Saturday 4th July — Dales Way Burneside to Bowness (from Windermere)

Walk Leader: Damian

Meeting Time and Location: 09:45 at Windermere Railway Station, Station Pricinct, Windermere LA23 1AH

Start Time: 10:00 – we will be catching the 10:08 train from Windermere to Burneside, a journey of 10 minutes. Please ideally book your train ticket in advance – only a single one way journey required as this is a linear walk. Please ensure you are at the start point prompt in order to catch the train. 

Finish Time: 16:00-16:30 approx.

Car Parking and Public Transport: Broad Street Pay and Display Car Park – this is the only long stay car park in Windermere Village and can get very busy quickly on summer weekends, so please give yourself plenty of time to find a car parking spot. Public Transport Stagecoach Summer Service Timetable. Please check times for Summer Saturday.

Miles: 12 approx.

Ascent: 400m (cumulative), there are a number of gradual ups and downs, never especially sustained or steep in aspect.

Terrain: A mix of open farmland paths and bridleways, woodland and riverside path walking, quiet country roads, and residential/village centre roadside pavements.

Grading: Moderate, nothing technical.

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Walk Details: An outing following part of the Dales Way from Burneside Village to Bowness-on-Windermere, followed by a walk into Windermere village centre. The walk takes us along the banks of the River Kent and through rolling gentle countryside between Windermere and Staveley, in quiet farmland terrain. 

Leaving Burneside village centre, we find the Dales Way path to the rear of the Croppers Paper Mill. From here, we follow the banks of the River Kent as it passes through farmland fields passing Bowston and Cowan Head until we eventually reach the road at the south end of Staveley Village. At this point we follow the road for a short while and then cross over the Windermere – Oxenholme Railway Line and make out way to the bridge over the A591.

The next leg of the walk follows farmland paths by Field Close and ascends along a quiet country road dropping back down to a junction by Fell Plain Farm. Here, we turn right and follow another quiet road. The Dales Way then twists and turns through open farmland, until reaching Outrun Nook where another short bit of quiet road walking is needed. From here we head westwards passing Hag End and gradually ascend to a rocky knoll and a lone marker tree. We then have the option of descending to School Knott Tarn followed by a short pull to the prized viewpoint of School Knott, or instead we can continue our way along to Cleabarrow Tarn, reaching the Crook Road.

Following the Crook Road for a short bit, we then head through more fields passing Matson Ground and Brantfell Farm. The very last part of the Dales Way is a short steep descent to the edge of Bowness on Windermere. We then have various options, we can either follow the main road linking Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere, or follow quiet paths around the eastern edge of the residential areas, or after walking through Bowness on Windermere, follow Longlands Road and Beemire Lane. Either way, the walk will finish in Windermere village centre, followed by an optional refreshment.

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Health and Safety: Please dress appropriately taking account of the weather conditions. Please wear sturdy footwear and bring plenty of water and food. We will stop for lunch at a convenient point dependent on conditions. 

*Please note the walk takes us through many fields where livestock (sheep and cattle) is likely to be present. All dogs much be kept on a lead where livestock is present.

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