The Lake District Guide

Welcome to a carefully chosen collection of other websites which may be of interest to travellers in the Lakes or other parts of the UK.

We're always looking to reciprocate listings with other quality sites of interest to travellers in the Lakes, Yorkshire Dales or indeed in other parts of the UK and overseas. If you have a site which you would like to appear here, and you're happy to refer back to us on your own site please email rod@lake-district-guides.co.uk and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Let us know the usual stuff: your URL, a few details or a brief description of your content.... and, as always, non-reciprocal exchanges are favoured, so if you can give us an inbound reference from a site different to the one we are describing here, that is likely to be beneficial for both of us.

Cumbria Online  Trekking Britain

Lake District Hotels

The Borrowdale Gates Hotel is a perfect place to enjoy a break in a wonderful Lake District hotel, set in the stunning scenery of Borrowdale and beautiufl surrounding areas.

Lake District Walking Information

Another wonderful site is The Walking Englishman, who has a selection of some of the greatest walks in the Lake District on offer for you. He bases himself in Keswick when he visits, so many of the walks are from the Northern part of the lake District, including Scafell and Blencathra, while others are from around Coniston, including the Coniston Fells, Crinkle crags, Bowfell and others.

One of the most impressive Lakes Walks websites is Andrew Leaney's. His records are clear and comprehensive, but what I like most about his site is the way his passion for the Lakes shines through.

Paul has a site with walks in the Lakes and further afield - Corfu, Madeira - and sets out his routes in a clear and concise way, complete with grid references. I've tried one or two of his walks, and they are excellent.

gateway2thelakes.com is a very attractive site by Andy Malcolm, with walk routes, photos, and maps.

It's great to see the enthusiasm displayed in this site - a walks diary with photos and routes of fell and peak walking in the national parks of the UK.

Lake District Photography

And here's a very charming idea: a website where you can get Lakes desktop screensavers for your computer.

Lake District Photography by Jason Chambers shows off his superb skills, both as a landscape, portrait and commercial photographer. You can also book a day's training with him if you like! His skills are nowhere better than in his photographic reportage of local events, such as Whitehaven's festival. Well worth a visit.

The Loweswatercam has some evocative photos, showing you vistas of the walks along which the author has ventured. He's fortunate enough to have had the chance to live in the Lake District when made redundant from his job and he's made the most of it!

Stuart Rae has a very personal site with memories of his trips to the Lakes and plenty of photos to show the scenes he's describing. Browse for hours, without getting lost, as Stuart has paid a lot of attention to the design and layout of his site.

If you're an armchair aficionado of the Lakes' scenery or you'd just like to get some inspiration for your next outing to the area, see Striding Edge's wonderful range of DVDs and VHS tapes showing all of the classic Lakes' scenery. There's a wealth of priceless footage available, including the walks done by Eric Robson and Alfred Wainwright.

Lake District History

For those who are interested in the history of the Lakes, here's a brief selection of worthwhile references on different aspects of the Lakes' social, economic and geographical history.

A history of climbing in the Lakes. This is an introduction to the fascinating history of climbing in the Lakes - the Wasdale Head Inn  was the birthplace of British climbing, and the wall of the Inn is lined with photos of men ascending seemingly impossible peaks in hats, tweed jackets and plus fours, with ropes that look as if they were about an inch in diameter. Amazing courage and pioneering spirit!

A comprehensive site is Keswick.org and it contains some brief information on the history of that area. Another reference to the economic history of the Western Lake District can be found on the IknowLakeDistrict site. Our thanks are due to the enthusiasts who produce local information sites which often go well beyond the usual list of Lakes accommodation: Ambleside online is a great example of its type, for it contains a complete set of information which puts the history of the Lake District in general, and Ambleside in particular, into context.

Although focusing more on recent history, the Friends of the Lake District have been active in plotting social trends and conducting research on the impact of new developments in the Lake District. They have a library of informational papers which may be of interest to researchers.

On a more academic note, the Simon Fraser University has a collection of source materials for academic research into the social history of the Lakes. I'd prefer to see that collection safely located in, say Lancaster University library than in Canada, but for USA and Canadian scholars who are researching or visiting the English lake District, this may be a useful resource.

