A short walk to Hart Side from Park Brow

From the car park return to and cross the road, a signpost and step-stile are immediately opposite the entrance. Cross the stile - small dogs can probably wriggle under the fence - and bear left on the path which starts a little faintly at first. It is quite rough and wet at times with small becks and rises gently as it traverses across the fellside. Ignore turnings off the path, and if in any doubt keep slightly right. The path runs along a fine terrace in places.

The fellside is covered in a luxurious growth of bracken which is obviously so even in winter when it has died back. As well as small becks to cross there are some quite dramatic gills.

The path starts to diverge from the fence to the left, and rises slightly more steeply. There are fantastic views down to Ullswater.

Continue along the path to the gate in the wall coming down the fellside below Spying How. There is a wood the other side.

Go through the gate in the wall, under the falling down tree, and keep on the path as it rises again quite steeply. After what could be described as a prostrate larch swing right as the path enters a gully and climbs the fellside, bearing left at the top of the steep bit. Meeting the wall joining in from the right, go through the gate and bear left on the path just above the wall.

In just 200m (220 yards) the path bears right and climbs onto a boggy plateau. Follow the path across and onwards to join a wall. Cross the wall at the broken stone stile and immediately turn up right to follow a very faint path through the long grasses alongside the wall.

Avoid the temptation to bear left up rough, boggy, tussocky grass slopes direct to Hart Side. Follow the path alongside the wall, across a couple of dips to the crest of the ridge. Turn left to the visible cairn on Birkett Fell.

From the cairn on Birkitt Fell continue ahead, ESE, to cross a slightly boggy depression, then bear right to climbing gently to the rocky oasis of Hart Side.

There are 3 cairns scattered about the small summit plateau.

Signs of an old trench near the summit are thought to be associated with Greenside Mine. In Wainwright's day it was more obvious and defined than it is today.

Return to Park Brow by retracing your steps.

On the way back, it really is a good plan to rejoin the wall by going back over Birkett Fell as cutting the corner off takes you through very tussocky grass interspersed with marshy hollows, becks, and general unpleasantness. It looks quite benign when looking across it but it really isn't much fun.

Follow the wall down to the clear cross-path and turn left through the gap. Traverse the fellside below Brown Hills to join another wall, and go back through the gate to descend below Spying How and through Glencoyne Park.