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The Jennycliff & Mount Batten Circular, Devon
Distance: 7.95 km
Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes (some busy roads to cross)
Ascent/Descent: Easy-to-moderate (+/- 138 metres)
Toilets: At the pubs and café only
Wildlife: Nothing of note
Endomondo route: Download here
The Jennycliff and Mount Batten circular walking route, Devon
The Jennycliff and Mount Batten circular walking route, Devon
Pictures
Directions
This walking route starts at the Jennycliff Café, where there is a large, free car park. It can be very busy at peak times (sat nav: Stamford Lane, PL9 9SW).
1. From the car park, look for a marker stone off to the right of the café, along a worn grass path (picture 1). It can be hard to spot, so picture one above will help. Follow this path until you come to a second white marker stone. Here, aim for the footpath signposted “south west coast path” downhill and ahead/left (picture 2). Follow this path as it snakes down, eventually coming out onto Lawrence Road. Walk along the road a short distance, then turn left, back onto the coast path. Follow the coast path, passing a car park on your left, then winding uphill to Mount Batten Tower.
Mount Batten Tower was built during the Commonwealth period (1649-1659) as a response to increased hostility with the Dutch over the Navigation Acts. During the Civil War, Plymouth had been a Parliamentary enclave in the Royalist held South West and accordingly the tower was named after William Batten who had commanded the Naval forces that had sustained the town’s populace and made resistance against the Royalists throughout the war possible.Built to a similar design as Cromwell’s Castle on the Isles of Scilly, the tower held upto 10 guns on the upper floor and was designed to provide protection to the Eastern side of the Plymouth estuary as well as to defend the entrance to Cattewater and Sutton Harbour.
2. Turn left at the Mount Batten Tower signboard, continuing along the coast path and descending some steps to emerge onto a jetty. Here, follow the black railings around the waterside until you reach the Mount Batten Hotel where you can have a beverage in the beautiful outdoor seating area. Continue to follow the railings/coast path, which s occasionally marked with an acorn symbol, passing by the Canoe Association and a shipbuilders. As you pass a makeshift car park (it may be empty) on your right, you will see a roundabout ahead. As you near it, keep left, following the acorn markers, onto Shaw Way. Keep to the marked pedestrian zones and you will come to The Bridge Bar and Restaurant.
3. Exit The Bridge and continue along the coastal path, walking along waterfront of the marina. After a shortway, the path turns off right, then left, before coming to a small car park. Turn to your left just before the car park, and head left onto St John’s Road. Follow this road into the fishing village of Turnchapel. As the road bears around to the right, you will come to a junction; on the left in the brightly coloured Clovelly Bay Inn, and to continue the walk, head to the right along Boringdon Road.
4. Just before you reach some gates marked ‘private’, turn right down a lane called Undercliff Road. Turn right when you reach the end and walk along the waterfront (known as Hooe Lake) all the way, past the new houses on your right, until you reach The Royal Oak. Be sure to turn left at ‘The Green’ or you will go into Hooe town.
5. Leave The Royal Oak and head left and uphill, up Hexton Hill Road. At the summit, bear slightly left and then immediately right, going through the kissing gate that is clearly marked as the south west coast path. Walk through the wooded area until you come to an open area and a junction of paths. Here, sharp left and head downhill, following the path as it passes a sewage treatment works on the right and the estuary on the right. Once past the sewage works, the paths opens up; follow it to the right and head directly through Radford Fort (pictured above) and Radford Lake on your right. Once through Radford Fort, turn right and follow the path along the shore of the Lake.
6. As you approach a grassy clearing, head ahead and right, continuing a short way along the lakeside before reaching the end of it where the path branches off once more. Here, do not turn off to the right where a wooden bridge can be seen as this takes you back towards Radfort Fort on the opposite shore. Instead, continue straight ahead, eventually reaching a main road.
7. At the main road, turn right, walking along the pavement. Continue along the road, going straight over at the roundabout. Eventually, you will come back to The Green area in Hooe where The Royal Oak was. At this point, continue straight ahead. After a short while, bear left onto Jennycliff Lane. Follow this road uphill, aiming for the national speed limit sign visible ahead. This takes you onto the one-way lane that will lead you back to the car park and Jennycliff Café.
Pub 1: Mount Batten Hotel
The hotel has 16 en suite rooms and an exceptional location providing stunning views across Plymouth Sound. The hotel has a bar and restaurant with a wide variety of home cooked food although the ale selection is limited. Its waterside location makes it the perfect stop for that first drink on this walk. The pub also has a refreshingly strict policy on the behaviour of children. View their website here.
