Last updated 15:24, Friday, 21 March 2008

Rediscover the spot where Lakes first cast their spell on Wainwright

The view that wowed Wainwright: Watching shower clouds over the fells from the top of Orrest Head

MAP: Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL7.

START/FINISH: Windermere Railway Station

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Rail connection with Kendal and Oxenholme; several bus services, including 555 and X8 (telephone 0871 200 2233).

REFRESHMENTS: Choice of cafes, hotels and pubs in Windermere.

DISTANCE: 7 miles

TOTAL ASCENT: 1,036ft

TIME: 3-3½ hours

GRADE: Easy/Intermediate

OVERVIEW: For some, Orrest Head (783ft) with its fantastic all-round views is an end in itself, but this walk takes you beyond this tiny fell and out along the lovely Dubbs Road to a high point of 914ft. The walk up to Orrest Head is relatively gentle and the climbing after this is easier still, but the route is fairly long, so may be unsuitable for young children. There are some paths across farmland, which are generally well signposted, and a few short sections along quiet country roads.

THE WALK: Turn left out of the railway station building and then, at the complicated junction where the station driveway meets the A591, carefully cross to the north side of the busy main road, to the pavement in front of The Windermere Hotel. Now turn left (W) along the A591 for a few yards until, just after you draw level with the NatWest bank on the other side of the road, you see a lane heading up to the right, clearly signposted to Orrest Head. Follow this, ignoring a path off to the left early on.

The lane winds gently uphill through the trees. Soon after the asphalt ends, you see a wooden bench in front of you and the track splits. Keep right on a good, wide track. As it swings right and you reach a wall, you get your first view of the fells to the north and east. Continue uphill and then go through a metal kissing gate to gain the steps that lead to the summit of Orrest Head (0.7 miles from the start). There are some superb views of the surrounding fells from here – too many to list. Simply choose your bench – there are quite a few up here – and sit back and soak it all up.

From the top, pick up the grassy path heading slightly east of north. Don’t go through the next gate; instead, cross the stone stile in the wall to the right of it and then continue in a NE direction along a faint grassy trail. Keep to the right of the wall, resisting the lure of any nice new gates that may tempt you to the other side. Eventually, you will reach a minor road (1.15 miles from the start). Turn right here and walk along the road for about a quarter-of-a-mile, ignoring the first footpath on the left, close to the buildings at Near Orrest. Keep going for another 130 yards and then cross the stile in the wall on your left (signpost reads: “Public Footpath Moor Howe”).

There is no path on the ground across the next couple of fields. Head NNE, straight towards the pole in the middle of the field and then continue up to a ladder stile. Maintaining the same NNE line, cross this field to exit it via a wooden gate – the left of two gates in the top wall. Now cross to the ladder stile over to the right. Beyond this, turn left to walk with the wall on your left.

Turn right along Moorhowe Road (1.8 miles from the start) and follow it for almost a quarter-of-a-mile – until you reach a clear, wide track on the left. This is Dubbs Road, which you now follow for just over a mile-and-a-half. This lovely route takes you past Dubbs Reservoir and up to a high point of 914ft.

Eventually, you will reach a junction with another track (3.65 miles from the start). Turn sharp left here (SW), reluctantly turning your back on the lovely view up Trout Beck. When the track forks, bear left (SSW) to head gently uphill. As the track begins to drop, the views are dominated by Windermere stretching on into the distance. Ignoring one footpath off to the right along the way, follow the track until it ends at a road (5 miles from the start). Now turn right and then, in 120 yards, turn left through a gate (signpost reads: “Footpath Far Orrest”).

Follow the grassy track south and then, as you approach some trees, go through the left of two gates. Walk with a wall on your right until you reach a kissing-gate. Beyond this, head down a grassy lane between two drystone walls. As you approach the buildings at Far Orrest, go through the gate on your right. A weathered sign indicates this is the path to Crosses Farm and Windermere. It heads west and drops to a ladder stile. Cross straight over the two tracks in front of you and over a step stile, signposted Windermere via Crosses.

The track passes an old caravan, goes through a gate and then heads up to and over a ladder stile. Head SSW towards a gap in the wall, but don’t go through the gap; instead, bear left to walk with the wall on your right. Cross one stone stile, followed soon after by a ladder stile. Go through the next large metal gate and on to a track to the left of a pretty white cottage. Turn right along the road (5.9 miles from the start).

At the junction with the A592, turn left through an old metal gate (signpost reads: “Public Footpath Orrest Head”). When the gravel track swings left, bear right along a narrower path that soon reaches a vehicle track. Go straight over - towards Windermere and Orrest Head. You go through a rusty gate before crossing a footbridge and then climbing. Ignore any paths off and, when you reach Elleray Bank’s surfaced driveway, go straight across. Pass to the left of some buildings belonging to St Anne’s School and ignore a turning on your left. Eventually, you will come out on the lane that you took up to Orrest Head at the start of the walk. Turn right and then left along the main road to retrace your steps to the railway station.

POINTS OF INTEREST: It was on Orrest Head that guidebook writer Wainwright first fell in love with the Lake District. The land was given to the local council in memory of Arthur Henry Heywood in 1902.

Dubbs Reservoir was originally constructed to supply Windermere, but then became an adjunct to the Thirlmere Aqueduct, serving Manchester.