Family walks in Buttermere sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Buttermere perfect for families.

Buttermere and Scale Force

Download Family walks in Buttermere leaflet

Since the early days of the first Victorian tourists, the walk around Buttermere has become a bit of a classic.

The footpaths hug the lake shore closely and although there are a few ups and downs, they are fairly tame.

There are lots of opportunities to explore including becks, trees, gravel beaches and even a short exciting section of tunnel.

Green Route (Short)

A 7km, 2-3 hour route along lakeside paths and bridleway from the centre of Buttermere village, towards Honister Pass.  Cross Peggy’s Bridge and join the  Burtness Wood bridleway.  The walk return to Buttermere village

Blue Route (Long)

A longer route 12km, 4-5 hours, follows a start similar to the green route and then proceeds along Crummoch Water.  From Scales Beck, the road climb more steeply to the foot of Scales Force.

Return back along Crummock Water and into Buttermere village.

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 89, OS Explorer OL 4,

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

Family walks near Borrowdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Borrowdale perfect for families.

This leaflet contains two walking routes around Borrowdale, perfect for families. There is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more

Download Family walks in Borrowdale

adventurous.

These two walks go through ancient oak woodland and visit Castle Crag, an unusual little summit in the heart of the valley. There was once an Iron Age Fort

Blue Route (Long)
Start/Finish Rosthwaite car park 13.3km and takes about 5-6 hours

Terrain takes in lanes and valley road, fellside and rocky bridleways, lake and river side paths, stony packhorse track and a rocky summit

Green Route ( Short)
Starts and finishes at Rosthwaite car park
At 5.5km, the walk will take about 3-4 hours and takes in lanes, river side path, woodland track, stony packhorse track, slate path, fell side path and
a rocky summit

Before setting off on any of these walks please plot the route on an appropriate map: OS Landranger 90,  OS Explorer OL 4,

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of golakes walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale and Rydal areas are fetaured in this set.

An unobtrusive wooden way marker points the way from the roadside, through a small wooden gate and up a grassy slope.  Turning the corner, the slope is shaded by trees and the ground becomes sandy, with large pieces of sandstone bouldering the ground.

Lush woodland of Beacon Hill, Penrith

The orignal forests of Beacon Hill were first planted in the late 18th C.  before  the enclosure of common land act. Before this, Beacon was a dreary barren waste land full of sandholes and quarries. Remnants of this can be noted from the rough hewn pathway with large sandstone boulders in places and the rocky sandstone outcrops which appear in woodland clearings.

After being destroyed by fire, Beacon Hill was replanted in 1927  by the Lowther family.

The Path to Beacon Pike, 937 ft (286 m) is quite steep and very rocky in places, so is unsuitable for buggies and

Sandstone paths of Beacon HIll

wheelchairs and substantial walking shoes are recommended.

Rich, well managed woodland, including Rowan and Beech is home to a variety of wildlife.  Keep a look out for the Common Lizard and signs of badgers and foxes.

Common Lizard basking on Billberry leaves

Once at the Summit, the pathway opens out into a plateau of land with a square sandstone beacon built on the top. The present monument

The Beacon, Penrith

(replacing earlier structures) was built in 1719 of sandstone taken from hill, it was restored in 1790.

Earlier beacons are recorded here since 1296 and would have been piles of wood and branches followed later by pitch boxes.  There has been a building on this site for more than 500 years.

Beacons were used to warn the locals and surrounding villages of impending Scottish raids and would communicate this message for miles across the North of England with others being lit at Carlisle, Kirkoswald and Orton Scar.

During 1745 uprising, the Beacon featured again when Prince Charles Edward attempted to regain the Crown of the House of Stuart. It is even noted to have been used during the Napoleonic Wars.

Stunning views over the Eden Valley, Pennines and Lake District fells indicate why this site was chosen. The mountains of Scotland can easily be seen across the Solway Firth to the north.

Dial indicates what can be seen from this point

A brass dial donated by the Lions Club of Penrith, indicates the names of the mountains and places which can be seen from this wonderful vantage point.

This walk will take around 40 minutes to complete.

Visit Penrith Town Trails for details of this and other walks in the area.

This short walk will take about half an hour at a gentle pace and allow you to take in the wonderful crocuses planted along the central tree lined avenue.

Crocuses at Bitts Park, Carlisle

By car, you can park in the car park just between Carlisle Castle and Bitts Park.

Access by wheelchair or for those with children is easy along the wide tarmac paths which snake their way around the park.

You can take a circular route around the park if you start with the tennis courts to your left.  At the river bear right and follow the path which leads along the river bank.

At the steps and tunnel again bear right and you will return to your starting point and the car park.

Here is an aerial map of the area.

A statue of Queen Victoria unveiled in 1902 takes pride of place on manicured lawns, giving the park the local name of “Victoria Park”.

On one side you will have the River Eden with mounds of snowdrops and wild garlic starting to appear along its banks and views to the North of the City.

The centre of the park has well maintained herbaceous borders containing evergreens, willow and azaleas, which look amazing in May, but are equally beautiful at his time of year,

The recently completed flood defences are much more architectural than previously existed and give easy access to the park from Castle Way.  These have now been planted up with new trees and herbaceous perennials.

Crocuses are very short lived and will only last about one week, we caught these in bloom on the last day of February 2009.  For those who may miss this display we have added a gallery below.

Where to see Crocuses;

The Garden House, near Yelverton, Devon.

Howick Gardens, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Kew Gardens. Richmond, Surrey.

Do you have any favourite places to see Crocuses?  Send us your pictures.

The lake District National Park  has listed the following routes as suitable for wheelchair users. Most are very limited in terms of distance and often follow minor roads, offering some great viewpoints.

As with many areas of the Lake District, parking can be limited.

Hammerbank, Windermere

Grid Ref 405991
East shore of lake Windermere, just north of Bowness. Provides great views across the lakeshore. A recently installed information panel gives details of the view.

Beech Hill, Windermere

Grid Ref 388920
Situated on the East shore of lake windermere, south of Bowness. The location gives unrivaled views across the lake to the rugged Lake District Fells beyond. Parking is available next to the Beech Hill hotel.

Borrans Park, Waterhead

Grid Ref 375034.
Leave your car in the National Park car park opposite Waterhead Pier, follow the road north of the Pier to a gate giving access to the park. In the field next to Borrans Park are the remains of a Roman settlement, Galava.

There are also great views across Lake Windermere.

Brown Howe, Coniston

Grid Ref 292910
This is a sloping grassy lakeshore area which once formed part of the Duke of Buccleuch’s summer Estate. Situated to the south of Coniston village the area provides excellent views up Coniston water.

Jenkins’ Field, Glenridding

Grid Ref 387168
Use the National Park car park and take the road down to the steamer pier.

Jenkins Field is adjacent to the pier and is the perfect place to picnic, many use this area for bird watching.  A memorial plaque adjacent to the Pier House denotes the original slipway used by Donald Campbell.  One of the last Wild Red Deer herds can be seen grazing on the slopes of Place Fell on the opposite shore in the autumn.

Go to the Lake District National Park Website for more information