This walk from Grasmere takes you into Far Easedale and then crosses the meadow to join the track through Easedale. It continues, right, to a high point on the reinforced way, where you can look ahead to see the magnificent Sourmilk Gill waterfall. From here you could continue on the climbing track to reach Easedale Tarn, but this walk turns, left, to return along the tourist track and then retracing your outward steps to reach the lovely village and the car park.

Park in the car park at the north end of Grasmere, grid ref 339078.

Information:

Distance: 3.5 miles/4 miles/6 miles

Time: 2 hours/ 3-4hours

Terrain: the tourist path has been heavily reinforced for much of the way. It is dry but needs care as you stride the large stones used. Far Easedale paths could be muddy after rain.

Maps : OS Explorer OL7

1 Leave the parking area and, just before the busy road, walk the reinforced path, right, beside the wall on the edge of the park. At its end go through a gate, onto the road verge, immediately before the hotel. Cross with care and walk a few steps, right (no pavement), to go through the well signposted gate onto a good track below the pleasing wooded skirts of Butharlyp Hill. The path climbs steadily and then drops down to join Easedale Road. Stroll right and soon go through a gate on the left, to join a path, which runs parallel with the road.

2 At the end of the path rejoin the road and go on ahead along the quiet road. Ignore the first right turn and carry on to wind right with the road as it continues in the direction of Lancrigg Hotel, with woodland to your right. Carry on along the lane and then turn left into the hotel’s parking area. Walk in front of the building until you can continue on a permissive path that climbs gently, right, into pleasing deciduous woodland. Stroll the on-going path to come to a small plaque, in Latin, head height on a tall forest tree, on your right. This commemorates the place where Dorothy Wordsworth sat and wrote down William’s verses, which he proclaimed, out loud, as he walked along the path, one of his favourite ‘composing sites.’ 3 Stroll on as the path winds through the trees and then drops down to go past two small ponds. A short way beyond, you reach a gate onto a wider rough track, where you turn left and descend to a lane. Cross and go through a gate into a walled track. Follow it as it winds left and on to go through a gate on the right, to a pasture. Walk ahead to cross New Bridge onto the track that runs through Easedale. Turn right and walk the reinforced track. Ignore the signed gate on the left and head on. Pause when you reach a high point and look ahead, over pasture, to the magnificent waterfall, known as Sourmilk Gill.

4 Here you may wish to continue to the fall and go on up to reach Easedale Tarn set in its dramatic hollow that was gouged out by glacial action. Out of the tarn flows Easedale Beck. It accelerates down the steep slopes to Sourmilk Gill, where it plummets in white loveliness. From the tarn, or the waterfall, or the viewpoint for the waterfall, return along the track. Go past New Bridge and carry on to cross a clapper bridge and then a footbridge over the beck. Finally, retrace your outward route to the village. Here you might like to finish the day by exploring the interesting shops or visit the fine church and its burial ground to see gravestones of the Wordsworth’s.

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.