Along Windermere's Western Shore

The walk, stage by stage

1. Ferry House, Far Sawrey → Harrowslack car park (0.8 km, 20 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.8 km.

   We have written these directions from the map, not on foot. From the ferry landing at Ferry House, follow the B5285 uphill, away from the lake, for about 0.3 km, and turn right up the lane at about 0.3 km. Follow the lane north, through a gate beside a cattle grid, to Harrowslack, a National Trust car park beside the line at about 0.8 km.

   Waypoints

   Ferry House (ferry landing and bus stop), the B5285, the lane on the right, the gate and cattle grid, Harrowslack car park.

   Decision point

   Stay on the B5285 to the lane at about 0.3 km, the way the National Park's route goes. A public footpath leaves the road on the right earlier, at about 0.15 km, as a short cut to the same lane; the National Park says it is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

   Easy to get wrong

   The National Park notes that the first road section can be busy in summer, with traffic for the car park and the caravan site.

   If you need to get off

   The map shows the line on roads all through this stage, the B5285 and then the lane to Harrowslack car park, so the way off is back down to Ferry House, the walk's own way back, under 0.8 km; not walked for this guide.

2. Harrowslack car park → End of the tarmac (1.1 km, 7 m)

   Undulating section of about 1.1 km.

   Carry on north along the tarmac lane by the shore of Windermere. At about 1.75 km it becomes a restricted byway, and a gate beside a cattle grid at about 1.9 km marks the end of the tarmac. The National Park grades the route as far as Strawberry Gardens, just ahead, "for many".

   Waypoints

   The lane along the shore, the restricted byway, the gate and cattle grid at the end of the tarmac.

   If you need to get off

   The map shows the line on the tarmac lane by the shore to about 1.75 km, where it becomes a restricted byway, and on that byway to the gate at the end of the tarmac; the way off is back along the lane past Harrowslack car park, the walk's own way back; not walked for this guide.

3. End of the tarmac → Turning point by Bark Barn (1.9 km, 25 m)

   Undulating section of about 1.9 km.

   Keep north on the compacted track, a restricted byway, where a public bridleway leaves it at about 1.95 km. Pass Strawberry Gardens caravan site at about 2.2 km; from here to Red Nab the National Park grades the route "for some", and says the stone track has some steeper sections, up to 1:6. By our measure from the track, nothing on this line is steeper than about 6%. Cross Hollow Beck at about 3.45 km. The line turns back at about 3.8 km, beside Bark Barn, a building on the shore, about 0.5 km short of Red Nab car park.

   Waypoints

   The bridleway junction, Strawberry Gardens caravan site, Hollow Beck, Bark Barn (the turning point).

   Decision point

   The lake is on your right all the way out. If you reach Red Nab car park, you have gone about 0.5 km past the turning point.

   If you need to get off

   The map shows no way off the track between the end of the tarmac and the turning point by Bark Barn shorter than back or on: back to the end of the tarmac, or on past the turning point along the restricted byway, about 0.5 km north-north-west to the road at Red Nab car park; never more than about 1.3 km; not walked for this guide.

4. Turning point by Bark Barn → Finish (3.8 km, 42 m)

   Undulating section of about 3.8 km.

   Retrace the track south, past Strawberry Gardens, through the gate at the end of the tarmac and along the lane past Harrowslack car park and down to the B5285 at about 7.25 km. Turn left and follow the road down to the ferry landing at Ferry House.

   Waypoints

   Hollow Beck, Strawberry Gardens, the gate and cattle grid, Harrowslack car park, the B5285, Ferry House.

   Decision point

   The lake is on your left all the way back.