wood Farm you join a walled track. Continue past a barn to a T-junction. Turn right and continue to a lane (grid ref. SD412915). Bear left along the lane. Reaching a ford, turn left and cross the stream using the adjacent stone bridge. A few metres after crossing the bridge take the footpath on the right. Go through the kissing gate and follow a track across a field. Leave the track where it bends to the left and continue across to a stile over the wall. Continue past a broken wall, cross a stream, and then bear slightly left to a gate by some trees. Pass through the gate and follow a green lane.

Reaching the access drive to Winster House, turn left between the gateposts and follow the driveway around to the left. Continue by walking straight uphill along a stony track to a footpath. Reaching the top of this track, go through a gate, turn left and then immediately right to follow a path through Candlestick Moss, which leads you back to the start.

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