Park at High Cross car park, grid reference 334986. Free at the moment. This lies on the right, at the brow of the hill, if travelling from Coniston to Hawkshead. Is this the car park with the best view in the Lake District?

The circular walk around Tarn Hows is very popular and for very good reasons. The roads and car park soon support lots of traffic. This walk avoids the well-known routes with views of the tarn from high above. It takes you through woodland, over grassy paths and pastures, along walled tracks and narrow lanes - it is a delight.

1 After parking and enjoying the view, return to cross the road to take a couple steps along a narrow side road. Almost immediately go through the signposted kissing gate on the left and continue along the steadily rising path beside the wall on your right. Follow the path as it begins to descend and wind about a bit but keeping parallel with the wall. Pause at the foot of the slope to glimpse, left, the lovely little Wharton Tarn. Just beyond go through a gate in the wall. Cut across the corner to the signpost and take the large kissing gate into the forest, following the direction for Tarn Hows.

2 Carry on uphill through the magnificent woodland where you might spot a red squirrel. Enjoy the birdsong and the primroses at the path edge. Ignore the stile on the right and go on through the fine woodland. Just before a gate onto the road, bear left on a good path that continues through conifers. This path eventually brings you to a gate to the road. Beyond, cross with care and take the wide track opposite, which leads to parking for disabled visitors. Carry on along the track with magnificent views of the fells ahead and glorious views down to the lovely tarn below.

3 After passing through a small planting of mature conifers, climb a small hillock, on your left for another dramatic view and to read the inscription on a huge boulder that faces the lake. Descend to the high-level track and carry on. At the Y-junction take the right branch, (the left branch leads down to the circular walk around the tarn) and wind up and round right to stand in front of tiny Rose Cottage. It is let for holidays and belongs to the National Trust. After pausing here, stand with your back to the dwelling and walk ahead on a narrow grassy trod. This leads towards woodland and winds around right with the walled trees to your left. Soon this path joins a track that leads on to a gate.

4 Beyond, cross a wide track and go through a waymarked gate and walk on with walled forestry to the right and pasture to the left. Keep roughly beside the wall to go through the next gate into a splendid walled track – a joy to walk. This eventually takes you between the few houses of the hamlet, Bettyfold, and onto a lane leading to a quiet road. Here stands a damaged signpost. Go through the wooden gate, on the right, just before the road and walk right, aiming for woodland and continuing at the edge of a low grassy slope which keeps you clear of a large boggy area. Then follow the derelict wall, left, (path here not very obvious) to pass a waymark and on through a large gate. Go up the wide green swathe ahead to a gap in the wall. Beyond is a tiny walled garden with a seat and opening onto a lane at Sawrey Ground. Walk ahead on the metalled way to join a wider road, where you turn left. A short way along, ascend the banking to take the kissing gate on the right.

5 Climb the slope to a wide grassy swathe. Then descend a little to a large pool of water and lots of reeds. Follow the path through the reeds, where others have walked. Rejoin the good path and carry on over pasture to reach the signpost in the wall corner (see point 1). Cut the corner and go through the gate in the wall now on your right and walk left for a few steps to see Wharton Tarn, now on your right. Carry on up the signed slope and descend your outward route to take the kissing gate to the main road to Hawkshead and cross to return to the car park.

Information

Distance: 3 miles

Time: 2 hours

Terrain: Mainly good tracks and paths

Map: OS Explorer 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.