Pub 2: The Bridge
The Bridge sits right next door to the busy Yacht Haven Marina on Mount Batten; being just a stone’s throw from the waterfront they have some wonderful views over the marina and across the Cattewater towards the City of Plymouth. The Bridge offers big balconies upstairs and downstairs to make the most of those sunny days and a ground floor conservatory for those chilly winter days. The Bridge welcomes dogs, has a good selection of regional beers and offers a great spot to watch the world and water pass by. You can view their website here.
Pub 3: The Clovelly Bay Inn
The Clovelly Bay Inn is a family-run freehouse and 2011 CAMRA Pub of the Year and is easily-recognised as a result of its brightly-painted exterior. The Clovelly Bay Inn offers a real log fire, free Wurlitzer jukebox; disabled access and facilities, welcomes friendly dogs and has a brilliant selection of ales. A unique pub situated in a historical fishing village; a must visit! You can view their website here. TripAdvisor ranks their restaurant as #16 in Plymouth!
Pub 4: The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is a quaint and quirky pub in Hooe. It’s known for having generous portions of quality pub food and their Sunday roasts have received positive reviews recently; even the gravy is homemade. No packets! The pub also has as a good selection of beers and ales. Ideal for a final refreshment before returning to Jennycliff.
Tips
A hot chocolate with marshamallows andcream at the Jennycliff Café costs just £2.50. Very good value. You can also get all manner of hot food, including pasties and a full english.
Chris & Shaz
The Views of Oakham and Rutland Water Walking Route
Distance: 10.23 km
Difficulty: Easy
Dog Friendly: Yes (some busy roads to cross)
Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 119 metres)
Toilets: At the pubs in Oakham only
Wildlife: Nothing of note
Endomondo route: Download here
Pictures
Directions
The walk starts at the Oakham train station car park (sat nav: LE15 6QT)
- Start with your back to the station. Walk right, towards the railway crossing. When you meet the main road, cross the railway crossing and turn left onto Cold Overton Road. Pass the first turning on the left (Long Row) and then take the second on the left, West Road. Follow the road along until you leave the town (the road turns into Braunston Road). There is a wide verge on this road; follow the road uphill until you come to a Bridleway on the left, which is nearly opposite a telephone mast.
- Follow the Bridleway along, crossing the top of a field and a small wood. After leaving the wood, the path follows the edge of a field until you come to a road. Cross the road and continue to follow the bridleway until you come to a T-junction of paths. Here, turn left and follow the track until it comes to the railway crossing at the bottom of the hill. Cross the railway and the main road with care and continue on into Hambleton Road.
- Follow the road into Egleton village, taking the second road on the left, Church Road. Follow the road along and out of the village. Join the path on the right of the road after you leave the village and continue until you come to a road. Here, turn left and follow the road back to the main road. At the main road, turn left, back to Oakham. Cross the road at the roundabout and continue straight ahead back into Oakham. At the next roundabout in the town, turn right and continue on down the high street where you will pass many delightful real ale stops, some of which we’ve detailed below. Continue to follow the road until you come back to the railway crossing. Here, turn right and retrace your steps to the start – making sure to stop off at the delightful Grainstore Brewery on the way past!
Pub 1: The Whipper-In Hotel
The Whipper-In Hotel in Oakham retains many original features such as real log fires, deep armchairs and original oak beams. It’s the perfect stop-off for refreshment or some lunch after completing the majority of this walk. The staff are very welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. You can view their website here.
Pub 2: The Admiral Hornblower
The Admiral Hornblower is a beautiful privately owned, family run hotel in the heart of Oakham. The 17th century farmhouse has been lovingly restored to its former glory and provides a warm, friendly relaxed atmosphere for guests and diners. You can view their website here for opening times, menus etc.
Pub 3: The Grainstore Brewery
The Grainstore Brewery is an absolute must-visit if you’re in Oakham. It’s the largest brewery in the smallest county. It was born out of a derelict Victorian grain store situated next to Oakham Railway Station. Following renovation of the building and the lowering into position of the large fermenting vessels, copper and conditioning tanks, the brewery opened its doors in September 1995. The 15 barrel brew house plant with its capacity to brew 60 barrels per week, started brewing its first brew, ‘Cooking Bitter’ a few months later. There is a huge selection of ales, and they ALL need to be sampled 😉 The full ale selection can be viewed here.
