349 June Walks from Hawkshead

Our next walking will be from

  Hawkshead 

a pretty village in the heart of the English Lake District

and will take place on

Saturday 14th June 2014

0800hrs prompt from short stay car park in the village

The prettiest village set in the magnificent vale of Esthwaite, In the heart of the English Lake District, Hawkshead is a truly historic and wonderfully picturesque village characterised by its cluster of whitewashed houses, archways and alleways, courtyards and squares. A prosperous mediaeval wool town, its rich history includes important connections with the poet William Wordsworth and children's story author Beatrix Potter.

Hawkshead has flourished since its beginnings as a medieval market town. Today, with its car-free village centre, it's the perfect place for the visitor to experience the 'real' Lake District. The cobbled streets, squares and courtyards and the beautiful whitewashed cottages, topped with local Lakeland slate, give this little place a magical feel. 

The village is steeped in history and heritage, from the ruins of Hawkshead Hall (built by medieval monks) and the 15th-century St Michael's parish church and court house, to later buildings such as the grammar school (1855) which the poet William Wordsworth attended. There is also a Beatrix Potter gallery – Hawkshead is only 3.2 km from Hill Top at Near Sawrey where the author wrote many of her books. Keen shoppers will find a range of goods for sale, from souvenirs to climbing and walking paraphernalia.

The surrounding scenery is some of the finest in the Lake District with Grizedale Forest to the south, Lake Windermere to the east and Lake Coniston to the west, as well as the fine moorland encircling much of the area around Hawkshead.

There will be three walks:

Details will be posted as they become available but by the Saturday before the walk.

• A Walk led by: Tony McDonald
• B Walk led by: Beverley Kelly
• C Walk Led by: John Smith 

 If links do not work, scroll down for details. 

for more information about Hawkshead click here; 

A Walk from Hawkshead 2014

Walk Leader: Tony McDonald
Total Distance: 12 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 2300 ft

This is a very pretty walk with some lovely views. It offers a good challenge as well this is quite a hard walk. The walk starts in the car park at Hawkshead and finishes near by at a pub! The route takes in two peaks one is Latterbarrow which is 245 metres and the other is Grizedale which is 315 metres both are well worth the effort to get there. The route takes an almost goes in every direction around the town heading North Easerly at first towards Latterbarrow and then southerly towards Near Sawray at the base of Esterwaite water. This is a tiny pretty village, and the route heads South Westerly into the Grizedale forest. There are various adventure areas in the forest and other exciting things to see. Then we take a north Easterly heading back towards Hawkshead, this is a quite hard section on good paths reaching 315 Metres and stunning views. From there the route is mainly down hill towards the top of Esthewaite water again offering wonderful views. From the top of the lake we head towards a mountain bike area. After this there is a steady decent into Hawkshead this is a lovely walk.

B Walk from Hawkshead 2014

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly
Total Distance: < 8 miles
Total ascent/descent: 1150 ft

click to enlarge

Tarn Hows and Black Crag from Hawkshead

One of my favourite walks when at Hawkshead, which is a delight and satisfying whether in sunshine or rain, often walked early morning before breakfast yet so much interest that time just flies by.

We leave the recently modernised car park and toilets (20p) passing the school that Wordsworth attended and the ancient St Michael’s church heading for Hawkshead Hill. We soon have marvellous views of this charming valley overlooked by Latterbarrow

Passing Hawkshead Hill Baptist Church (1709) we continue to Tarn Hows over natural pathways and through woods full of interest and natural life, suddenly opening out with a vista of the Tarns.

Taking the top path and heading north we look down upon the Tarns with a magnificent backdrop of the middle Lakeland fells, then head down a ‘secret’ pathway to enjoy a less public view of these pretty lilly covered waters.

After pausing at the head of the Tarns, our next destination is Black Crag.

Leaving the Drovers Road we head upwards to Iron Keld through a replanted woodland and then across open fells to our target (960ft). From here we have wonderful views of the Langdales and all the middle fells to feast our eyes upon while enjoying our lunch.

We now take another less well known pathway to descend towards the ‘Drunken Duck’ then along a quiet pathway that can be full of wild flowers and animals. At Sunny Brow there is a short road walk to Knipe Fold, a real gem of a Lakeland Hamlet with views to Hawkshead.

Crossing a flower meadow we will come out on the busy Road by Hawkshead Hall, built by medieval monks, then take the new footpath along Black Beck back to Hawkshead and refreshments.

Although 8 miles, this is a relatively easy walk.

The walk in pictures  click here

C Walk from Hawkshead 2104

Walk Leader: John Smith
Total Distance: 6 Miles approx
Total ascent/descent: 970ft approx

click to enlarge

A walk which links a picture-post card village and a picture-post card viewpoint can hardly fail to be attractive.  From Hawkshead an easy paced route proceeds across fields and through woods, climbing gently to a supreb vantage point overlooking Tarn Hows with splendid views along the way.  

