8:00 start with 17:30 return
12 miles (19.3km) with 2952ft (900m) Total Ascent
Today we have the opportunity to visit some fine hills on the “Kentmere Round”.
Alighting the coach at the Kirkstone Inn (sorry – too early for refreshments !!) we make an initial ascent up to St. Ravens Edge and then to Stoney Cove Pike (763m) before descending carefully into the confines of Threshthwaite Mouth.
From here, we will climb to Thornthwaite Beacon (784m) with its distinctive summit cairn and this will be our highest point today.
Heading south now, along the ridge, we take in the summits of Froswick (720m), Ill Bell (757m) and Yoke (706m) before reaching the Garburn Pass.
The terrain becomes a little easier going as we head across the moorland to Sour Howe (483m) and then head south east to pick up paths and quiet lanes on route back to Staveley and the coach.
13 miles (20.9km) with 1735ft (520m) Total Ascent
Starting from Ings on the A591, we proceed to Hugill Hall before descending into the Kentmere Valley at Browfoot. We now go through the Kentmere Hall Pantation alongside a tarn to eventually reach Kentmere Hall. From here we start a steady climb to the summit of Garburn Pass, continuing on to the summit of Sallows. A short traverse now takes us to Sour Howes with views far and wide overlooking Windermere and the coast. We now descend over Capple Howe on a faint path to join the main path south and the final part of the route into Staveley via Browfoot Lane.
9½ miles (15.3km) with 600ft (183m) Total Ascent
Leaving Staveley in a south easterly direction we soon pick up the Dales Way and follow it through Cowan Head and Bowston to Burneside, alongside the River Kent for most of the way. We walk through Burneside, crossing the railway at the station, then go through Ellergreen Park and climb up Hollins Lane to the A591, passing the Elba Monument on the way. Crossing the A591 is not easy as it is fast and always very busy.
Plumgarths lies on the other side and from there we head north west to Bank Head and Moss Side, from where we cross Rather Heath to reach Ashes Lane. This soon becomes a track and comes out at Crook Road which we cross to re-join the Dales Way and this takes us north back into Staveley for refreshments and the coach.
6.4 miles (10.3km) with 406ft (124m) Total Ascent
Setting off from Staveley we join the Dalesway eastwards along the River Kent as far as Cowan Bridge. From there we go south-westwards and over the railway to reach the A591. This is always a very busy road so great care must be taken while crossing. We then cross Rather Heath to Ratherheath Lane where we have a short road walk until a path on our right takes us northwards to Ashes. Next comes the A591 again before we go under the railway and back into Staveley for refreshment.