At just 3.5 miles from the centre of Kendal, you can easily buzz along to Brigsteer for a pleasant and fairly easy walk. If you explore the village you might get the impression that Brigsteer is an apiary, with properties called Honeycroft, Honeybee House and Honeypot Cottage. This sweet little route passes a bee reserve and goes through Honeybee Wood and there’s a loop in the middle that you can miss if you want a shorter walk. Start from the large parking area off the road from Underbarrow just below the village (grid reference SD 477 898).

Information

Distance: 4.5 miles, total ascent 300-feet

Time: 2 hours

Terrain: tracks, footpaths and quiet roads.

Map: OS Explorer OL7

Route

1 Walk along the lane below Brigsteer with the village on your left and go up the hill in the direction of Levens. At the edge of the village turn left through a kissing gate and up the footpath signed St John’s Church. The path goes alongside the 17.5 acre Brigsteer bee reserve, a private wildlife reserve and part of the Morecambe Bay Wetlands Project. A small area of woodland is being planted with trees used by bees for nectar, honeydew and resin. The grassland is managed to favour a flower rich flora and to provide nest sites for bumblebees and solitary bees. At the top of the field there’s a bench where you can rest and enjoy the views over the Lyth Valley and south towards Morecambe Bay. On joining a track turn left to meet the road just above the sign for Brigsteer. Turn right and go up the hill to the first bend then turn left onto the track signed Public Footpath Barrowfield.

2 After about half a mile the footpath branches left to go through the appropriately named Honeybee Wood. Follow this path to Barrowfield farm where you turn left and go down the meadow to the woods. This pleasant downhill path goes through woods, across a quiet pasture surrounded by woods and leads to an attractively located house and small bungalow. Go around the buildings and along the track to Garth Row Lane.

3 For a shorter walk of 3.5 miles turn left to go downhill and meet the road from Underbarrow to Brigsteer where you turn left. The starting point is another half a mile on the left. For the full walk, turn right and after 200 yards left onto the footpath immediately after Garth Row. At the metal gate go left and follow the path down to and across the stream to join the road at Thorns Barn. Go down the road to the left and after a quarter of mile join a public footpath on the left across a stream (Tanyard Beck). The path goes to the top right corner of the second field then follows a wall to a farm gate and two stiles. Go through the gateway then along the farm track to the left of the farm where you join the road.

4 Turn left and go along the road. On the right is Underbarrow Moss and a drainage channel called Underbarrow Pool. The name Brigsteer probably refers to a bridge or causeway built across the pool enabling steers (young bullocks) to reach pastures such as the ones seen during the walk. After three quarters of a mile you’ll be back to where the walk began.

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.