Tips
There are no tips for this walking route.
Chris & Shaz
The Ketton & Barrowden Circular – Rutland Walking Route
Distance: 15.84 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog Friendly: No
Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 240 metres)
Toilets: At the pubs only
Wildlife: Nothing of note
Endomondo route: Download here
Pictures
Directions
Start at the Church Road/Station Road junction; there is some limited, free, on-street parking near the bridge (sat nav: PE9 3TD)
- On one side (east side) of the bridge you will see a T-junction. Start here, with your back to Aldgate Road, head left away from the bridge (onto Station Road). After 300m, you will cross a railway line. Take the road on the right (Barrowden Rd), after the railway crossing, and continue until you are nearly out of the village where you will find a path on the left, (just after the last house on your right) which passes through some metal gates. Follow this lane to the end of the field on your right, turning right onto a public footpath at the end. Follow the footpath along until you reach a small back lane. Turn left here and follow the lane for several kilometres, heading in a roughly south direction, until you meet the main road (A47).
- Carefully cross the road and continue on through Tixover, following the road until you reach a farm. Here, the bridleway carries on through the farmyard and on towards the church in the distance (see picture 1). Ignore the turning for the church, following the track until you come to where the track turns sharp left. Here, you will see a hedgerow/fence off to the right, running downhill towards a small spinney. Take the path in front of the hedge/fence (see picture 2). The path then continues through the spinney and follows the beck on the left. Follow this path until you reach a road.
- At the road, turn right which takes you into the village of Barrowden. You will come to a junction of 4 roads. Here you can visit the community café which is near the village hall (signposted) or follow the road left through the village to the pub, The Exeter Arms, and the village pond (see picture 3)
- Exit the pub and retrace your steps back to the 4-road crossroads. Here, bear ahead-left instead. Follow the road along, crossing the A47 again with care and continuing on into a small lane. Follow this lane as it passes through a wooded area. At the end of the lane, you will come to a road. Here, continue straight on, heading back towards Ketton in the distance (see picture 4). After entering the village, take the path signposted on the left; this brings you out at the Railway Tavern. After leaving the Railway Tavern, walk past the church, down the road to return to our start point.
Pub 1: The Exeter Arms
The Exeter Arms is a charming, rural country inn that offers a friendly welcome to all. It’s tucked away in the village of Barrowden but is well-worth calling in if you’re on this walk. The sandwiches are delicious, home-made and reasonably-priced. But perhaps the best part of this pub is that it brews four of its own real ales. Got to try them all! The hot chocolate is also worth a bash!
Pub 2: The Railway Inn
The Railway Inn is a quaint ‘proper’ pub popular among the locals in Ketton, but is also very welcome to walkers visiting the area. This place is perfect to stop for a refreshment after doing the full 15km length of this walk.
Tips
There are no tips for this route.
Chris & Shaz
The Burford Walking Route and Ale Trail, Oxfordshire
Distance: 9.52 km
Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes
Ascent/Descent: Easy-to-moderate (+/- 403 metres)
Toilets: At the pubs only
Wildlife: Swans, geese
Endomondo route: Download here
Pictures
Directions
All parking is free in Burford. That’s right… free! There is a riverside car park (sat nav: OX18 4SE) and street parking available, although this often fills up before 10am on weekends and bank holidays.
1. Exit the car park and find the main high street of Burford (picture 1, the A361). Follow the main road downhill and over a bridge over the River Windrush. At the roundabout, head right and walk along the pavement on the left-hand side until you reach The Carpenter’s Arms on your right.
2. Exit The Carpenter’s Arms and head right (the way you were going) until you come to the village of Fullbrook. Follow the main road, as it bears to the left (do not go down Beech Grove), passing the Masons Arms on your right and a Norman church off to your left. Continue to follow the road until a marked footpath through a gate can be found on your right, just several metres from the national speed limit road signs where you leave Fullbrook. Follow the path a short way before it branches off left across the middle of the field. Follow the well-worn and waymarked path for just over 1km, crossing several arable fields, until you enter a wooded area. Here, turn right and follow the track (picture 2).
