Route: Holme Force and Loweswater
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 4th March 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.0 miles
Weather: Mostly bright, a couple of showers
This is a shorter version of one of our favourite walks in the Loweswater area. We parked in the small car park at Maggie’s Bridge and followed the track through High Nook Farm, where Alfred Wainwright used to stay when he was researching the Western Fells
We followed the path to a point just before High Nook Tarn, where a terraced path climbs up behind Holme Wood, giving tremendous views across to Grasmoor and Whiteside. At the high point of this path, instead of following our normal route, we turned right into Holme Wood along a path descending towards Loweswater
We then branched off to the left in order to see Holme Force, which was on good form, before descending to the shore of Loweswater and walking back to the start via Watergate Farm
It was a very enjoyable afternoon’s walk in beautiful and unspoilt surroundings
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)
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On the way to the start of the walk, we took a short detour to savour the wonderful view of Crummock Water and the Western Fells from Foulsyke
The start of the walk at Maggie’s Bridge - we follow the sign to High Nook Farm
Crossing Dub Beck
The track to High Nook Farm, with Carling Knott ahead
Looking back to Whiteside and Grasmoor
Looking back to Low Fell and Lorton Vale
Contrasting scenery as Gilly and Bonnie walk towards the head of the valley
Looking across to the path below Carling Knott which we’ll be walking along shortly
Highnook Beck
Footbridge over the beck
Climbing towards the top of Holme Wood
Looking back down the path to High Nook Tarn, which is out of sight up to this point
Whiteside, Grasmoor and the northern end of Mellbreak
Scotland and the Solway Firth in the distance
We usually carry on round the side of Carling Knott, but today we turned right here to enter Holme Wood
Walking down through Holme Wood
Holme Force
Crossing Holme Beck
Walking through Holme Wood, with Loweswater on the left
The National Trust is thinning out the woodland
The bothy on the shore of Loweswater, available to rent from the National Trust
An accident waiting to happen - it didn’t (though secretly I was hoping for a more spectacular photo than this)
Looking across Loweswater to Whiteside and Grasmoor
Far side of the lake
Further along the lakeside path
Darling Fell
Last shot of Loweswater before we head away from the lake
An easy track takes us back to the start
