Skelwith Bridge to Great Langdale: Lowland walk
I remember the first time I walked this route (on the 'Tour of the Lake District'), and feeling awestruck at the sight of the Langdale Pikes suddenly appearing when rounding the corner by Oak Howe. Using the 516 bus from Ambleside, this low-level walk starts in Skelwith Bridge, passes the foamy waters of Skelwith Force before passing through the village of Elterwater on the way to Sticklebarn, Great Langdale.
For such an easy walk, this delivers an abundance of views!
Click the image to open the Outdoor Active Route Card
Key Details:
Distance: 4.8 miles/7.7km.
Elevation gain: 280ft/85m.
Terrain: well maintained lowland footpaths.
Start: Elterwater.
Finish: Sticklebarn, Great Langdale.
Public Transport:
516 service: Ambleside to Dungeon Ghyll. Both Elterwater and Sticklebarn are stops on the route.
Connecting Services via 555 and 599 to Keswick, Windermere and Kendal.
Route notes:
1. Start: From the bus stop in Skelwith Bridge, follow the main road over the River Brathay and follow the road round until a wooden sign for a riverside path points down to the River Brathay.
2. 0.3 miles: Follow this path to the waterfall of Skelwith Force, continue until reaching a footbridge.
Elterwater and the Langdale Pikes from Brookside
5. 2.2 miles: Bear right, leaving the tarmac road and descending down towards the river via a smaller footpath.
6. 2.4 miles: Cross over the river, turn left and pass the Wainwright Inn on the left. 20m after the pub, take the footpath leading round the grassy bank on the left.
7. 2.6 miles: At the junction bear left, following the footpath signs that lead through Thrang Farm and onto Baysbrown campsite.
8. 2.7 miles: Keep left, following the track alongside the River Brathay for 0.7 miles, until it curves away from the river towards three stone cottages, marked on the map as Oak Howe.
3. 0.6 miles: Cross over the footbridge, and turn left. Continue on this surfaced path, passing the lake of Elterwater, until reaching the Elterwater National trust car park.
4. 1.9 miles: Exit the car park, turning left, and cross over the bridge. Take an immediate right, past the 20mph signs.
The Langdale Pikes coming into view shortly after passing Oak Howe.
9. 3.6 miles: Pass the stone cottages, and turn right. Follow the footpath for 1 mile until reaching Side House farm.
10. 4.6 miles: Turn right at the farm, following the track down to the main road. Sticklebarn is the junction directly opposite, and the bus returns back to Ambleside from here.