The walk up to Yew Barrow, near Newby Bridge in the southern Lake District, is less than 2 miles and is only a gentle 430 feet of ascent.  The clockwise “lollypop” loop offers beautiful views over the Yew Barrow reservoir, and a very quiet and peaceful walk through the Lake District countryside.

We did this walk on a cold weekend at the end of November and didn’t see anyone else at all!  It had rained exceptionally hard for several days prior to our walk, making the track quite muddy.  I don’t think it would normally be quite as bad, but there was always a route around it, either on the grass, or stony bits of track.  The kids loved the mud!!

We parked roadside at grid reference 365876 on OS map OL7, half a mile south west of Finsthwaite.  Try LA12 8BL in your Sat Nav, but please use this only as a guide.  Parking is limited, although there is a car park at the north of Finsthwaite village if no roadside spaces are available.

Walk south down the quiet lane, until you reach a double wooden gate on your right at grid reference 365874.  Go through the gate and follow the well trodden track up the gentle zig zag hill.

You’ll see a path off to the left, with a sign visible in the distance, don’t take this path.  Follow the track a bit further up until it opens out a bit.  There’s another choice here… don’t go straight on, follow the path round to the left.  This will lead you all the way to the scenic reservoir.

After the obligatory photo stop and picnic, we headed north north east, crossing the wall, and following a path along the top of the forest.  Turn right before the next wall, crossing a little stream.  This path will take you to another wall, go through the gate, which leads you back down to the initial track you walked up on.

Full route map here:

A short drive away you’ll find the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge.  It does delicious food in fantastic surroundings.  On sunny days you can sit outside along the river’s edge.

Walks close to here include High Dam (starts at Finsthwaite) and Gummer’s How.  Fell Foot park picnic spot is also close by.

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