This walk around High and Low Dam is one of the gems of the Lake District. It is beautiful all the way around, the paths and tracks are good and it has just enough challenge to burn off the extra calories consumed during the festive break. At the end of your walk you might like to visit St Peter’s Church and also look in the churchyard for a plain cross depicting the burial place of Clementina Johannes Sobiesky Douglas. She is believed to be the natural daughter of Charles Stuart, the Young Pretender, by his mistress Clementina Walkinshaw.

Park in the car park, grid reference 368882, which is easily missed. It lies north east of the village of Finsthwaite, marked on the B-road only by a footpath sign for High Dam. The access track to the parking site is quite steep, narrow and has passing places. It gives a good start to the walk if time is short during this busy season. It is a reasonably priced pay-and-display parking area.

1 Turn right out of the car park and climb steadily on the good track through glorious mixed woodland. This track brings you to the corner of a small dam, holding back the water of Low Dam. Originally known as Finsthwaite Tarn, it was dammed in 1835 to create a reservoir to power a waterwheel to drive the machinery for Low Stott bobbin mill. Do not cross the narrow dam but continue up the right side of the Dam. Go on to reach, to your left, the pleasing lengthy retaining wall of High Dam. This lovely large stretch of water was created when the bobbin mill required a constant flow of water for its turbine, which had replaced the waterwheel.

2 Cross the footpath along the dam, pausing as you go to enjoy the delightful view. Then wind on, right, along the footpath. Go over the high footbridge above Little Mire Beck and climb steadily to reach a commemorative seat to look down on the water. Carry on the path as it descends steadily to reach a very wet area. Cross this on a fine extensive boardwalk. Wind around right on the continuing good path. Off this are narrow paths leading to the water’s edge or through small grassy glades, shadowed by birch, just made for summer picnics or winter coffee breaks.

3 Stroll on crossing footbridges to leave the large dam behind and once again walk beside Low Dam, with it to your right. Join the good track descending to the car park or the rough little path that goes down beside the tumbling beck. Perhaps you will have time left to visit the church and maybe the bobbin mill (entrance fee).

Information

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 2 hours

Terrain: Generally easy walking underfoot – lots of ups and downs but all well graded.

Map: OS Explorer Map OL 7

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.