Route: Elter Water, Colwith and Little Langdale
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 9th March 2017
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 6.8 miles
Weather: sunshine and blue skies
This low level walk is one of the best, featuring lakes, streams, waterfalls, woodland and some wonderful scenery along the way
I parked on the roadside at Skelwith Bridge and joined the path beside the River Brathay. A short distance along the path Skelwith Force was surging over the rocks – an impressive sight and sound, which can be experienced at close quarters by clambering over a huge rock onto an iron platform
The small lake of Elter Water flows into the Brathay and the section from the outflow to Elterwater village is a glorious one, with views of the Langdale Pikes commanding attention much of the way
Beyond Elterwater I joined a track known as Owlet’s Nest which climbs up and over into Little Langdale, and after passing by Little Langdale Tarn I crossed over Slater’s Bridge, perhaps the finest bridge in lakeland and dating back to the 16th century
The return journey took me past Colwith Force and through some beautiful unspoilt countryside back to Skelwith Bridge
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk, leaving Skelwith Bridge
For a view of Skelwith Force, cross this iron bridge, turn left over the rocks, and stand on a small iron platform…
The Trevor Woodburn Bridge…
Looking back along the River Brathay from the bridge (which I don’t cross)
The start of a heavenly section of the walk beside the river as it flows out of Elter Water…
The Langdale Pikes
Elter Water
Beyond the lake now, and walking beside Great Langdale Beck
I cross the bridge in Elterwater village
Looking back to Elterwater
Beyond Elterwater Hall, I follow the track to Little Langdale
Heading down into Little Langdale…
Dale End
Wetherlam, Swirl How and Great Carrs
Approaching Little Langdale Tarn
Little Langdale Tarn
The tarn again, and the River Brathay
16th century Slater’s Bridge…
Frogs in a pool by the bridge
…and frogs of the future
Beyond the bridge I follow a quiet lane towards Stang End
Looking across Little Langdale
The lane beyond Stang End…
Looking back to High Park Farm, once owned by Beatrix Potter
Having descended through woodland, I arrive at Colwith Force
Looking back along the path as I approach Skelwith Bridge
I arrive back at Skelwith Bridge to complete a wonderful low level circuit
