Our Favourite Short Walks
Image © Alexandra O’Toole
“…surely there is no other place in this whole wonderful world quite like Lakeland … no other so exquisitely lovely, no other so charming, no other than calls so insistently across a gulf of distance. All who truly love Lakeland are exiles when away from it.”
- Alfred Wainright
You’ll find some of the most beautiful walks in the world in the Lake District. Today we’re sharing three short walks we take on repeat.
GUMMERS HOW, WINDERMERE
1.5 miles
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Just a short walk from April Cottage, is Gummers How, one of the Lake District’s top ten picturesque picnic spots. The views from the top down to Windermere and across the Lake District are absolutely stunning. The walk to the precipice takes you through pretty woodland slopes and up some quite steep crags so ensure you take drinking water with you and take rests along the way when you need to. You will meet cows along the path, so keep dogs on a lead and children (not babies in prams) close. If you’ve got a romantic nature, you might like to go to Gummers How in the evening and watch the sunset. You’ll find a scattering of other people up there at that time quietly enjoying a peaceful moment in nature, making it a great walk for couples.
The walk to the top takes you through pretty woodland slopes and up some quite steep crags so ensure you take drinking water with you. You will meet cows along the path, so keep dogs on a lead. We particularly like to go in the evening and watch the sunset. Suitable for families with young children (not babies in prams). You will meet cows along the path, so keep dogs on a lead.
HIGH DAM, FINSTHWAITE
4.5 miles
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There’s something magical about High Dam, with its pretty waterlily rimmed pools and wooded glades. We first discovered Finsthwaite a long time before we owned April Cottage when a family member gifted our daughter a tree in the ancient Great Knott Wood as a Christening present. Exploring the area we discovered the beautiful picturesque tarns of Low Dam and High Dam nearby and have revisted them many times over the years.
Start this circular walk at the pretty village of Finsthwaite, a short drive away from April Cottage. From the car park in Finsthwaite it is possible to walk up man made paths all the way to the Dam. If starting from the village itself on foot, you can walk up through beautiful country side, but look out for way finder signs as it is easy to go off piste. The walk up to the Dam takes you through stunning countryside, woodland and along the quieter southern shores of Lake Windermere.
SWINESIDE STONE CIRCLE, BROUGHTON IN FURNESS
2 miles
The walk to Swineside Stone Circle isn’t particularly long, but it takes you through a beautiful stretch of remote countryside and it’s a great one for small children and parents with prams and pushchairs. The walk from the nearest parking area to the circle, which is located on the eastern flank of Black Combe, takes around half an hour there and back. Park in the layby along the main road just past Craggs Hall at the end of the farm track and then walk up the lane (at a very slight incline) which is signposted Swineside Farm: Public Bridleway.
Swinside Stone Circle is one of the three most important stone circles in Cumbria, and consists of 55 stones set in a ninety foot diameter circle. Although the circle is located on private ground and can easily be viewed from a nearby public footpath, every time we have visited, there have been people sitting amongst the stones, eating picnics and watching the sheep graze. We did the same and enjoyed a peaceful lunch with amazing views across the hills towards Duddon Estuary and the Irish Sea. Just remember to take all of your litter home with you.
All images © Alexandra O’Toole and Andrew Evans.