Way back in the late 1940s an old shepherd once said to me “Nah then lad - if thet wants to see watter proper thee go to Seathwaite.”

In spite of its weather Seathwaite is a grand spot and most of the area is well run by the National Trust. The village is used as a base for serious climbers heading up Great Gable, Scafell, Base Brown and Glanamara and all can be reached from the Seathwaite car park. It is also, however, a good place to begin less strenuous routes. Taylorgill Force, Styhead Tarn and the packhorse bridge at Stockley are within easy walking distance. So to is Sour Milk Gill named because of its frothy water which is a fascinating place after rain.

How to get there: Seathwaite is about 10 miles to the south of Keswick and following the Borrowdale Road, turn left at Seatoller to Seathwaite where there is parking.

Map: OS OL4 Grid reference: 238 120 Length: 5 miles - be sure to wear good shoes and have warm clothing either on your body or in your pack.

Route 1 From the village take a passageway through a farm complex and cross a solid footbridge over Seathwaite Beck close to the point where it joins up with Sour Milk Gill. Then go left through a gate and then ascend through fields keeping to the left on the beck. The climb is steep here but it is worth it because of what comes next.

2 Taylorgill Force is impressive at all times and for once we should be pleased that there is so much rain in the Seathwaite area. The waterfall drops more than 100-feet into a ravine cut through Styhead Gill. There is a choice here to enjoy a ‘rocky scramble,’ which provides nesting sites for the summer visiting wheatears. The birds have a very obvious white rump and its name translates rather rudely from the Anglo-Saxon and means ‘white arse.’ 3 Next into view comes Styhead Tarn which many experts feel is the best example of a mountain tarn to be found anywhere in the Lake District. There are really splendid views from the area of the tarn over towards Wasdale. From the tarn follow the inward route along Styhead Gill. Then cross over a footbridge.

4 At the footbridge turn left and follow the track keeping Styhead Gill on the left. The route is obvious here, as is the case all along this walk. Keeping a little woodland to the left, bear right.

5 Approach and cross the splendid little Stockley Bridge over Grains Gill. There is plenty of time to explore the old packhorse routes. These ran through the area and the winding track made contact with almost every farm. These, however, slowly moving they seem to us today, were the motorways of their day. The packhorses were led in what were known as trains. The man in charge was called the Jagger and the ‘Rolling Stones’ were not musicians but hard working horsemen!

From Stockley Bridge turn left and return to the starting point.

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.