Family walks from Patterdale sponsored by Sprayway contains two walking routes around Patterdale perfect for families.

Download Family walks from Patterdale leaflet

Patterdale is a small village close to lake Ullswater and is popular with walkers who go to climb famous peaks such as Helvellyn (England’s third highest mountain).

Local folklore suggests that Patterdale is named after St.Patrick (381-461 AD), who walked there after being shipwrecked on Duddon Sands.  It is said that he preached at a holy well and gave his name to the valley of “Patrichesdale”.

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District and may have been named after the Viking lord Ulfr.

Donald Campbell achieved his first world water speed record on Ullswater on 23rd July 1955, when the jet-propelled Bluebird K7 reached a speed of 202.32 mph.

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

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.

Walking through some of the England’s most outstanding scenery is one of the joys of a visit to the Peak District and Derbyshire.

With four separate festivals to choose from and with a wide variety of themes, there’s something to suit all ages and abilities.

The Peak District Walking Festival – April 24 to May 9 2010

The Peak District Walking Festival is one of the largest and most varied festivals in the country, with more than 100 walks led by expert and knowledgeable guides, from National Park Rangers and archaeologists to ecologists and ghost hunting experts! All ages and abilities are catered for and as well as new challenges like rock climbing or caving, you’ll be able to take part in guided cycle rides.

The Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival – May 15 to 23 2010

The Peak District’s Historic Border Country sits between the Peak District to the west and Sherwood Forest to the east and has some of the best unspoilt and undiscovered countryside, which you’ll be able to explore in the Festival. The programme includes many guided walks to suit all ages and abilities, including the ‘Longest Walk on the Longest Day’ – a 34 mile walk which circumnavigates Chesterfield, keeping the spire in view most of the time.

Footsteps in the Forest: National Forest Walking Festival – May 22 – June 2 2010

Footsteps in the Forest walks offer a great range of short, medium and long guided walks across the varied landscape of The National Forest. Discover canals, rural villages, reservoirs and woodlands and hear fascinating facts about the wildlife and local heritage of this beautiful area. Led by local enthusiasts who are keen to show visitors around the area, there is something for everyone, whatever your interest and abilities.

Autumn Footprints: Amber Valley & Erewash Walking Festival.  Sept 11 to 26  2010

Autumn Footprints includes a wide variety of walks from between one and fifteen miles and covers themes such as natural history, local heritage, rivers and canals or towns and villages and map reading. The programme will be available from mid-summer 2010.

Derby Walking Festival – September 18 to October 17 2010

The Derby Walking Festival.

Set in the compact, friendly city of Derby steeped with fascinating history, a vibrant culture and rich heritage providing the perfect setting for this festival.

More information

Order your 2010 Peak Disrtict Walking Festivals Guide.

Peak District and Derbyshire Tourist Board

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.