This beautiful and quiet 1.75 mile walk takes you along the River Wyth Burn into a peaceful valley at the southern end of Thirlmere reservoir.  It’s a fairly easy walk, with only a slight ascent.  It can be boggy in parts, especially after periods of wet weather, so wear appropriate footwear!

You can park at the United Utilities Steel End car park at grid reference 321129 on OS map OL5.  Currently (October 2017) the car park is free of charge, until the repairs on some paths, from Storm Desmond, have been completed.  Then it will revert back to a pay and display car park.

Leave the car park and cross the road.  You will see a footpath sign.  Cross the stile and walk up the valley, keeping the river to your left.  It’s very difficult to get lost here, and you keep following the river for less than a mile until you reach the wooden bridge.

Along the way there are literally hundreds of fantastic rocks of all different sizes and shapes for the children to clamber up, on and over!

Cross the bridge and follow the river back down the valley, again keeping the river on your left.  Until you get back to the road and the car park.  The map below shows the full route.

Once you’ve made it back to the car, if you wanted to go and have a look at Thirlmere, you can follow the signed path down to the waters edge.  Please heed the warning signs.  Thirlmere is a reservoir and not a lake and can be highly dangerous to swim in.  Keep out the water.  I nipped down there to take a photo, it certainly is beautiful.

Other walks near here include Dob Gill and Harrop Tarn, Fisherplace Gill and Raven Crag.

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