391 Walks from Hawkshead 2018

Our next walking will be from

  Hawkshead 

a pretty village in the heart of the English Lake District

and will take place on

Saturday 11th August 2018

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: Mark Stanford
• B Walk led by: Beverley Kelly
• C Walk Led by:John Adamson

Details will be added as they come available, but by Saturday 4th August
for more information about Hawkshead click here; 

'A' Walk from Hawkshead 2018

Walk Leader: Mark Stanford
Walk Distance: 12 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 2200ft app

HAWKSHEAD SKYLINE

12 miles and 1500 feet of ascent will afford us some of the best views in the Lakes. We’ll take in four historic churches, a castle, one bonafide Wainwright, and one of Britain’s favorite beauty spots.

The first of our churches, the Grade 1 St Michael & All Angels looms over our head as we leave the car park. Heading out East from Hawkshead we’ll climb the northern shoulder of Claife Heights and then onto Latterbarrow (affectionately known in our house as the “pimple”, following my mother-in-law’s insistence that it was a mountain);

we’ll stop briefly if we’re not shrouded in mist to take in the panoramic views, with the Fellfield Horseshoe rising up from Ambleside. We then make our away down to the shoreline of Windermere, skirting round to Wray Castle and the second of our churches, the now redundant Grade 2 St Margaret of Antioch, Low Wray. We now commence a steady slow ascent as we make for Outgate via the pretty Blelham Tarn. We continue along a quiet lane to Barnsgate. The track becomes steeper as we approach our next target, the little visited twin peaks of Black Crag; the lower boasting a handsome cairn, the taller a trig point. 

This is the high point of our walk, but the ridge will afford us views of Crinkle Crags, the Langdales and Coniston. 

We’ll circle round the east of Tarn Hows as we head for the third of our churches Hawkshead Hill Chapel, which has been a place of worship for over 300 years, featuring an outdoor baptistry. All that remains is a gentle stroll back to Hawkshead where we’ll see the fourth of our historic churches Hawkshead Chapel. If we’ve cracked on we’ll be back by four with plenty of time to explore the fleshpots of Hawkshead. 

Did I mention there’s three fantastic pubs to visit and a couple of great tea shops.

Hmmm… Pub? Tea Shop?... Tea Shop? Pub?... Pub!

 

'B' Walk from Hawkshead 2018

Probable Walk subject to succesfull reccie

Walk Leader: Beverley Kelly

Total Distance: 8+ miles

Total Ascent/Descent: 1050ft 

click to enlarge map

 This walk has become a favourite for me combining lakeside walks, wonderful vistas, natural beauty and the thrill of reaching the top with not too much effort. I had only done this walk in good weather, but the recce was done in warm steady rain with just a slight breeze and it was still a great walk

 As we walk out of the car park we follow the road to the ferry across Windermere as it hugs the side of Esthwaite Water an unspoilt lake used by fishermen. This road is quiet but we do need to take care until it reaches Near Sawrey the home of Beatrix Potter, but the views across the lake and over to the Langdales is spectacular so do remember to look back at regular intervals

At Near Sawrey,  we take a track leading up Moss Eccles Tarn, which was a favourite walk of Beatrix Potter and her husband, spending many evenings at the picturesque tarn. There is a path round the back of the tarn, but it does not go all the way round

 

We can make a diversion to Three Dubbs Tarn provided the ground is not too wet, to enjoy a tarn which has been made for fishing with it's own boathouse. We will have to backtrack to the main pathway and make our way to Wise Een Tarn. Just as we reach to top of the hill we get another breathtaking view of the Middle Fells with the tarn in front. This should be an ideal stop for lunch.

 We now head for Latterbarrow going through the forest and across a cleared area, when we can see the tall cairn inviting us closer. A final climb, the steepest of the walk yet only short, to reach the summit at 800ft but with superb views for 360. The views from the eastern end overlook Windermere are well worth a visit.

 
With Hawkshead in view, it is just a matter of carefull descending Latterbarrow but we will make another diversion through a picturesque wood, which in spring is full of natural bluebells which will take your breath away.

The album taken on the 2012 walk

'C' Walk from Hawkshead 2018

Walk Leader: John Adamson
Walk Distance: 5.5-6 miles
Total Ascent/Descent: 500ft

The C Walk starts with a coffee and cake in one of the local tea shops in Hawkshead.  We leave the village of Hawkshead and walk east towards Wray Castle.  The route takes an anticlockwise circuit around Blelham Tarn via Wray Church, and back to Hawkshead village. There are a few minor ups and downs on the route and we climb over 4 styles.  There are some lovely views of the Fairfield Horseshoe and Helvellyn.

 

Photographs taken on the walks at Church Stretton

Got to work that toasted teacake off!

This is a bit high for us!

Wow

This is the place on a hot sunny day

B Walkers