This is a beautiful walk visiting two attractive tarns, an easily climbed fell and several historic quarries, writes JOHN EDMONDSON. Learn some interesting facts about the place and people connected with the area: such as Harry Guards, Hodge Close, Charles Blondin, John Bond, the Rave Cave and Miss Potter.

Park at Glen Mary National Trust car park (grid reference SD 321 998), beside the A593 between Skelwith Bridge and Coniston.

Distance: 6 miles with 1,500 feet of ascent.

Time: 3.5 hours

Terrain: uneven paths (boggy in parts), well made tracks and quiet roads.

Map: OS Explorer OL7

1 Walk northwards along the footpath near the road to Yew Tree Tarn (the layby here is an alternative starting point). Cross the dam and follow the path around the tarn. After passing the northern end of the tarn turn left through the tall trees to a gate and follow a path up the hill, initially heading back southwards through Harry Guards Wood, then bearing right to climb steeply uphill. The wood is not named after a person but probably derives from old words meaning a grey (hoar) enclosure (garth). Turn right at a footpath junction and pass a large boulder. At the top of the ascent (Uskdale Gap) a view of the Langdale Pikes appears ahead.

2 Optionally turn left and walk to the top on Holme Fell then return to this point; otherwise keep straight on. Walk to the tarn below going around its left side. The tarn was built as a reservoir to provide water to counterbalanced trucks that lifted slate from a quarry. Descend to a track and turn sharp right. Just before the second gate turn right and walk along the path above Hodge Close slate quarry. Slate was once elevated from here using an aerial ropeway named after the famous tightrope walker, Charles Blondin. The 150-feet high quarry rock faces are now a favourite of abseilers. After the next gate turn left, signed Hodge Close, and go through another gate.

3 On the left is Parrock Quarry. Three quarrymen died in accidents here, including John Bond in 1898, whose body was recovered under an immense fall of slate after a 5-week search. To visit the quarry turn left, descend via a steep path (once a long inclined railway), then through a cave to the edge of a 150-feet deep pool in Hodge Close quarry; otherwise turn right at a stone building and go through a gate beside White Haw house. After the next gate leave the track by going straight ahead along a waymarked footpath. Follow the boggy path to a fence stile then descend to a road and turn left. Cross Pierce How (‘Peter’s Hill’) beck, walk around the How, then turn sharp left onto the track signed Coniston via Tilberthwaite.

4 Keep to the right along the main track. Rave Cave, the site of infamous Summer of Love parties in 1991, was within the complex of old quarries on the left. After passing High Tilberthwaite farm turn left through a gate. On meeting a road turn right. At Shepherd’s Bridge turn left onto the bridleway signed Yew Tree Farm. The farm was owned by Beatrix Potter in the 1930s and is still home to many of her furnishings. It featured as Hill Top in the film Miss Potter starring Rene Zellweger. Cross the road, turn right then left through a kissing gate and follow a field path to the left signed Glen Mary Car Park.

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.