For a practical illustration of Lake District Life, you can visit the Museum of Lakeland Life at Abbot Hall, Kendal. This shows you in a visual, exciting way, how life in the Lakes may have changed over the past 250 years.

Miscellaneous Lake District fun

If you'd like a Lakes (or for that matter a Yorkshire Dales) screensaver, or some desktop wallpaper, you can download one here: Northern Landscape.

Miscellaneous travel related companies

Will 4 Adventure - Wiliam Legons site offers the finest adventure holidays and weekends. Ideal for both the novice and the practising mountaineer, the experienced leaders ensure that you have a great time and stay safe! Hill Skills, Rock Climbing and Mountaineering in both the UK and overseas.

Should you happen to find yourself in Alaska, try this company (I guess it's a kind of Lake District!): A true Alaskan wilderness experience in Bristol Bay - with fishing and camping It looks glorious!

UK walking, climbing and mountaineering

These sites are comprehensive resources for the areas mentioned, all hosted by Eagle Publishing. They have a wealth of invaluable information to look at if you are planning on walking or staying in the area:

Yorkshire Dales  North Yorks Moors The Yorkshire Coast Bronte Country The Peak District The Lake District 

MountainDays.net - Mountaineering & Rock Climbing in the UK - A site covering UK mountaineering & rock climbing. There's a database of all the mountains in the UK, and a very comprehensive list of other sites, plus routes, clothes, gear and weather information. Very comprehensive.

I spent some time recently in the Malverns, and I think the area is totally delightful. Find out more at this website: countrywalkers.co.uk

This site is about backpacking - mostly in the mountains of England and Wales - but it also has some low level walks and day walks. If you're into wild camping, and you want clear routes and records of trips, you'll enjoy this delightful and well-organised site. It's certainly inspired me to plan my next few backpacking adventures!

Anthony Dyer, author of this site, is a keen climber, walker and mountaineer, and his website shows the degree of professionalism that he brings to his adventures. Indeed, he's a published author, and has climbed Norway as well as the UK. A very interesting man, and a great website as well!

Simon's mountain lists website is perfect for the peak bagger - as well as those who just want to look at some beautiful images of the mountains around the UK! You could spend a long time browsing here.....

Hillwalking.org is a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in walking. With lists of accommodation, books, gear, routes, and information on safety, there may well be information on what you need to know to plan and execute your trip safely.

A walk in the Duddon Valley - 6 miles

The valley of the Duddon is very beautiful. You can approach the valley from either the Southwest, via the roads past Ulverston and Coniston, or from the West, via Ambleside, Langdale and Elterwater.

Although this area of the Lakes is less popular than the area around Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside, it is still very attractive and has its own special charm. Take the opportunity to visit Broughton in Furness and other small towns and villages on this side of the Lakes.

This walk starts in woodland, emerges on fell-land, descends to the river, then finishes on quiet farm fields. The walk starts at the car park made by the Forestry Commission just north of Birks Bridge. This is eight miles up valley from the Duddon Bridge, five miles up from Ulpha. The car park is below the road on the left, close to a rather ugly concrete bridge. Approaching from the Cockley Beck end (that is the road junction between Hard Knott Pass and Wrynose Pass) it is one and a half miles down the valley. Having parked, go over the concrete bridge, through the gate, and along the track into the wood. Ignore the track off right.  As you gain height there are views left. The large fell immediately left is Grey Friar, which is a 2,536 feet spur of the Coniston Old Man range. To the right of this and farther away there is a summit with a pointed peak. This is the 'gentle' side of Dow Crag, which falls away on the other, hidden, side to a huge precipice much frequented by climbers. Continue on along the track. The wood finishes at one point. Go through a gate, over a culvert. A track joins from the left, but continue on upwards.

The farm on the left is Birks. The crags up on the right somehow combine drama with great beauty and character. This is part of Buck Crag, and you are walking on the side of Harter Fell. As you gain height, look back and you will see the pointed peak of Bowfell; Crinkle Crags are to the right of this. After the level the track begins to fall and curves right, then right again, and then there is a level clearing - a loading bay by the track side. At this point there is a track going off sharply downhill on the left. Go down this track.

