A circuit of Grasmere

Starting near the church head away from the village centre along Stock Lane towards Ambleside. Past the car park to the small roundabout at the junction with the A591. Do not walk along the A591 but cross the roundabout and take the country lane with the 6'6" width restriction. Follow this past the Wordsworth Shop, Dove Cottage and up the hill.

Just past the small overgrown pond at How Top, turn left signposted, on a wooden sign, "Public Right of Way to Alcock Tarn and Coffin Route to Rydal" and also "NO THROUGH ROAD FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AFTER ½ MILE" on a white metal sign.

After 300m (330 yards) or so, just past another tarn, called variously Skater's Tarn, Wordsworth's Tarn, or White Moss Tarn, bear right on a small track going downhill. This leads to the car parks at White Moss.

Cross the busy A591 again and into the parkland beside the River Rothay. There are Public Conveniences here.

In the parkland bear right, and then keep alongside the River Rothay. Before the gate into the meadows is a footbridge over the river to your left. Cross the bridge and turn right to follow the riverside path.

It is narrow and relatively rough here with steep drops off the path although not a great distance. Go through the kissing gate onto access land and follow the cobbled path alongside the river.

Eventually another footbridge is met just by the small weir at the head of Grasmere lake.

Bear left and follow the lake shore. Go through the gate, a smooth track is just above the water's edge here. Keep following the shore line which gradually swings right.

After some distance the woodland to the right becomes fenced in fields. With stunning views across the lake the end of this path comes all too soon and you are forced to turn left up to the road.

At the road turn right to head towards Grasmere village. There is a little traffic on this country lane so care will be needed where it narrows and on corners. There are still good glimpses of the view back down the lake and to the fells on the other side.

You enter the village on Red Bank Road opposite St Oswald's church.