Lake District

9.6km/6 miles 4 hours

1 SD288891 From Blawith and Nibthwaite village hall, located in the centre of Water Yeat, head west away from the building, along a narrow tarmac road. Following the road, cross a cattle grid and continue with a stone wall on your left and open fellside to your right, until reaching Greenholm Farm on your left where the road terminates. Here, carry on ahead to enter Blawith Common then follow a clear path to Beacon Tarn, clearly marked by a sign. This path takes you towards towards the tarn, initially hugging a stone wall before passing trees on your left and bending to the right and crossing open fell. Continue following the grassy path, which climbs gently until Beacon Tarn comes into view. Once there, it's the perfect spot for a rest.

2 SD274898 From the tarn turn right and head north, with the water to your left. Follow the obvious path, climbing towards the top of Beacon fell where there's a short rocky stretch before arriving at the well-defined summit cairn. Enjoy the fine panoramic views, starting with the Coniston Fells to the north, Coniston Water and Grizedale Forest to the east and Dunnerdale to the west.

3 SD278906 At the summit cairn of Beacon fell, retrace your steps – descending the south-west ridge where Beacon Tarn soon comes back into view. As the path leads down, take the obvious fork to the right, heading down to the shoreline and outflow, then crossing to the far bank. Now on the Cumbria Way, follow the path south – which can be somewhat boggy at times –running parallel to the shoreline.

4 SD273899 Towards the southern tip of the tarn, shortly before an obvious group of trees, take a faint path rising away from the water towards Wool Knott. The grassy track soon flattens out and turns 90 degrees away from Wool Knott in a westerly direction, heading into the heart of Woodland Fell. With the summits of Tottlebank Height and Blawith Knott now in view ahead, carry on along the track as it descends, then crosses a well-defined trail. Continue straight on, ascending the grass slope ahead into a hollow of rocky outcrops. From

here, follow the path until you reach the small summit cairn of Blawith Knott, which offers a spectacular vista of Woodland Fell.

5 SD260884 Next, you'll be heading for Tottlebank Height, which is the obvious peak lying directly to the east and is attained by crossing the ridge between the two hills. Begin by bearing to your left and descending over rocky outcrops, before the grassy path continues east, passing a small, unnamed tarn. From the lake, walk straight ahead on the grassy path and continue until you reach the small, summit cairn of Tottlebank Height, atop a large rock.

6 SD269885 Head north-east down the slope, aiming for Cockenskell farm. As the slope starts to flatten out, join the obvious, wide Cumbria Way. Continue north, passing through a gate marked ‘Cumbria Way’ next to a large tree. Continue ahead, crossing a field with a stone wall immediately to your left, before negotiating another gate and entering woodland at Cockenskell farm. After descending, crossing the beck and emerging from the woodland, the path forks by a footpath marker. Take the right-hand fork, passing a concentration of dense conifers on your right. Shortly after, you'll rejoin the path in step 1. Here, turn right and retrace your steps – first to Greenholme Farm, and then the tarmac road that takes you back to the village hall where you began this route.