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A daytime view of a large lake with trees and grass in the foreground and rolling hills in the background.
The view from Glencoyne towards Ullswater | © National Trust
Lake District

Aira Force Glencoyne Farm trail

At more than 1000 hectares and carrying a flock of over 1,500 hill sheep, Glencoyne is one of the largest tenanted hill farms in the Lake District. This circular trail will take you through the Grade II listed farm buildings (the earliest part was built in 1629), along to the remains of old charcoal pitsteads and past Glencoyne wood, before bringing you back to the car park.

Total steps: 6

Total steps: 6

Start point

Glencoyne car park, CA11 0QT, grid ref: NY386188

Step 1

Turn right as you leave the car park, walk along the road and cross the bridge over Glencoyne beck. Carry on until you come to a long straight drive up to Glencoyne Farm on your right.

Step 2

Take the track to the farm, carry on straight between the sheep pens, the buildings and through the front garden. Don't worry about walking through the farm, as it's a public right of way and the farmer won't mind.

Step 3

Leave the farm, carry on up the slope and follow the path along the top of the gill on your right. You will soon spot the Seldom Seen cottages in the distance. Follow the path and this will take you underneath the cottages and out into the open fell.

Step 4

Once past the cottages, carry straight on for a short time and then bear left up a grassy slope towards the wood. Follow the path under the wall and you will come to a gate at the end of the wood.

Step 5

Go through the gate and turn left over a stile and into the wood. Follow the path down through the wood and you will return to the cottages below.

Step 6

Once past the cottages, follow the track all the way down to the A592 road. At the road, go straight across and join the footpath, then turn left and take the path to the bottom of the hill. The path then joins the road which will take you past Glencoyne Farm drive and back to the car park.

End point

Glencoyne car park, CA11 0QT, grid ref: NY386188

Trail map

Glencoyne Farm circular walk map
Glencoyne Farm circular walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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near Watermillock, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0JS

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