Walks

You can find walks in all directions. For example, you can get to Hawkshead (and all sorts of other places) by taking the path down the right hand side of the Outgate Inn and following the slate shale track when you get to it. But you don't need us to tell you where to go walking; just take a look at the OS map behind the kitchen door and set off to explore. We've been coming here for quite a few years now and we continue to delight in stumbling across paths and places we haven't seen before. We recently took a route from the cottage which we hadn't tried before and we were astonished at how beautiful it was and wondered why we hadn't found it before.

We've made a few suggestions below for some of the walks you can do from the cottage and there’s one from The Times on the left, to get you going. When you do, you may get away without a map if you're sticking to lowland walks; in fact what better than setting off aimlessly and drifting along to wherever chance takes you (as long as you find your way back!)

For walks in the hills you need a 1:25,000 map, either OS Explorer Maps (OL4, OL5, OL6 and OL7) or the fabulous AA Central Lake District Walker's Map, plus a compass, as well as warm waterproof clothing whatever the season or the weather forecast.

For walking inspiration, you can't do better than the Wainwright's guides.

The Wheelwright's brochure includes a very handy 1:25,000 OS map centred on Eltermere.

Keep in mind the hourly bus service between Ambleside and Hawkshead via Outgate which can be handy for getting home if you go too far or it can make a change to get on a bus and walk back from where it takes you.