bwfblack British Walking Federation

BOWNESS AND BEATRIX WALK ORGANISED BY THE BWF NATIONAL COMMITTEE

CONTACT : Roger Baker, 12 Burwood Grove, Hayling Island, Hampshire PO11 9DS
Tel: 02392 462005 E-mail: trails@bwf-ivv.org.uk

DISTANCE: 11km
ENTRY FEE: £1.00 per walker (Cheques payable to BWF))
AWARD: Cloth Badge at £2.00 each
START VENUE: The boat jetties on the Lake Windermere in Bowness. Map 97 GR SD402967
CAR PARKING: Various car parks in the area.
DIRECTIONS FROM M6 MOTORWAY: From the South leave the M6 at junction 36, and take the A590 towards Sedgewick, and then the A591 to Windermere. At Windermere take the A592 to Bowness-on-Windermere. From the North, leave the M6 at junction 37 towards Kendal, on the A684. Then pick up the A591 to Windermere and follow the instructions above.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Train or bus to Windermere. Bus to Bowness. Please check as all transport is seasonal.
REFRESHMENTS: At the start and on the route.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

With the information centre behind you, facing the Lake, Turn Left and walk down Glebe Road (the Lake is on your right). After 300m, and just passing Windermere Quays visitor centre on your right, take the Public Footpath sign posted to Cockshott Point. Follow the path keeping the Lake on your Right Hand side. When you reach a metal gate, go through and turn right, & follow the signs for the ferry. Go to the ferry and cross Lake Windermere as a foot passenger. (Cost 40p each way for 1998).

Q1 - What is the signed car capacity on the ferry?

After crossing Lake Windermere, walk along the road for approximately 140 metres. Take the path on the right, and follow along the side of the Lake for approximately 150m to the gate. Go through the gate and Turn Left, and then after approximately 100m go through the gap in the wall on the right, sign posted public footpath Hill Top via Sawrey, Ash Landing, Claife Station. Walk up the path towards a ruined building, but just before reaching it take the path on the left back down. Take great care as this path can become very slippery. It is worth inspecting the buildings, particularly for the view back across the Lake. The building was a "Café cum View point" called a Station for the hundreds of Victorian visitors. Watch out for Red Squirrels in this area.

From the descent follow the path through the car park, keeping the road on your left and follow the public footpath signed National Trust to Near Sawrey and Hill Top. Go though the gate, cross the road with care, and continue on the path in the same direction with the road now on your right. As you come to the end of this path continue on the road for approximately 100m, & Turn Right at footpath sign for Sawrey. Follow the track, go through the kissing gate and then on through another old metal kissing gate. Join the lane via the path signed through private property and continue ahead to meet the road into Far Sawrey by the Sawrey Hotel and the "Claife Crier" Inn.

Q2 - What is the telephone number of the phone box just before reaching the Hotel?

After the Inn, continue on this road for a short distance before turning left onto a minor road with Sawrey stores immediately on your right & continue on this road through the village. Just before reaching the church take the footpath on the right. Go through the kissing gate and keep to the gravel path over the bridge and continue in the same direction. Do not go out onto the road but turn left, keeping the road on your right. Eventually, approximately 100m before Near Sawrey and Hill Top, you have to walk on the road, (take care - in the summer it can be busy). Beatrix Potter wrote most of her now famous books whilst living at Hill Top. She used the cottage, gardens and surrounding area for inspiration for the stories and illustrations in her books.

Immediately after passing Hill Top you pass Tower Bank Arms on your left, keep on this road towards Hawkshead taking the first road on the left, (sign posted Lakeside & YHA). After approximately 500m, at the fork in the road Turn Left, and pass to the left of the old (but still occupied) farm cottages. After a further 500m Turn Left into woodland. Take the footpath straight ahead, (there are two stiles hidden by vegetation) and where the tyre tracks bear right, continue up the hill towards woodland on the distinct and often muddy path. Continue with a high mesh fence on your right to a stile, over and into a grass field. Aim for the gate and the stile in the same direction. Go through the gate and keep to the left on the terraced path in the same direction towards the road passing through a couple of fields, and then through the kissing gate and onto the road and Turn Left.

Q3 - What is the name of the first cottage on your left?

Almost immediately Turn Right through a kissing gate into a field with a church on your left. Continue in the same direction through several fields and kissing gates to emerge at Bryers Brow Cottage. Turn Right and walk along the road for a short distance. Turn Right onto a road sign posted to Cunsey. Ignore left turn, sign posted to ferry, instead follow the road sign posted to the Lakeside. Continue down hill until you see a sign for Bryers Cottage, turn sharp left. Ignore private signs this is a permissive path. Continue on this path to the Lakeside and then with the Lake to your right continue to the road.

Turn Right and return to the ferry. Cross and re-trace your steps through the car and boat park. Do not Turn Left through metal gate to follow the lake shore path but go ahead through a field, cross the road and go ahead with the mini-golf on your left to eventually return to the Lake side and information centre.

When you have completed this trail please use the Permanent Trail Entry Form

The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property. Every effort will be made by the organisers to make this a safe, enjoyable and memorable event.

This trail is registered until 31 December 2009.