Bethecar Moor

From the east side of Coniston Water walk up onto a high-level track with stunning views across the

lake. Stroll through part of the Grizedale Forest then trek across the wild open space of Bethecar

Moor. This area was loved by Arthur Ransome in the 1930s and inspired locations for several of his

books. Much of the scenery will still be as he saw it.

Start from Crab Haws car park, 0.8 mile north of High Nibthwaite. Its hidden entrance is immediately

after a field on the right (map reference SD 296 909, postcode LA12 8DQ, what3words

///insect.fault.swordfish).

INFORMATION

Distance: 8 miles with 1700 feet of ascent

Time: 4.5 hours

Terrain: Stony tracks, woodland and fell paths.

Maps: OS Explorer OL6 and OL7

ROUTE

1. Walk from the north of the car park beside a low barrier and through a gate with a yellow

‘Poacher Watch Area’ sign. Follow the footpath winding uphill through woodland. These

woods were once used for making charcoal: Arthur Ransome’s ‘Swallows and Amazons’

features charcoal burners (old and young Billys) in this area. Exit the woods via a high gate

onto a track beside Selside Beck. Turn left and for the next mile stay on the main moorland

track to Great Hill. This area and Blawith Fells across the lake may have been Ransome’s

inspiration for ‘Swallowdale’ or ‘High Greenland’. You can easily identify Peel Island

(‘Wild Cat Island’) and Coniston Old Man (‘Kanchenjunga’) further north. Keep right at a

junction overlooking the 16th-century farmhouse of Low Parkamoor: now a holiday retreat

for those who enjoy silence and stunning views but can tolerate an outdoor composting toilet

and no mains services. Pass the ruin of High Parkamoor; keep right along the main track and

go through a gate to enter woodland.

2. For the next mile follow the waymarked bridleway downhill, crossing two forest tracks, to

meet a wide track (one of the main routes from Grizedale visitor centre that is 1.5 miles to the

north). Turn right, then keep right at a Y junction and pass Hob Gill Tarn on the left. After

crossing Hob Gill the track rises gently. Turn right onto a narrow waymarked path through

woodland. On meeting a track turn left then immediately right to walk along a track with a

metal fence on the right. Go through a high gate and walk uphill for half a mile to leave the

woodland via a high gate. Walk along the waymarked path ahead, keeping right after

crossing stones over Yew Beck to a cairn beyond Old Parrock Hill. Continue along the

waymarked path descending to the right of Arklid Intake woodland, turning right to cross a

footbridge next to a yew tree.

3. Go through a kissing gate and turn right along a wall on the right then go through a gate with

adjacent stile and along a grassy track beside a wall on the left. Go through a kissing gate on

the left, walk ahead towards the right of a small wind turbine and around to the right of High

Bethecar farm house. Go through a wicket gate on the left and follow the path alongside a

wall on the left. After the next gate keep ahead and follow a rough quad track descending to a

stony track on the left. Turn right and ascend to the high gate near Selside Beck that you

came through at the start of the walk. Turn left and descend through the woods back to Crab

Haws ca