3. Follow the track through the wood. When it emerges, it bears slightly left; continue to follow it, passing a row of cottages after approximately 600 metres. Stay on the road, pass the cottages, and through a farmyard. Just after the farmyard, turn right and head uphill on another road. Nearing the summit, there will be a woodland on your right which is often used for recreational shooting. Continue to follow the worn grassy path/track until you come to a gate. Go through the gate and follow the lane uphill, whereby you will reach a road. Here, turn right and walk along the road. After a short way, you will come to two marked paths leading off to your left, both signposted to Widford. Take the second path.
4. On this path, follow it ahead, with a field to your right and a wooded hedgerow on your left. Keep to the marked path as some areas are being used for conservation. At the end of the second field, bear right, sticking to the perimeter of the field. Contine ahead and immediately turn left, passing between several houses.Follow the road and Widford Water and s chapel should be visible to your left (picture 3). Continue on, crossing a bridge over the River Windrush once more (picture 4). At the end of the road, just after the bridge, turn right.
5. Walk along the road a short distance, after which a marked footpath will branch off to the right. Take this path and follow the well-worn path which takes you alongside the River Windrush. From this point, the path is very easy to follow; it tracks the River for the next 1.5km (approx.). There are a number of stiles, all with dog gates (picture 5).
6. The path then rejoins a country road (Witney Street), which has a footpath to safely walk along. Follow this road all the way back to Burford. Shortly after entering Burford, the Royal Oak will be on your left. Continue to follow the road and you will come out onto Burford main road (the A361). Turn right and descend. Here, you will encounter many pubs, but we recommend The Cotswold Arms. Then, simply retrace your steps back to where you began this walk.
Pub 1: The Carpenter’s Arms
The Carpenter’s Arms is located outside of Burford and you could easily not know it was there if nobody told you. It is a 17th Century pub filled with cosy corners & traditional fireplaces. The menu is freshly prepared using locally-sourced and free range produce, complimented by a self-described “eclectic mix” of ales, including the locally-made Fullbrook Bitter and a personal favourite of mine, Old Hooky. You can view their website here for opening times and menus.
Pub 2: The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is a grade II listed public house that welcomes dogs and walkers. The ale selection is excellent and their lunchtime menu offering baguettes and ciabattas are perfect for the walkers in need of sustenance. The pub can also boast a sun-trap beer garden, perfect for those summer months. You can view their website here.
Pub 3: The Cotswold Arms
The Cotswold Arms is a beautiful 18th Century traditional English pub, easily-recognisable by all the exterior hanging baskets and tubs of flowers adorning the building. The pub is a favourite among ramblers visiting the area and boasts of being the best for real ale enthusiasts. The website can be viewed here and details the current ales available.
Tips
This walk can be quite muddy, especially after heavy rainfall, so sturdy footwear is essential. The section of the walk alongside the River Windrush can also be prone to flooding.
If you intend to use the free car park at Burford, get there early! It fills up very quickly and the traffic gets quite chaotic through the narrow side streets.
If you wish to extend the walk, it is possible to continue on into Swinbrook where another beautiful pub can be found.
Chris & Shaz
The Wing and Manton Circular, Rutland County
Distance: 7.00 km
Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes (some stiles without dog gates)
Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 236 metres)
Toilets: At the pub and garden centre only
Wildlife: Nothing of note
Endomondo route: Download here
Pictures
Directions
Start at The Horse and Jockey Pub in Manton (sat nav: 2 St Mary’s Rd, LE15 8SU). There is plenty of on-street, free parking available.
- Start with your back to the pub, facing uphill. Walk up the hill to the main road through Manton. Here, turn left. Twenty metres after passing the road to the village on the left there is a public footpath on the right. Take this path and follow it along as it winds through a small farm and down the hill with the railway on your left. You will emerge from this path at a concrete road and railway bridge. Turn left, passing under the bridge.
- Immediately after the bridge, the path goes off to the right across a field up towards Wing. The path crosses this field diagonally and comes to a footbridge over a stream. Cross the bridge and head up the field, heading to the top left hand corner where there is a gap in the hedge. Follow the path across the corner of the next field coming out on the road. Here, go left (also kind of straight on) following the road until you come to a T-junction.
- At the T-junction, turn left and walk along the path where you come across the Kings Arms Inn. After an ale stop, continue on down the street, past the church until you come to a bridleway on the left (opposite a sign off to the right for the Wing Maze, which is a short detour should you wish to visit). Follow the bridleway down and over the railway line. Continue on, you will come to a junction of paths. Here, continue straight on up the hill. Continue to follow this bridleway until you come out at a road.