Step over a little stream and continue on. Ford another little beck and go through a gate. You reach a larger beck now which can be crossed by the stepping stones just up it to the right. Go through the gate, and left round the barn over the cobbles. This is Grassguards. Go across the yard and along the track between the walls. This goes onto a green track with a wall right and a fence left. Through a gate and the wall is left and a fence right.

You go by some old ruins, and through a gateway. There is a good view over on the left. The track bends right and begins to climb a little. Go through another gateway and the track turns left. Just as the wall on the right bends at a corner, an old stile in it can be seen. The track then runs onto open fell. It becomes a little obscure where it crosses wet ground; but beyond this the track is built up beautifully. Go through the gate or over the stile. We leave the bracken area and here where soil is thinner on the crags, heather comes into its own. The track descends towards a farmhouse and there are some fine walls here. Just before the farm (Low Stonythwaite) the track divides. The one to the farm goes over a little slate bridge; but your way is left through a gateway underneath a crag and following a wall which is on the right. This track falls fairly steeply. The crag on the left is a very fierce looking one. This is Wallow Barrow you may see climbers on it. A footpath leaves the track right, but carry on down the track. It sweeps right and a beck is crossed by stepping stones. Then the track sweeps left and continues to descend. Go through the gate and descend towards the farm. Go through the gate, go forward towards the farm, turn left and walk alongside the barn and through the little stile. Walk on raised grassy path with wall, and then fence, on the left. The path curves right and then goes through a wall gap into a birch grove.

You are soon surprised by a lovely arched bridge seen through the trees ahead. Go through the little gate onto the bridge. The river looks fine and clear below. It is particularly impressive after wet weather. At the other side of the bridge~, walk up the path to follow the wall. Go over a little slate bridge, continue with the wall, and then the path meanders among little crag outcrops. Birch, oak and bog myrtle are here, and soon an old mill-race is reached. Cross this by the little bridge and continue right to follow the beck on the footpath. Cross a little slate bridge and then on over a wooden footbridge. The path bends left and then goes through a narrow stile by some snowberry bushes. You are on a road. The church is opposite.  This is Seathwaite.

Turn left and go along the road. There is soon a turning off it to the right, probably signed 'Turner Hall'. Go up this road, and where it turns sharp right a short way along, go right on through the gate. At a T junction turn left and go through a gate and on direct, ignoring the right turn. This is a farm track.

At the house go to the left of the buildings and through the gate onto a green track across to a gate near larch trees. Go on green footpath. There is a good view of Harter Fell forward and left. Bear left for a gate before reaching the next house. Join the road, turn left, and then almost immediately turn sharp right towards Long House. Cross the bridge then turn sharp left down a pleasant green path between walls. Go through a gate and follow the wall down to a corner where there is a stile. Go over this and across a field to a gate. Cross the slate bridge and go through the gate. Go through another gate into a farmyard (Tongue House). Go round the farmhouse, left along the road for a short distance, then cross the footbridge on the right. just after it turn left, then right to follow a wall by a catwalk. Before reaching the wood go right through a gateway towards the house. Walk in front of the house and over the stile. Follow the wall for a short distance, then bear left up the bank into the wood to follow a narrow path climbing under oaks, then curving left to leave the wood.

The path is now less distinct. The object is to go to the right of the rocky hill ahead. Incline right through the faint path through the bracken. Go right by stones onto a rock outcrop, then forward on a grass path through bracken again. This comes to a stile in a wall. Continue forward in bracken (towards Harter Fell) then on grass. Cross the wet ground by the stepping stones, climb over rock shoulder, then bear left a little to descend.

Follow path on to an outcrop, then right to descend slightly on a pleasant airy path. Go over another shoulder then on forward to descend to the road near a cattle grid. Go on the road right, over the grid by a farmhouse (Troutal). Then when the road goes close by the river join the narrow riverside path. This goes by rock steps and comes out at Birks Bridge.

Birks Bridge is much photographed. The bridge itself is pretty, but the gorge below, carved into smooth shapes by pounding pebbles, and swept by blue, and sometimes green-looking clear water, is the attraction. The water level rises very rapidly after rain and the bridge has been damaged several times by flood, hence the flow-through holes in the parapet. Your car is not now far away and if you have time in hand you may wish to linger here.

Walk a little further on and the car park is on the left.