Plan your trip

walk Here

Turn to Walk 18 in this issue for a 7½-mile route from Tarn Hows over black Crag and

Holme fell.

getting Here

The National Trust car park at Tarn Hows (P&D; free for members) is a 10-minute drive from Coniston and the A593 (via the B5285 to Hawkshead; follow the signs). It’s 15 minutes from Ambleside and the A591 (via the A593/B5286). The nearest bus route – the 505 from Coniston to Kendal via Ambleside – stops a mile (by foot) away at Hawkshead Hill (www.stagecoachbus.com).

wHere to stay

Country Walking stayed in South Lakeland at elder Grove b&b in Ambleside. Expect a warm welcome from hosts Lucy and Matthew, and a touch of luxury in the rooms of this Victorian guest house. Centrally located with pubs and restaurants nearby, a brilliant cooked breakfast awaits you in the morning. B&B for two sharing a superior en suite double or twin room can cost from as little as £72pn (01539 432504; www.eldergrove.co.uk). For a budget-friendly hostel break with lakeside views, check into yHA Ambleside. A bed in a shared dorm costs from £10pm (0345 371 9620; www.yha.org.uk)

wHere to eat

During peak season and at weekends, an ice cream van serves drinks and snacks at Tarn Hows. But for a hearty meal, you’re best off finding a pub or café in nearby Coniston or Hawkshead. The black bull Inn at Coniston (home to the Coniston Brewery Company) serves pub classics, like Cumberland sausage and mash, washed down with a choice of cask ales (including the famous Bluebird Bitter) brewed just yards away (015394 41335; www.blackbullconiston.co.uk).

more inFormation

Find more great places to stay and eat out in the Lake District at www.golakes.co.uk