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!
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