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Scale Bridge & Low Wood from Greendale

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.2 miles / 8.5 km    Ascent - 370 feet / 112 metres

Time - 3 hours 0 minutes    Grade - easy

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Scale Bridge & Low Wood from Greendale
Click image to see photo description.

This Lake District walk explores the area between the southern end of Wast Water and the village of Nether Wasdale. The undulating route offers some wonderful scenery including the high Lakeland Fells above Wasdale Head and the Wastwater Screes. The walk crosses variety of terrain and includes a pleasant woodland walk by the shores of Wast Water.

The start is a small area of grassy verge just east of Greendale on the north side of the road (Grid ref. NY144055) at the foot of the path from Greendale Tarn. After parking, turn right along the road past the cottages on your right. Continue past another solitary cottage and the crags of Buckbarrow, both on your right. Continue along the road for another 700 metres and turn left down a track (grid ref. NY137055) that leads down to Buckbarrow. Pass the house on your left and bear right to join a walled track. The track enters a field. Keep the wall on your left and follow the path around the field edge to the far left-hand-corner.

Turn left here through a gate (grid ref. NY134051) and follow the path with the wall on your right. At the end of this field go through another gate into a smaller field. Again, keep the wall to your right. Reaching the corner of this smaller field, turn left and continue with the wall on you right. Continue following the clear path as it swings to the right. Continue to cross Scale Bridge. Follow the path south-west passing Mill Place on the right from where you follow a clearer track to reach a road to the east of Nether Wasdale (grid ref. NY129039).

Turn right and almost immediately left to follow a lane through trees. Reaching a road junction continue straight ahead signed to Holmrook. Cross Forest Bridge and turn left onto signed footpath to Wastwater. Follow the track to Easthwaite (grid ref. NY137034). Continue through the farmyard and follow a clear track to reach the River Irt. Turn left and follow the river upstream to Lund Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right following the path with the river on your right. Stay on this path enjoying the views across Wast Water. Continue past Wasdale Hall Youth Hostel on your left to reach a road (grid ref. NY148048). Turn right up the road with Wast Water on your right. Follow the road for 700 metres to a road junction (grid ref. NY151054). Turn left, signed for Gosforth, and continue along the road back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3485 High Birkhow & Low Wood from Wast Watereasy4.2 miles
Walk 1176 Yewbarrow from Wasdalemoderate4.5 miles
Walk 2341 Circuit of Nether Beck and Over Beck from Wasdalehard11.3 miles
Walk 1690 Netherbeck Horseshoe - Middle Fell, Steeple & Red Pike from Wasdale Headmod/hard12.5 miles
Walk 1126 Mosedale Horseshoehard11.5 miles
Walk 1246 Black Sail Pass & Beck Headmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 2034 Scafell from Wasdale Headhard6.5 miles
Walk 2800 The Scafells via Piers Gill from Wasdale Headmod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 2900 Pillar (by the High Level Path) from Wasdalemod/hard8.0 miles
Walk 2718 The Scafells from Wasdale Headmod/hard9.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Lake District: High Level and Fell Walks

Lake District: High Level and Fell WalksThis guidebook describes 30 graded fell walks on the ridges and high peaks of the English Lake District, the UK's most popular national park. Reaching some of England's finest and highest mountain scenery, this guide leads readers to classic horseshoes and traditional ascents as well as lesser-known routes to quieter summits.
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Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far East

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