The woodland beside Thirlmere Reservoir has been declared a refuge for red squirrels. United Utilites, which maintains the estate in a way that protects wildlife, the environment and water quality in the reservoir, has been trying to attract more red squirrels to the area for the past six years. In 2005 it commissioned a squirrel hide, constructed by weaving living willow branches together, to create a screen behind which visitors can view the wildlife of the forest. Visit the hide first before you set out on your long walk around the lake...

Park in Swirls car park, grid ref 315170. If travelling along the A591, from Grasmere, it lies on your right just beyond the end of the forest.

1 Set off from the back of the car park and cross the footbridge, left, over Helvellyn Beck. Turn right through a gate and at the division of the way, a short distance along, take the squirrel' waymarked right branch into the trees. Carry on along the little path, weaving around boulders and crossing two footbridges before following a wider path up through the trees to a forest road. Cross, and a few paces uphill, ascend steps as directed by another squirrel' waymark, on your right. Climb through trees, go through a gap in a wall and walk on. At a grassy ride, bear left and then look for another squirrel' waymark directing you left up more steps to reach the willow hide, tucked up against bushes on the left.

2 After viewing, descend the steps and turn left to follow a narrow path that winds left around a hillock. The path continues on and winds round a second hillock and then, after a short indistinct patch, a delightful track emerges. This descends very gently through the trees to eventually arrive at steps, which you descend to join a wide reinforced forest road. (If time is short or the weather has changed, turn right to return to the car park.) To continue the circular walk around the reservoir, turn left to continue on along the wide way for nearly two miles. Ignore the three-armed signpost for Wythburn church and stroll on along the high-level way.

3 Where the track turns down right, go on ahead to reach Birkside Gill. Stand on the bridge and enjoy the dramatic waterfalls that stream down the steep hillside. Then return to the track and begin your descent, left, to the side of the busy A-road. Cross, with care, and walk ahead along the narrow road. Follow it as it winds right to reach Steel End car park on your right. Go through the parking area and bear left through a gate to take the pleasing narrow path along the western shore of the reservoir. Follow it as it weaves between trees and edges small bays emerging, eventually, onto the back road' again.

4 Walk right for a few steps to reach Dobgill car park, on the other side of the road, where there are toilets. Opposite, take a gate and walk ahead through dense vegetation to reach a footbridge on your left, which you cross. Head towards the shore on one of the several paths. Continue on a distinct path that winds left, with the wide expanse of silvery water to your right. The path, in time, brings you to a gate back onto the road.

5 Walk on below a huge crag, on your right, and then climb a flight of steps that leads to a seat on Hause Point, with idyllic views of the lake. After a pause here, descend the steps to continue on the shoreside path. Stroll on the improving way, past the Hawes How Island and tree-clad Deergarth How Island. Carry on beside the reservoir all the way to Armboth car park (where there are toilets) and a noticeboard recording that it was in 1983 that the public was first allowed access to the lakeshore. Stroll on soon to rejoin the road for a short distance to avoid a difficult bit of the shoreline and then continue on to a road. Turn right to cross the dam.

6 Half way across the massive structure read the plaque, which commemorates the first stone, which was laid on August 22, 1890. Once across the dam walk on for a short distance to take, on the right, a series of steps that take you up through the trees onto a wide shelf-like path. Continue on the pleasing well-signposted way, for nearly a mile, with Thirlmere always to your right, until your way is blocked by the foot of narrow, deep, tree-lined Helvellyn Gill.

7 Follow the path as it winds left and climbs up past small noisy falls as the beck races towards the reservoir. The way brings you out to a large layby, with the car park opposite.

Information...

Distance : 9.5 miles.

Time: 5-6 hours.

Terrain: Easy paths and tracks, which may be slippery after rain.

Map: OS Explorer OL 5.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.