07/12/2025 Coach - Ambleside & Hawkshead

 

December

8:00am start with 16:30 (4:30pm) return

A Walk – Ings to Ambleside via Sour Howes with John Parkinson
10.1 miles / 16.25 km with 2221 ft / 680 m Total Ascent

Leaving Ings we head up to Dubbs Road passing Dubbs reservoir (replete with rainbow and brown trout and a natural habitat for crayfish and even adders) before taking a steep climb to the bobbly summits of Sour Howes.  Alfred Wainwright stated “There is little about Sour Howes to attract walkers and nothing to justify a detour”.  A little harsh maybe so best to appreciate the fine views which Wainwright claimed ‘arrest the attention’ before moving on sharpish.  We traverse the ridge and head up to the summit of Sallows before turning back and descending via the Garburn Road to Limefitt. Passing through Troutbeck we take Robin Lane towards Skelgyll Wood before dropping down into Ambleside to meet the coach.

B+ Walk – Ambleside to Hawkshead with Meriel Nutter
10 miles / 16 km with 1100 ft / 335 m Total Ascent

This walk was a bit further and had more ascent than I thought. It is 1 main climb of about 450 ft the rest is undulations. Mainly on good paths and tracks though there are some potentially boggy bits as always. There are glorious views if the weather is good, we had them on the recce. Option to shorten by missing out Tarn Hows if needed.

Leave coach at Waterhead Ambleside. Cross A5075, take path north through park and past fort, rejoin road and cross Rothay Bridge. Minor road north past Rothay Park, track west passing Miller Brow and climbing as contour round Loughrigg Fell. Descend to Tarn Foot. Road down to Skelwith Bridge Hotel. Track/path to cross footbridge near Skelwith Force. Join Cumbria Way past Park Farm crossing road near Colwith taking bridleway south and path by road to High Cross. Cross road and continue to southern end of Tarn Hows. East on road to path south through Hill Fell Wood. Rejoin road near Tenter Hill, through Hawkshead Hill then path south east into Hawkshead.

B Walk – Latterbarrow and Wray Castle with Stuart Arnold
8 miles / 13 km with 900 ft / 275 m Total Ascent

We first head eastwards across fields to Colthouse and then start a gentle climb over a bridle way to Claife Heights. Heading north we reach the summit of Latterbarrow, a possible lunch stop. This hill on the side of Windermere affords wonderful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. We leave Latterbarrow and head north east to the lake shore via the village of High Wray. Heading north wards along the lake shore we reach Wray Castle and then head back to Hawkshead via Blelham Tarn and Out gate.
There should be time to explore Hawkshead and have a look round the shops and possibly enjoy some liquid refreshment.

C Walk – Rydal Water with Chris and Dorothy

6.5 miles / 10.5 km with 300 ft / 100 m Total Ascent

We start the walk from Ambleside and pass through Rothay Park  to reach the footbridge over the River Rothay.  Heading north west we join a minor  road which runs alongside the river  all the way to  Pelters  Bridge. From here its a short climb to Rydal Water, where we may have lunch and enjoy the lovely views all around us.

We then retrace our steps to Pelters Bridge,  where we cross the A591, and another short climb to Rydal Hall.  From here we continue down through the Hall grounds to Scandale Bridge to rejoin the road back to Ambleside.