Lake District

Windermere to Townend walk

Visitors walking along a footpath surrounded by greenery and trees at Townend, with the white-walled house visible behind them, and a view over the countryside beyond — Visitors exploring the garden at Townend | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Follow this walk from Windermere railway station to Townend, a traditional 17th-century farmhouse in Troutbeck, which provides a fascinating insight into the local area. Discover far-reaching views of the fells, and keep an eye out for several points of interest along the way, including a church with stained glass windows by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. This trail comes with the option of taking an alternative (but longer and more strenuous) route back to the starting point.

Near to

Townend

Start point

Windermere railway station, grid ref SD414985

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 8.0 (km: 12.8)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 4.0 (km: 6.4)

Duration2 hours 30 mins to 4 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Moderately challenging route with one steep climb towards the end. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Trail crosses rough terrain with some steep inclines. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs on leads welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Windermere railway station, grid ref SD414985
Stage 1
From Windermere railway station, turn left and take the road opposite the pedestrian lights leading up to Orrest Head. Follow the tarmac road up, which turns into a gravel track. Follow it to the wall and turn right. Go over a stile, turning left and continue up the path to the top of Orrest Head.
Stage 2
From the top of Orrest Head, go down the opposite side to where you came up, aiming for the white farmhouse. When you come to the stile in the wall, don't cross it, but follow the signpost for Causeway Farm. When you reach the road near Causeway Farm, turn left and follow the road to Crosses Farm.
Stage 3
At Crosses Farm, take the footpath marked Troutbeck and follow this through the fields to Far Orrest Farm. At Far Orrest follow the sign for A592 via Dubbs Road. When you come to the road, cross and take the footpath opposite and follow it through the field to the A592.
Stage 4
Carefully cross the A592 and turn right on the footpath along the road. Turn left at the footpath through the field, crossing the Trout Beck by footbridge. When you reach the road, turn right. Townend is at the crossroads at the top.
Stage 5
For the return journey from Townend, there is the option of a longer and slightly more strenuous route. Exit Townend's garden and turn left. Follow the road through Troutbeck village to the post office. At the post office turn right and follow the lane down to the A592.
Stage 6
At the A592 turn right and follow the footpath along the road. Carefully cross the road and take the first track to the left. Follow this up, another track joins from the right and shortly after separates again. When they separate, take the right-hand path, continuing up the fell past a small woodland. When another track joins, take this sharp turn to the right
Stage 7
Follow this track, the Garburn Road / Dubbs Road, between fields and past the reservoir to the tarmacked Moorhowe Road. The long track takes you through some lower fells and past the Dubbs Reservoir.
Stage 8
At the Moorhowe Road, turn left and take the first road to the right. At the crossroads, turn right and follow this road past Near Orrest farm to Causeway Farm.
Stage 9
From the Causeway Farm, retrace your steps through the fields up to Orrest Head and down to Windermere railway station.
End point
Townend, grid ref: NY407023; Windermere railway station, grid ref: SD414985
Trail map
Windermere to Townend Walk, Lake District | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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An elevated view of Lake Windermere towards Wray Castle on the walk from Ambleside to Townend and Troutbeck, Cumbria.

Trail

Ambleside to Troutbeck walk

From Ambleside go on a circular discovery walk through country lanes, woods and fields. Along the way enjoy views of Lake Windermere, visit Troutbeck village and Townend farmhouse, and climb up to Wansfell Pike for great views of the fells.

Bright blue skies over rolling green hills with a few darker green trees dotted across the landscape and scattered farm buildings nestling in the clefts of the hills.

Trail

Townend and Troutbeck Valley walk

A 4-mile circular walk through classic Lake District scenery from Brockhole near Lake Windermere, through Troutbeck Valley to visit Townend, a 17th-century farmhouse.