A DRIVE to St Anthony’s Church at Cartmel Fell along the tiny lanes is like finding hidden treasure among woodlands, writes John Edmondson. Once found, it’s a delightful spot to visit and to take a short walk over the adjacent fell. This gently climbing walk visits a peaceful tarn and offers good views over the Winster valley. It makes for a fine summer evening stroll.

From Bowland Bridge (which is six miles south of Bowness-on-Windermere) drive towards Strawberry Bank and turn left just before the bend going up to the Masons Arms. Turn left after one mile then left again as you go downhill (an easily missed turn). Park near St Anthony’s Church (GR SD 416880, map reference LA11 6NT).

Information:

Distance: 3.5 miles, ascent: 500-feet

Time: 2 hours

Terrain: Good footpaths and tracks over gently rolling countryside.

Map: OS Explorer OL7

Route

1 From the lych gate walk to the church entrance. St Anthony’s Church was built in 1504 and is dedicated to the founder of monasticism. He also became the patron saint of swineherds and charcoal burners. The church is well worth a visit. St Anthony is pictured in the east window with his bell, staff and little pig. Turn left to leave the churchyard via a gap stile. Walk up the path and cross both roads and a ladder stile onto a footpath to a wall stile. An optional excursion up the hill to the right leads to a monument, which, in the words of A. Wainwright provides "a lovely belvedere for viewing a lovely valley." Go over a gated ladder stile into woodland. After crossing a stile the path goes downhill through bracken and across a small beck (which may be muddy) to meet another path where you turn right. This is an ancient packhorse route.

2 After going through two field gates follow the track to the left to a metal gate onto a tarmacked lane and turn right. Go past the houses at Foxfield up a gravel track to a metal gate and continue along the track through two gates and turn right before reaching Sow How Farm.

3 The track passes a pollarded ash tree on the right and then Sow How Tarn on the left. The tarn was built for wildfowling at the end of the 19th Century. Go through a gate but before following the grassy bridleway walk up the mound on the left to see over the wall and view the boathouse and swans on this pretty tarn. The track goes to a gate through woodland and then into a field (which is usually muddy). The track bends to the right and passes 16th Century Heights Cottage, once a farm and now a shooting lodge. Walk past rhododendron woodland and through a gate then follow an uphill grassy track into the open fell area of Raven’s Barrow. Views over the Winster valley to Whitbarrow Scar appear ahead. Continue along the track, through a gate and keep right, descending to a stony track and a roadside gate. Turn right along the road and at the next junction left, towards St Anthony’s Church along the footpath where the walk began. Keep right at the churchyard stile to return to the parking area.

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.