- At the road, cross over to the path and walk left. After a short way, there is a short section of on-road walking. After this, you re-join the tarmac path at the Rutland Garden Centre, where you can stop at their café for a slice of cake if you wish! (we have personally quality checked their cake – it’s delicious!). Follow the tarmac path back along the road to Manton. In the village, turn right at the ‘village only’ sign post and left opposite the church where you will find your start point and a welcoming fire and pint of ale
Pub 1: The King’s Arms and Jimmy’s Smokehouse
The King’s Arms is most famous for the restaurant, ‘Jimmy’s Smokehouse’. The Bar is brimming with a large selection of home-made snacks including, salamis, biltong, pork scratchings & home-smoked cashew nuts from Jimmy’s Rutland Smokehouse. Bottles of home-made sloe gin, elderflower vodka and Zermatter mulled wine are all made with berries from the surrounding hedgerows, and fruit from the neighbours. The pub is also dog-friendly, with snacks and meals also available for your canine companion. This is one of the must-try restaurants in Rutland. You can view their menus and opening times here.
Pub 2: The Horse & Jockey
The Horse and Jockey is an award-winning, privately-owned freehouse located in the idyllic village of Manton on the south shore of Rutland Water. The open fires, stone floors and low beams along with a wide choice of fine wines and real ales will ensure that your visit will be a memorable occasion just waiting to be recaptured. Their current real ales are:
- Fall at the First (ABV 5%, the pub’s very own brew)
- Grainstore Brewery Cooking (ABV 3.6%)
- Greene King IPA (ABV 3.6%)
- Morland Old Speckled Hen (ABV 4.2%)
You can view their website here.
Tips
There are delicious cakes available at the Wellie’s Café at the Rutland Garden Centre! We recommend calling in.
Chris & Shaz
The Hambleton Peninsula Circular, Rutland Water
Distance: 7.30 km
Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes (some wildstock)
Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 304 metres)
Toilets: At the pub only
Wildlife: Buff-breasted sandpiper, ringed plover, ospreys, muntjac deer, grey squirrels. Recent bird sightings on Rutland Nature Reserve can be found here.
Endomondo route: Download here
The Hambleton Peninsula Circular Walking Route
The Hambleton Peninsula Circular Walking Route
Pictures
Directions
This walking route starts at The Finch’s Arms pub (sat nav: Oakham Road, LE15 8TL). The directions for this walk are very short as it’s incredibly well-signposted and there aren’t many alternative paths to get lost on.
- Start with your back to The Finch’s Arms and facing toward the church. Walk right, out of the village (roughly north) and just after passing the village sign you will come to a brown sign board for the Rutland Water Circular, after approximately 280m. Here, turn right and follow the path as it winds its way around the Hambleton Peninsula and alongside Rutland Water. The views are simply stunning.
- Continue to follow the well-signposted Rutland Water Circular path for the next 6.3 km until you come to a road; left will go to the Old Hall. At this road, turn right, however, and follow the road for 140m until you come to another brown sign board (shown in picture 3 above). Here, follow the path to the right, signposted back to Hambleton Village. Follow the road until you return to The Finch’s Arms.
- Enjoy the delightful Finch’s Arms!
Pub: The Finch’s Arms
The Finch’s Arms is a 17th century English country inn tucked away in the heart of the Hambelton Peninsula on Rutland Water. The pub has beamed ceilings, open log fires and traditional cask ales, plus an elegant garden room with outdoor terrace offering great views of the Water. I can recommend the Tribute ale, a staple ale choice from my homeland of Cornwall.
Tips
There are no tips for this walking route.
Chris & Shaz
The Sherwood Forest and Edwinstowe Walking Route, Nottinghamshire
Distance: 3.27 km
Difficulty: Easy
Dog Friendly: Yes (some busy roads to cross)
Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 22 metres)
Toilets: At the Sherwood Forest visitor centre
Wildlife: Nothing of note
Endomondo route: Download here
Sherwood Forest walking routes
Sherwood Forest walking routes
Pictures
Directions
Start at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre car park (sat nav: NG21 9HN). There is a fee to park.
1. From the car park, head back towards the vehicle entrance you came in through. Before you reach the entrance, there is a path off to the right, which heads through the trees. You will see a children’s play park. Continue on, passing to the right of the play park. Keep following the path as it bears off to the left and you emerge out at a cricket pitch.
