Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar

From the centre of the village, head north towards the Keswick exit and the A591. At this major road, cross it and head up the lane alongside the Swan Hotel. Then take the second turning on the right. This narrow lane is signposted Greenhead Gill and Alcock Tarn. Go through the NT gate at the far end and turn left.

Follow this path alongside a wall on your left as it climbs steeply and gradually swings to the right. In summer the fell side is covered with substantial amounts of bracken. Much of the path is engineered steps. Twice it seems as if the path goes through the wall, but it does not, bear right and remain on the public footpath.

There is a slight respite in gradient as the path climbs more gently with a low wall on your right. A lower track on the fellside may look appealing, but remain on the higher. An erosion control fence reassures you are on the right track: it has public footpath markers.

Pass a lone tree. At the end of this (zig)zag the path seemingly goes straight up the ridgeline. It does! Although this isn't for long before the gradient eases again and the rocks known as Stone Arthur can be seen.

Bear right on the path away from the wall across slightly wet and boggy ground. Then nearing the crags bear left onto a faint path weaving its way through and up to the crest of the ridge.

To continue to Great Rigg, continue following the path bearing north east along the ridge. It swings past many small outcrops, and more boggy bits. Great Rigg can be seen slightly to the left of straight ahead. Reaching a large cairn which marks the end of the Stone Arthur ridge, bear left and climb the rocky steps to the summit cairn only another 250m (275 yards) on.

Retrace your steps to the cairn at the end of the Stone Arthur ridge, now bear left, onto the ridge slightly east of south. The path here is typical high mountain fare, rough and eroded! Also passing some handy puddles, a few of which may not dry out in a warm summer. Heron Pike is the second bump on the ridge, the first not deemed worthy of a name.

Continue on the path as it now drops away from the crest, missing Lord Crag on your right if you aren't paying attention. The same goes for Nab Scar, the summit of which is the large cairn on the other side of the broken wall. Another wall, better maintained appears and is crossed by the stone stile. It's only three steps and most dogs should negotiate it without trouble.

The path down the nose of Nab Scar bears left shortly after leaving the wall.

Drop down, cross a short flat bit, and continue descending. Rounding the crag look to the right of the path, far below is Grasmere lake, and notice the improbable square rock set into the ground with a bit of a tilt. It's the aqueduct stone, the only hint that below is a tunnel which is part of the Thirlmere reservoir scheme.

Bear right and drop down onto the zigzags. Climb the ladder stile, with dog tunnel alongside, and drop down between stone walls to the bottom by the farm.

Go through the kissing gate, and the farm driveway gate, and down the concrete drive.

Just above Rydal Mount is a lane, signposted coffin road to Grasmere. Take it and bear left to the gateway. Go through, and follow the wide track to the next gate. Go though and continue on the path beyond.

Reaching the tarmac road at How top, go straight on, past the overgrown tarn and down the hill to Dove Cottage. Carefully cross the roundabout, bearing left for Grasmere. This is Stock Lane, and comes into the village near the church.