This walk starts gently passing a peaceful tarn, going through the interesting grounds of Wray Castle and alongside Windermere lake. It then makes an energetic ascent through woodland to the summit of Latterbarrow whose relatively modest altitude of 800 feet provides a fine return on the effort with splendid views over Windermere and the central Lakeland Fells. A short descent soon brings you back through delightful pastoral scenery to the back door (almost literally) of Outgate village.

Start at the large lay-by north of Outgate (GR NY 355 002).

Information

Distance: 7.25 miles; ascent: 1,000 feet

Time: 3.5 hours

Terrain: Mainly gravelled and some grassy paths. Fairly steep climb between four and six miles, but easy gradients elsewhere.

Map: OS Explorer OL7

Route

1 From the car park walk towards Outgate and Hawkshead and after about 100 yards join the roadside footpath on the left. Turn left onto the track and follow it down to Blelham Tarn. This beautiful reed-fringed tarn is owned by the National Trust and contains pike, perch, eels, roach and occasionally brown trout. The name of Blelham Tarn derives from an Old Norsk word (blá) meaning the deep blue and a reconstructed Old English word (lumme) meaning pool.

2 Keep on the path ahead passing the tarn on your right. Just before the road go right on the footpath. Turn right onto the road, crossing the beck and uphill to Wray Castle gateway on your left. Go through the gateway and along the castle driveway to explore the castle gardens. The castle was built in 1840 and these grounds were designed to provoke conversation, by providing intrigue and excitement with thrilling views being hidden and suddenly revealed at key points. The grounds contain specimen trees - wellingtonia, redwood, gingkoa, weeping lime and varieties of beech. There is a mulberry tree planted by William Wordsworth in 1845. The wooded bank between the castle and the lake (Watbarrow Wood) has pleasant paths leading through it. The National Trust has done a lot of work to restore the grounds to how they would have looked when the house was built, giving impressive views of Windermere from a variety of directions.

3 Join the gated path down to the side of Windermere and follow the path with the lake on your left. On leaving the castle grounds turn left and continue on the bridleway along the lakeside. You will go through Red Nab car park and shortly after passing the gate to Belle Grange (a large house) turn right onto the bridleway signposted to Hawkshead. This rocky track (a coffin trail) zig-zags steeply (and sometimes slippery) up through the woods.

4 Go straight over the bridleway at Scab Moss and again cross the track continuing upwards towards Hawkshead. At the top edge of the woods turn right and follow the winding undulating path to the summit of Latterbarrow. The final ascent is to the north. The name of Latterbarrow derives from Old Norsk words meaning the hill (berg) where animals had their lair (làtr).

5 Descend Latterbarrow on its west side (in the direction of Hawkshead). At the road, turn left then after 50 yards right onto Loanthwaite Lane. After passing the cottages in Loanthwaite bear right onto the footpath crossing a field. Avoid the path going sharp right along the wall.

6 Follow this attractive path across fields and through woods to Outgate, where it skirts around to the right and joins the road next to the Outgate Inn. Opposite the inn next to the bus stop there is a shelter with a sloping slate roof. It contains a water pump and is a 19th Century grade II listed building. Turn right and go along the road returning to the lay-by 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.