2. Follow the edge of the cricket pitch in a clockwise direction, joining the footpath along the side of the road. After a short way, you will come to a T-junction with Forest Corner road and the cricket clubhouse will be off to the right. However, you need to continue on along the road (Church Street) towards Edwinstowe.
3. A short way on, before you reach the crossroads, The Forest Lodge will be on your left. Call in for a pint of local ale. Once you have been refreshed, turn left and continue on along Church Street until you come to a crossroads. Cross over, taking care at this busy junction, and The Robin Hood is right in front.
4. Refreshed once more, retrace your steps back to the T-junction next to the cricket ground. Turn left onto Forest Corner and rejoin the perimeter of the cricket ground. After almost completing a full circle around the cricket ground, a path will head off into the trees, running closely parallel to the path you originally came to the cricket ground on. Follow the path and you are now back in Sherwood Forest; just follow the signs to The Major Oak (image 2).
5. Sherwood Forest is very well signposted, so at this point there is no need for further instructions; you can extend or shorten the walk to suit your wishes. When you’re done, simply follow the signs back to the car park/visitor centre.
Pub 1: The Forest Lodge
The Forest Lodge is special. It’s set in an 18th century coaching inn and has won numerous CAMRA and “pub of the year” awards (it’s easy to see why!). The pub has been lovingly restored and refurbished, the staff provide the perfect welcome and they were happy to provide me with an ale taster before I bought a pint. They take their ale very seriously, as the picture of their ‘specials’ board shows. The pub is also on the Cask Marque ale trail. If you’re in Sherwood Forest, you need to come here. Their website with opening times and menus is here.
Pub 2: The Robin Hood
You can’t go for a walk in Sherwood Forest without going in a pub named The Robin Hood! This pub is centrally-located, perfect for visiting Sherwood Forest, and offers a family-friendly, dog-friendly location to stop for an affordable pint, snack or meal.
Tips
This is a great one to do with kids and with dogs. The visitor centre has a lot of free information and interactive displays to entertain and educate children.
Chris & Shaz
The Cockermouth Ale Trail, The Lake District, Cumbria
Distance: 2.33 km
Difficulty: Easy
Dog Friendly: No
Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 50 metres)
Toilets: At the various pubs
Wildlife: Nothing of note
Endomondo route: Download here
Cockermouth Ale Trail
Pictures
Directions
The ale trail starts outside the Jennings Brewery. This is because you’ve booked yourself on the brewery tour and upon arriving in Cockermouth, the first thing you’re going to do is locate the brewery so you aren’t late!
1. From the brewery, leave and head east along Wyndham Row with the castle wall up to your left. At the end of the road, you will be able to see the castle (picture 1). Turn right onto Castlegate and head downhill, taking the first left onto Market Place. At Seth’s Bar (on the right), turn right onto Kirkgate and head uphill. After a short way, the first pub on this Ale Trail, The Bitter End, is on your left.
2. Exit The Bitter End and turn left, continuing up Kirkgate just a short way. Turn left onto a narrow and difficult-to-spot road called Cocker Lane. Follow this lane all the way to the river, where you will cross over the River Cocker on the Quaker’s Footbridge (picture 2).
The Quaker’s Footbridge was originally built around 1887 and the bridge was renewed in 1984. During the 2009 floods, the bridge was partially swept away by trees and debris in the surging waters.
3. Over the bridge, continue straight ahead, passing a sports pitch on your right. After a short distance, turn right onto the B5292 (the next right turn after Challoner Street). Walk for approximately 100m, crossing over at some point over to the left hand side, where you will come to The Brown Cow pub.
4. Exit The Brown Cow and turn left onto the main road through Cockermouth (still signposted as the B5292). Immediately ahead, you should see the Mayo Statue (picture 3) sitting between the two lanes of the road.
The Mayo Statue is a fine marble statue of Richard Southwell Bourke, sixth earl of Mayo, M.P. for Cockermouth 1857-68. The statue was erected after Mayo was assassinated in 1872. Whilst visiting a convict settlement in the Andaman Islands as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, a prisoner stabbed the earl with a knife, seemingly motivated by the injustice of his incarceration. The 800-guinea cost of the statue (made by Messrs. Willis of London) had been raised by public subscription.
5. Pass by the Mayo Statue and on the left will be the next pub, The Fletcher Christian. Exit the pub and go left, continuing along the main B5292 road. Cross over to the other side of the road at the crossing point just before the mini-roundabout. When you reach the mini-roundabout, William Wordsworth’s house (picture 4) on the right.
