Limefitt Park, Self Catering Pine Lodges / Log Cabins in Troutbeck, Near Windermere, The Lake District

We thought it would be useful to list some of our favourite walks here. Some of these can be done directly from the Lodge and some require transport as they are further away.

Before going walking please make sure that you are properly equipped and prepared. The Mountain Rescue site has some very valuable advice

Walks from the Lodge Door

Ing Bridge This is a gentle walk suitable for small children. You will have fantastic views of the fells and Troutbeck tongue. Walk past the Haybarn Inn and take the path that goes up the fell. After 100 yards or so you will come to a T junction. Turn left and follow this path for a mile or so. Once you have gone through a farm you will come to a gate with a path leading down through a field. This leads you down to a country road where you should turn left. Cross over Ing bridge and carry on for another mile or so until you come to a path on your left. At this point you can either go up the path and turn left at the top back to Limefitt, or you can go up the hill to the Queen's Head Inn for refreshments. This walk can also be done on mountain bikes. Please take care on the road down from Troutbeck as it is narrow and cars often exceed the speed limit.
Wansfell Pike For a more challenging walk (with a 1000 foot height gain), go to the church and then up to Troutbeck and head up Robin Lane. After the high cairn (a favourite Victorian viewing point from which you can see the whole of Windermere and which is marked on the OS map as "pillar") turn right through the "Hundreds" which I think are old style sheep folds. At the waterfall veer right following the way markers to the top of Wansfell Pike. From here you will get one of the finest views in the whole of the Lake District. You can see nearly the whole of Windermere in one direction and the bleak hills of the Kirkstone Pass in the other. When you reach the top you can either go down the other side to Ambleside (walk, bus or taxi back) or return down Nanny Lane to the village and a well earned stop at the Mortal Man before heading back down to the church and Limefitt Park. This walk has everything! Views of the Troutbeck Valley, Windermere and Morecambe bay, a waterfall, and a pub at the end!
Applethwaite Common & Dubbs Reservoir Walk past the Haybarn Inn and take the path that goes up the fell. After 100 yards or so you will come to a T junction. Turn right and continue up to a gate where you should turn left up the hillside. Carry on until you reach the path at the top then turn right. Continue along here for a mile and a half or so until you come to the a country road. Turn right and follow this road down to the A591 wher you should turn right back to Troutbeck Church and Limefitt.
Applethwaite Common (Middle route) Walk past the Haybarn Inn and take the path that goes up the fell. After 100 yards or so you will come to a T junction. Turn right and continue up to a gate where you should keep going straight on, taking the left fork up the slope. Continue along here for about a mile, taking in the superb views of Windermere until you come to the a country road. Turn right and follow this road down to the A591 where you should turn right back to Troutbeck Church and Limefitt.
Applethwaite Common (Quick route) Walk past the Haybarn Inn and take the path that goes up the fell. After 100 yards or so you will come to a T junction. Turn right and continue up to a gate where you should keep going straight on, taking the right fork. Continue along here until the path drops down. Folllow this path down to the A591 where you should turn right back to Troutbeck Church and Limefitt. The last bit of the path is steep and can be treacherous when it is icy.
The Yoke and Ill Bell The views on this walk are stunning. Walk past the Haybarn Inn and take the path that goes up the fell. After 100 yards or so you will come to a T junction. Turn right and continue up to a gate where you should turn left up the hillside. Carry on until you reach the path at the top then turn left. Continue along here to The Yoke and keep going straight on until you come to the top of Ill Bell. Return by the same route. This is a fairly long walk with a lot of height gain so you should set out early especially if you have children with you. Please ensure that you wear suitable clothing and carry the right equipment. This is a high level walk and the weather can change very quickly.

Walks that require transport

Ullswater - Ferry and Walk Over the Kirkstone Pass lies Ullswater and at its base is the small town of Glenridding. From here you can take a steamer to Howtown and walk back down the Eastern side of the lake. (We would recommend that you do it this way round so that you can take your time without the pressure of having to be at Howtown for a certain time). There are caves in the hillside on the journey back (but these should obviously not be entered without the appropriate gear and experience)
Aira Force Aira Force, to the West of Ullswater, can get rather busy in peak periods as this is justifiably one of the Lake Districts favourite family walks. Having said that we find that anywhere North of the Kirstone Pass is appreciably quieter than the more 'accessible' spots around Ambleside, Windermere and Hawkshead. There is a National Trust car park at the base of the falls. If you reach the top and still feel energetic you can continue across a field until you come to the road and find your way to the hotel in Dockray where you can get a reviving drink before descending by the other side.
Brotherswater Just over the Kirkstone Pass lies Brotherswater - a small but beautiful and peaceful lake with a car park at the end by the A591. Legend has it that Brotherswater is named after two brothers who drowned in the lake, but it is more likely that the name derives from the old Norse name 'Broethir'. There is a pleasant and undemanding circular walk suitable for children that starts at the car park, follows the lake around, goes through a camp site and returns along a path just below the road.
Pooley Bridge and the Stone Circle At the Northern end of Ullswater lies one of our favourite circular walks. Park in the Pay & Display car parks either side of the bridge and walk up past the church where you turn right. Continue on over the cross roads and climb up the path to the cairn. People do park up half way up here but I think that technically it is private. At the top there are various paths that you can take around Heughscar Hill, including the Roman Road (High street) and the Bronze Age (c. 2000 BC) cockpit stone circle. The views of Ullswater are amazing. Our 8 year old son says this is his favourite walk in the entire Lake District. High praise indeed!
The Windermere Way There is a web site that describes the Windermere Way which you can find here. The Windermere way is a walk all the way around Windermere. The route is broken down into four sections that most people will manage in a day's easy walking.