The return to Hawkshead is at a higher level, giving distant glimpses of Windermere and Esthwaite Water backed by green hillsides and rugged fields before descending into Hawkshead along a minor road.   If the weather is kind we will picnic by the side of Tarn Hows. 

Photos to follow

348 May Walks from Bakewell

Our next walking will be from

 Bakewell

and will take place on

Saturday 10th May 2014

0800hrs prompt from short stay car park in the village

We last visited Bakewell in September 2011 on a beautiful warm sunny day and all have fond memories of three great walks. We do hope that you will enjoy the choices of our 3 walk leaders this time round

Walk Leaders

• A Walk led by Jennifer Mathias
• B Walk led by John Adamson
• C Walk led by Marion Young

Bakewell in Derbyshire and the Peak District , is a beautiful, small, market town situated on the River Wye which is crossed by a 13th century 5 arched bridge still open to traffic. The bridge had been widened in the 19th century.

Bakewell was mentioned in the Domesday book as having a church and 2 priests signifying its importance even then. In 1502 Bakewell was owned by the Vernon family and passed on to the Manners family in 1567 when Dorothy Vernon married John Manners. Their son, Sir George Manners married Grace Pierrepont who in 1637 founded the grammer school, Lady Manners School. Monuments to the Vernon family can be found in the All Saints Parish Church which stands in a commanding position on the hillside where the town started.

The Rutland Arms Hotel in the centre of Bakewell replaced the White Horse Inn, which together with some other buildings was demolished in 1805 to form Rutland Square. It was built to cater for coach travellers and in 1818 as many as 600 travellers passed through the town. The Hotel has a literary connection in that Jane Austin is reputed to have stayed at the hotel whilst writing Pride and Predudice. Bakewell has been identified as Lambton.

The famous Bakewell pudding was also invented accidentally at the Hotel, when a cook misinterpreted instructions and poured egg mixture over the jam instead of mixing it in the pastry and what should have been a tart was now a pudding. Bakewell puddings can be bought at several shops in the town centre.

For more information about Bakewell, click here;

and Here;

Weather forecast for Bakewell, click here;

A Walk from Bakewell 2014

Walk Leader: Jenny Matthias
Total Distance: 12+ Miles
Total ascent/descent: 1430ft

This is a fairly long walk along mixed terrain.  We leave the car park along the access road until we pick up the footpath following the River Wye. We start to climb through The Haddon Estate on a track getting views of The Wye Valley and 'the dismantled railway'. Passing Bowling Green Farm we skirt the hill then climb away from Coombs Road through the woods as we descend out of the woods the wide open vista of Calton Pastures is spread before us.  We turn NW and head for Ballcross Farm where we make a steep descent through woodland and across the Golf Course to Bakewell Station. Then walking the Monsal trail for over three miles, through the tunnel and climb up to Monsal Head, hopefully seeing wonderful views down The River Wye.  From there we take the path to Ashford in the Water, along Pennyunk Lane. and the final stretch into Bakewell partly along the river and then along the road.

We will need to keep up a good pace to get back in time for refreshment.  Please be aware that parts of route can be very muddy.

B Walk from Bakewell 2014

Walk Leader: John Adamson
Total Distance: 9Miles
Total Ascent/descent: 1300ft app
 

The circular clockwise walk leaves Bakewell Showground Car Park to the east climbing up through the golf course and Manners Wood, across Calton Pastures and down through Chatsworth Park to Edensor village.  This latter section provides magnificent views of Chatsworth House and a herd of Roe Deer.  After looking across at Chatsworth House the route continues south along the beautiful River Derwent through Calton Lees to Rowsley.  Hopefully the fields of bluebells will still be on show.   The return walk climbs out of Rowsley and heads north east back to Bakewell along the River Wye valley.  Excellent views of the Derbyshire hillside can be seen from the walk.

C Walk from Bakewell 2014

Walk Leader: Marion Young
Distance: 6 miles
Total ascent/descent:

We are going the opposite way to the last time we did Bakewell in August 2009.

This time we ascend Station road and then turn left on to the Monsal Trail which is an old railway line and enjoy a beautiful 2 ½ mile stroll before descending past Thornbridge Hall into Ashford in the Water. We return to Bakewell following the course of the river Wye.

Altogether a pleasant 6 mile round trip leaving plenty of time to grab a Bakewell Tart and a drink of your choice.

Anyone wanting to do about 3miles can walk with the “C” party as far as Hassop Old Station where there is a Country Bookstore and café and then retrace your steps back into Bakewell