We planned this walk in Grizedale Forest to get some shelter from the rain and the wind. We also wanted to walk through the quiet forest, to enjoy both the coniferous areas and also the deciduous woodland, where the sunlight slanting though the latter made the birch bark gleam palely. The only sound for much of the way was the wind in the tree-tops, the rustle of dead leaves under our boots and the calls of jays, long tailed tits and coal tits.

Park in Blind Lane small parking area, grid reference 345913. This can be reached from Hawkshead or by taking the road for Rusland from the A590. At Force Mills, Blind Lane turns north-east at the junction and the car park (free) is a short way along, on the left.

1 Take the less obvious footpath, leaving right, at the back of the car park. This is marked with a green and white marker post almost hidden by lush vegetation. Stroll the pleasing path into the forest. Soon you reach another marker in the middle of the indistinct track. Keep to the right side and go on to an insignificant junction. Ignore the yellow sign with a green arrow on the right (which shows it is a public footpath) and go ahead with the green and white marker a short way along. Pass through the tall kissing gate beside a padlocked deer gate, waymarked, and descend gently along a narrow path with a huge heather cliff rearing up to the left and the forest dropping away to the right. Continue on this delightful way, still descending, to the pass through another waymarked kissing gate beside a deer gate. Carry on to wind slightly left to the start of a very long, narrow, stony path climbing deep into the forest, beside an unobtrusively fenced area of dense conifers.

2 This long climb is waymarked with the green and white posts and walkers are serenaded by the calls of coal tits. It passes through two deer gates and then carries on through lush vegetation on either side. It continues climbing and, eventually, turns right, soon to wind left. The path soon descends a very short rocky way into a large grassy clearing. Walk ahead and as you go look for a collection of huge sculpted towers, there’s little muddy path on your left. Return to the clearing and continue on along a level forest track. As you go look left for the huge crags on the skyline beyond clear-fell. To your right you can look down into a valley far below.

3 At the T-junction, turn left to walk a wider forest track, waymarked with white topped marker posts and signed Old Bowkerstead Farm. After quarter of a mile where the track makes a great bend, left, continue on it until you reach a signed narrow footpath, on the right, down through the trees. Take this short cut to a lower part of the winding forest track. Turn right and walk on until you can take another signed narrow short cut down through the trees to bring you out on to a clearing and Blind Lane. Turn right and walk a short way to return to the car park.

Information

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 2-3 hours

Terrain: Strenuous. Good paths and forest tracks. One long climb.

Map: The OS Explorer OL 7 map is no help as it does not show all the paths. Best to rely on the green and white posts and some white topped marker posts. I used a map I bought at the Visitor Centre, though being an Explorer fan, I found the Grizedale walks sheet quite difficult to follow.

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.