Yorkshire Walks

Path from the road (B5343) down to the River Brathay

Path from the road (B5343) down to the River Brathay

Footbridge over the River Brathay near Skelwith Force

At the river we turned left and walked along the river bank towards Skelwith Bridge. This path is part of the Cumbria Way National Trail, a 112km route from Ulveston to Carlisle. After about 300m the road (B5343) and the river almost came together and our path was squeezed between them below the road. We crossed the river on a footbridge at map ref. NY340034 a little way upstream of the waterfall known as Skelwith Force.

Every year we have short break with a group of friends to do some walks in an attractive part of the country. This year we are staying in a large well appointed holiday cottage at Knipe Fold in the English Lake District. This morning was fine and sunny and we all drove to the National Trust car park at map ref. NY340037 about 600m West of Skelwith Bridge off the B5343. From the car park we crossed the road and followed the footpath through the trees down to the River Brathay.

Path from the road(B5343)down to the River Brathay

We continued along the Cumbria Way from the footbridge

Leaving the wood to cross farmland at Park House

After about 1km we came to came to a minor road at map ref. NY331029. At the road we turned right and walked along the road for about 150m, then we turned left off the road just before the road bridge over the river into some very pretty woodland.

We continued along the Cumbria Way, following the path southeast through some attractive woodland and then West heading out of the woodland across farm pasture land past Park House and Park Farm.

Following the track along the Cumbria Way towards Park Farm

View of Loughrigg Fell from the Cumbrian Way path

Descending the steps towards Colwith Force

Descending the steps towards Colwith Force

The path down to Colwith Force

Then, after admiring the falls for a while, we climbed back up through the woodland for almost 500m to a farm access track at High Park farm at map ref. NY323028.

We followed an optional diversion from the Cumbria Way down a series of steps to Colwith Force on the River Brathay.

Violet by the path to the falls

Looking down on to Colwith Force

Looking down on to Colwith Force

Heading up Little Langdale towards Stang End

Heading up Little Langdale towards Stang End

The track down from Stang End to cross Pierce How Beck

We continued heading West up Little Langdale above the River Brathay, along the access road for about 500m from the beck and then at map ref. NY311029 we turned right off the access road to follow a path down to the River Brathay. Here the footpath crosses the river over Slater Bridge. This is a wonderful old stone arch footbridge constructed by a single arch of thin flat slabs of rock held in place simply by the shape of the arch.

Here the Cumbria Way turned right along the farm track but we kept straight on along the farm track through Stang End. We dropped down along the farm access road to cross Pierce How Beck. It was hot and sunny and we took advantage of the shade of the trees by the beck to stop for a drink and a short break.

Looking across Little Langdale to Lingmoor Fell

Grey Wagtail feeding on insects at the River Brathay

Streams of walkers crossing Slater Bridge in both directions

The amazing arch of Slater Bridge

Looking up Little Langdale from the path near Slater Bridge

Looking back to Slater Bridge

Tree stump studded with coins as a good luck charm

The track through the woods heading up Great Langdale

About 1km along the lane as it was starting to drop down towards Elterwater at map ref. NY321041, we turned left off the lane to follow a path through the woodland down to a track heading up Great Langdale above an extensive quarrying operation.

From the river we climbed up the hillside to a minor road at map ref. NY313034. We crossed the road and continued along a lane heading for Elterwater village. The lane was taking us out of Little Langdale over the hill into Great Langdale.

Lane out of Little Langdale to Great Langdale

Our view up Great Langdale

The track through the woods heading up Great Langdale

The track through the woods heading up Great Langdale

Large circular saw bench by the track

Path up Great Langdale heading for Oak Howe

Looking along Great Langdale to the Langdale Pikes

It was much too comfortable laid out on the grass with a warm breeze wafting over , but after our lunch we had to set off again. After another 500m along this track it turned sharp right to pass Oak Howe farm. From there we followed the track to the side of Langdale Beck.

It was a very pleasant walk up the valley in the shade of the woodland on this hot sunny day. After about 1.5km a little before we came to the end of the woodland we stopped at a grassy spot for our lunch under the trees.

Path up Great Langdale heading for Oak Howe

A shady spot under the trees for our lunch break

The path past Oak Howe farm in Great Langdale

New Bridge over Langdale Beck at Chapel Stile

Langdale Beck as we made our way towards Elterwater

Following the track from Chapel Stile to Elterwater

We continued along the Cumbria Way route to recross the beck and pass Elterwater village on the other side of the beck until we reached the road bridge over the beck at the Eastern end of Elterwater.

Here we had re-joined the route of the Cumbria Way. Here we turned right to walk along the Cumbria Way route following Langdale Beck downstream along Great Langdale. After about 600m the path crossed the beck on 'New Bridge', a stone arch bridge at Chapel Stile.

Langdale Beck seen from New Bridge at Chapel Stile

Following the track from Chapel Stile to Elterwater

Following the track from Chapel Stile to Elterwater

Elterwater village

Jacobs Sheep by the path near Elterwater

Langdale Beck flows into the lake from the Northwest and the River Brathay flows into the lake from the South and continues as the outlet from the lake to the Southeast. We followed the path around the edge of the lake and then retraced our steps from the bank of the River Brathay below the lake, back to the car park and the end of our walk. The whole route had been about 13km and it had taken us almost 5 hours to walk including our breaks.

Here we crossed the beck again and followed the gravel path (a bridleway) alongside the beck. It's such a popular place to visit with the fabulous scenery of Langdale that the gravel path is necessary to help control the erosion caused by so many feet. From Elterwater village we walked along the path by the beck for about 1km to Elterwater lake.

The road bridge over Langdale Beck at Elterwater

Path around Elterwater lake

Following the gravel bridleway track around Elterwater lake on the River Brathay at the end of our walk