William Wordsworth’s house is the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William and his sister Dorothy. It is a National Trust property and is presented as it would have been when they lived here with their parents, three brothers and servants in the 1770s. The cellar is also rumoured to be haunted by a host of characters, including 13-year-old William, the grumpy manservant, and Amy, the maid.
Continue on straight ahead and after just a short way you will come to The Trout on your right. This is the final pub before the brewery tour. Exit The Trout and continue along Crown Street. At the roundabout, turn right and cross over the bridge, admiring the view of the River Derwent (picture 5). Once over the bridge, take your next right and enter the Memorial Gardens through the metal gate.
The Memorial Gardens were created to commemorate the lives lost in WWII. The land was officially acquired in 1946 and was officially opened to the public on 11 August 1956. The grounds were severely damaged in the catastrophic floods of 2009, and the access bridge from Main Street (Miller’s Bridge) was swept away. In 2010 a number of trees were planted to mark the anniversary of VE Day, but also the reopening of Millers Bridge and of the grounds.
6. Follow the path through the Memorial Gardens as it joins alongside the River Derwent. Turn right and cross over the first footbridge you come too. Over the other side, continue straight ahead along Bridge Street, coming to the main road (B5292) you walked along earlier. Turn left, retracing your earlier route, but this time staying on the other side of the road from The Fletcher Christian. At the crossroads where The Brown Cow is located, turn left onto High Sand Lane. At the end of the road, do not turn left onto Waterloo Street. Instead, continue on ahead over the small bridge aptly named Brewery Bridge. You are now on Brewery Lane. Follow this road as it bears around to the right and you will find yourself back at Jennings’ Brewery. Enjoy the tour!
Pub 1: The Bitter End
The Bitter End is a traditional English Pub and restaurant that boasts its own micro-brewery that can be viewed through a glazed partition in the pub. Up to eight ales on pump, they certainly give Jennings a good run for their money! The pub has an appetising menu with all meals freshly prepared using fresh local produce whenever possible. All their meat is supplied by local butchers and is 100% traceable to Cumbrian Farms. You can view their website here.
Pub 2: The Brown Cow
The Brown Cow has a humble exterior, but don’t let this put you off. The inside is really cosy, with comfortable seating and an open fire to warm yourself by on a cold day. We were really impressed with the food here, choosing to stop for our lunch after browsing many Cockermouth menus. The staff were really friendly, the food portions were filling and reasonably priced and the ale selection was good! If you’re looking for lunch in Cockermouth, we recommend this place.
Pub 3: The Fletcher Christian
The Fletcher Christian is a modern and contemporary pub that sits in the centre of the main high street. Having built up a great reputation for live music, entertainment and sports and games, this appeals to a wide variety of customers and is a focal point for the local community.
Pub 4: The Trout
The Trout is a modern, idyllic, picture-postcard hotel, restaurant and bar located on the bank of The River Derwent. Given its location, it may seem surprising that The Trout does not offer a wide selection of local ales, serving only Cocker Hoop ale from Jennings. The Trout chooses to instead to focus on wines and premium beers, which matches the upmarket clientèle this pub targets. Nonetheless, the settings are beautiful, the staff friendly and the beer tasty, if not a little overpriced. The Trout is also on the Cask Marque Ale Trail, so it’s well-worth a call in. You can view their website here.
Pub 5: Jennings Brewery
We aren’t going to say too much about the Jennings Brewery tour, other than that for just £12, you get a 45 minute tour where you learn all about how Jennings ale is produced, as well as and three half-pints of ale in the brewery bar. You can book a brewery tour here. A must-see when visiting Cockermouth!
Tips
There are multiple other pubs along the route that you may wish to call in; we’ve picked our favourites.
Brewery tours fill up quickly, especially during peak times. So book early!
Chris & Shaz
Askham Fell and Ullswater Walking Route, The Lake District
Distance: 15.29 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes (some sections require a lead)
Ascent/Descent: Moderate (+/- 356 metres)
Toilets: Pubs and in Pooley Bridge centre
Wildlife: Red Grouse
Endomondo route: Download here
Askham Fell and Ullswater Walking Route
Askham Fell and Ullswater Walking Route
Pictures
Directions
Start at the village square in Pooley Bridge (CA10 2NN). Parking is free and plentiful during the off-season.
