Grizedale Forest Park (OS map OL7)
Meet time 09.15am
Start time 9.30 am
Start point: Blind Lane car park near Force Mills, Grid reference: SD 343912 Postcode: LA12 8LQ
Car parking: Blind Lane car park – free parking
(Estimated finish time 15.30 )
Grading: Moderate
Description: a lovely low level forest walk with hopefully nice views from the summit of Carron Crag, but also some nice sculptures to spot along the way.
Starting from Blind Lane car park we follow the signpost “Bowkerstead”, the path leads to a bench, just before the bench we turn left, down to the road, cross the road and follow the path along the beck (the beck is on our left). When the path ends up on the road, we turn left and follow that road for a couple minutes before turning left along a large track with a large new gate. We follow that track past the waterfalls and up to the tarn (the tarn is not named; it is the one to the right of the note ‘Ironworks remains of’ on the OS map). We then take the path on the right hand side of the tarn and follow it through several path junctions, heading towards the track across Harry Intake. Before Mustard Hill we turn right towards Scale Green Intake. There is then a clear path to the left for Carron Crag. From the summit we go down the other side of the Crag and take the track around the summit, back to where we first started to climb to Carron Crag. We then take the clear path down to the Grizedale Visitor centre where we will stop for lunch.
After lunch we will cross the road and follow the path signposted ‘Esthwaite’ for a short time, before turning right onto a path to Grizedale Tarn. We then take the track just above ‘The Common’. Turning right we follow the main track between ‘Beck Side Intake’ and ‘Low Scar Wood’ (past a small quarry). When we get to ‘Pennington Height’, we do not take the path marked ‘shortcut to Bowkerstead’ on the left, we go right for a short while, take the first footpath on the left, when we get to a track we go right, follow the track till a sharp bend where there is a footpath through the woods back to the car park.
Distance: Approx 11 miles / 17.7 km
Ascent: Approx 300 m
Time: 6 hours max
Please contact Nathalie on number removed by 9pm on Friday if you are coming on this walk (text or phone only). This walk is suitable for dogs but please make sure you keep your dog under control.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing and enough food and water.
The leader reserves the right to cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Travel: The walk leader is happy to provide a lift to anyone travelling via Kendal. As well as being sustainable, car sharing will cut down on costs and save space for others in the car park. Please contact the leader if you would like a lift to and from Kendal or if you are willing to offer car share from another location.