Wansfell Pike Circular

Route: Wansfell Pike Circular

This lovely walk is challenging whilst being easy enough for children as it follows well maintained paths for most of its length. The route starts at Troutbeck Church and climbs up to Troutbeck Village where you can make a short detour and see the Town End National Trust property. From here it winds around the side of The Hundreds offering amazing views of Windermere. It then continues up the Hundred's Road to the waterfall at Hol Beck. From here you follow a marked way over sometimes boggy moorland until you reach Nanny Lane. From here you can strike out to the top of Wansfell Pike, or return straight away to Troutbeck down the lane. In Troutbeck The Mortal Man offers refreshments before you descend through the fields back to the Church

Please note that these directions are for general guidance only - you should verify their accuracy against Ordnance Survey Map OL7 before beginning a walk!

Summary

Download a memory map file for your GPS

Whilst the map and .mmo file show straight lines between waypoints you may need to follow paths that deviate from these lines.

Elevation Profile

Waypoints

Leg	Name / Position / Elevation	Bearing	Distance	Ascent	Time	Comments	Photo
0	01 NY 41256 02710 379 ft					From the car park next to Jesus Church, Troutbeck, walk along the front of the church until you are opposite the old nursery school.
1	02 NY 41346 02825 391 ft	037°T	479 ft	12 ft	0:01	Turn onto the path before you get to the well and walk on past the children’s play area. Cross a small bridge and follow the path up until you get to High Fold in Troutbeck Village.
2	03 NY 40787 02761 539 ft	262°T	0.35 Mi	154 ft	0:10	At the road turn left and continue to the post office where you will see Robin Lane on the right. (If you wish you can make a short diversion to the Townend National Trust property by continuing two hundred yards down the road).
3	04 NY 40697 02571 571 ft	204°T	690 ft	33 ft	0:03	At the post office turn right onto Robin Lane and go up the hill. After a while the road surface gives way to a path. For the first part of this gentle climb you will rewarded with views of the Troutbeck Valley. There is a bench with a great viewpoint after a few hundred yards. As you round the corner you will get spectacular views of Windermere. At Grid reference 399023 there is a pillar which can be reached by using a path off Robin Lane. This was a favourite viewing spot in days gone by, from which you can see almost all of Windermere.
4	05 NY 39792 02371 817 ft	256°T	0.576 Mi	376 ft	0:21	About 150 yards after the pillar the path splits. Take the right hand fork (marked with the arrow in the photo) onto the Hundred’s Road and continue until you reach Hol Beck waterfall. Don’t forget to turn around once in a while to admire Windermere behind you!
5	06 NY 39912 03396 988 ft	005°T	0.641 Mi	176 ft	0:16	At the Hol Beck waterfall the path continues upwards to the right. You will see small way markers that will now guide you up to the junction with Nanny Lane. There is a high and difficult stile with a gate (which our dog can just crawl under) half way along this section, and the ground can be quite boggy in wet weather.
6	07 NY 40152 04011 1177 ft	020°T	0.41 Mi	190 ft	0:12	When you reach the junction with Nanny Lane, turn left and continue to the top of Wansfell Pike.
7	08 NY 39432 04166 1557 ft	281°T	0.458 Mi	392 ft	0:19	When you reach the top of Wansfell Pike (482 Metres) return to the junction of the Hundred’s Road and Nanny Lane (Waymark 7). From the top of Wansfell Pike the views are stunning. The Langdales, Windermere, Morecambe Bay, The Troutbeck Valley and the Kirkstone Pass can all be seen.
8	09 NY 40127 04016 1184 ft	101°T	0.442 Mi	9 ft	0:07	Begin the descent into Troutbeck down Nanny Lane. Ahead of you you will see the old quarry on the side of Applethwaite Fell. This quarry is a source of chalcopyrite and dolomite.
9	10 NY 40292 04051 1143 ft	077°T	554 ft	0 ft	0:01	When you come to a gate turn right and continue down until you come to the road in Troutbeck.
10	11 NY 40977 03371 623 ft	134°T	0.6 Mi	0 ft	0:10	Where Nanny Lane meets the road through Troutbeck turn left and continue to The Mortal Man pub.
11	12 NY 41137 03521 563 ft	046°T	720 ft	0 ft	0:02	At The Mortal Man stop to admire the poetic sign (see Additional Info). Before bearing right, down past the pub entrance (stopping for a moment if the mood takes you) and on round until you reach a junction.
12	13 NY 41177 03341 510 ft	166°T	605 ft	0 ft	0:01	At the junction you have the choice of turning left towards the A592 and then turning right, or going straight on down the footpath. We would recommend the latter as many drivers seem to regard the 30 MPH limit on this narrow road as optional and there is no pavement! Follow the footpath down, noticing the badger sets along the way. After a short while you will see Troutbeck church which is where you started from.
13	14 NY 41231 02715 380 ft	174°T	0.391 Mi	0 ft	0:06	When you get to the church return to the car park where you started from
Totals:			4.45 Mi	1341 ft	1:58

Overview Map