1. Leave the car park, and facing towards the Pooley Bridge Inn, head left along the B5320. At the fork in the road, head right and then crossing straight over the crossroads. Follow the road uphill, passing a lodge/camping site on your left, as it snakes along uphill until you reach a gate. Pass through the gate and you will join a path leading out onto the moorlands of Elder Beck offering stunning views of Ullswater if you look back.
2. On this path, it is important not to take any paths leading off to the left or the right. The path (picture 1) begins heading in a southerly direction, but over the course of the next 2km will bear very slightly left. Stick to the well-worn path and you won’t go wrong. It was along this stretch we encountered the elusive red grouse. Eventually, you will come to an intersection with a tarmacked road and a small signpost (picture 2). Here, turn left and follow the road along, which soon begins to descend (picture 3) and you will head into the village of Helton. At the fork/T-junction, head left. The road bears slightly to the right and then merges with a busier road. Head left again, taking care along this stretch of road. After approximately 600 metres, the road will pass a small patch of woodland on your right. Immediately after this will be a marked path off to the right; take this path, heading diagonally ahead and left across the sheep field aiming for the gap (stile/gate) in the hedgerow. Cross directly over the road, heading through the gate/stile directly opposite and through some woodland. Continue to follow the path until the trees to your left end and a farm is visible. At this point, the track bears right, following the stone wall perimeter of a cow field, then bears left again. At this point, woodland will be on your right along with the River Lowther. Follow this path, keeping the woodland on your right and the farm fields on your right, until you enter a church and graveyard (picture 4).
3. Pass through the graveyard and turn left onto the road, heading uphill into the village of Askham. A short way uphill and the Punchbowl Inn will be on your left. Continue on uphill for another 350 metres and you will come to a road junction. Head right, past the Queens Head pub (closed for renovation at the time of writing) and out of the village. Go another 150 metres and a lesser used track forks off to the left; take this and follow the road uphill and around to the left after a further 100 metres. Follow the road for 1.5km, until you come to the turning on your left for for the High Winder Cottages. This road will turn to the right, then you will need to head left almost immediately after, heading uphill and towards the cottages. Approximately 60 metres before the cottages, turn right onto a signposted, worn-grass path on your right between some scattered tress and a more populated woodland off to the right. Keep following this path and you will see what looks like a summit marker on your right, but is actually an electricity box. Pass by this, keeping it on your left. After following the worn path for 500 metres, you will come to a junction of worn paths and a stonewall should be visible off towards your right approximately 400 metres away. Here, turn right and head towards this stone wall which can be seen in picture 5 (there are many paths, some more worn than others. Just head for the wall and you will be fine).
4. Just before reaching the wall, you will find a path running left/right, parallel with the wall. Go left, following the wall, which then turns 90 degrees to the right. Follow the path around this 90 degree turn. You will join a downhill path with two deep tyre grooves. Descend carefully and you will come out onto the Elder Beck path from stage one. At this point, turn right, go back through the gate and simply retrace your steps back to the Pooley Bridge Inn and your start point.
Pub 1: Punchbowl Inn
The Punchbowl Inn is a restaurant, pub and B&B located in the village of Askham. The building dates back to the 18th century and has previously seen use as part of a farm and an orchard. The beams in the pub have splits in them and it is said that coins should be pushed into these splits for good luck. The bar is very traditional with open fires and serving home-cooked food, complimented with a selection of local ales, wines and whiskies. Well worth a refreshment pit-stop while out on this walk. The pub is also dog friendly. You can view their website here.
Pub 2: The Pooley Bridge Inn
The Pooley Bridge Inn, one of three pubs in the village of Pooley Bridge, is arguably the most iconic. The exterior resembles a Mississippi-style steamer boat while the indoors offers comfortable and cosy seating around a grand fireplace and inviting bar area. The food menu is superb, offering a range of hearty classics as well as a smaller ‘light bites’ menu, with both options being very reasonable. The image below shows the minted mutton stew with olive bread (£6.95) was the perfect lunch after a morning on the Fells. The ale selection, while slightly limited at just two, does offer the delicious and locally-brewed Cumbria Way. You can view the menus and additional info here.
Tips
There are a lot of different paths criss-crossing Askham Fell. We recommend using the completely free Endomondo app to follow our GPS track and ensure you stay on-route. We explain how to do this here on our blog.
We highly recommend calling in the Pooley Bridge Inn. The food, the prices and the staff are perfect.
Chris & Shaz
Ales and Trails UK 