3:10pm Saturday 27th February 2010
By Mary Welsh
THIS walk gives you a glorious mixture of Lakeland; it includes a good steady climb up steepish fell slopes, then a pleasing traverse west of the Wythburn Fells.
The descent to Harrop Tarn behind Birk Crag, with the sombre plantation of conifers to your left, is most atmospheric.
Harrop Tarn is as beautiful as ever, whatever the season.
Then follows a good track along the side of the tarn, below beeches, before descending, north of Swithin Crag, on a wide easy-to-walk forest road, which brings you all the way down to the lake side narrow road.
Here join the waterside path and return along the pleasing way for nearly two miles to the parking area.
Park in the car park at the south end, and on the west side, of Thirlmere at GR 321130.
To access this, leave the A591 by the narrow lane, west, just before the foot of the reservoir.
1 Turn right out of the car park and walk the narrow road for 100 yards.
Go through the signposted gate, on the left, giving access to several Lakeland barns.
Cross the yard to take the next gate and climb a grassy trod, beside the wall and below a row of scattered pines.
As you approach the scant ruins of West Head, sacrificed to make way for the reservoir many years ago, follow the signpost directing you half left up a slope and into a tiny triangular rough pasture.
2 Head up a scant path to go through a gate, half-way along the wall on your right, to continue on up the other side.
Then begin to wind right (back on yourself but higher up) until you can spot a wall.
Carry on steeply uphill with it to your right and go with it as it bears left. Once over a little brow, look for two gaps, close together, in the long wall.
Beyond the second, a path continues ahead and then winds right around low crags towards a huge ladderstile over a deer fence that surrounds a large conifer plantation.
Ignore the stile and take the field gate beyond it.
3 Immediately go through a gate on your right and walk on along beside the derelict wall on your left, with Birk Crag on the right.
The path takes you through this lovely remote area of Lakeland and then descends to some duck-boarding to a large wire gate in more deer fencing.
Beyond, walk ahead on a track, which rapidly brings you to the side of Harrop Tarn at the point where Dob Gill rages over its stepping stones.
Perhaps this is the place for your first break. Have your camera ready here.
4 Cross the footbridge high over the beck racing through a narrow gill and wind on left to continue ahead on a wide track, beside the tarn.
The way soon curves left to pass below beech trees, then winds right to a signpost.
Do not continue but bear right along an equally good track, signposted some distance along.
Keep on this pleasant way, level at first and then bearing round left, edging a deep gill on your right.
Through the trees you can spot Swithin Crag. Carry on down to pass through a forest gate and follow the track as it makes a great curve to reduce the gradient.
It then continues to the narrow road at the back of Thirlmere.
5 Walk left for 50 yards to go through a gate, on the right, below the craggy projection of Hause Point.
Walk right along the path, with the lake well below to your left.
Follow this delightful easy-to-walk way for three quarters of a mile, which then winds around the edge of the inlet created where Dob Gill enters the lake.
Cross the long footbridge, signed on the far side, and follow the good path to the road.
Opposite is Dobgill parking area and toilets.
Turn left to cross the road bridge over the cascading beck and a short way along is a gate on to a path continuing along the side of the lake.
This can be wet in places if the reservoir is very high or after heavy rain.
It is a lovely route but you may wish to carry on the road for half a mile to return to the car park.
Distance: 5 miles.
Time: 4 hours.
Height gain: 465ft/150m.
Terrain: The paths are faint at first and the slopes seem steep but it is really quite an easy walk – just a little bit challenging at first. The tracks are very clear and good.
Map: OS Explorer OL5 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.
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