Claife Viewing Station to Wray Castle Cycle trail
This gently undulating track between Claife Viewing Station and Wray Castle is suitable for people of all ages. The route hugs the west shore of Lake Windermere and provides wonderful views across the lake, as well as have exciting National Trust properties to visit at either end.
Map
Start:
Claife Viewing Station
1
Before you start, take time to walk up to Claife Viewing Station for wonderful views across the lake.
Claife Viewing Station
Built in the 1790s and later expanded, the building had windows tinted with coloured glass, designed to recreate the landscape under different seasonal conditions.
2
From the entrance to Claife Viewing Station head north on the road along the shore of Lake Windermere signed for Bank Barn / Wray Castle. The initial part of the trail has open views across Windermere, its islands and the distant summits of Ill Bell and Frostwick.
3
After a short while you'll pass over a cattle grid where the road turns into a wide gravel track. The trail leaves behind the open views across Windermere and enters mature woodland.
4
On reaching Bank Barn, ignore the track left signed to Hawkshead and continue on towards Red Nab. You will soon arrive at Red Nab car park. Ignore the road running uphill and head on through the car park and along the lakeshore. You'll eventually reach a small bay with a couple of boathouses and you'll pass through a gate where the trail turns to the left. Head on uphill signed towards Wray Church.
5
Just past the church you will reach a road. Turn right and then right again through the entrance gates to Wray Castle. Continue along the driveway to the castle.
Wray Castle
Wray Castle is a mock-Gothic castle sitting on the shores of Lake Windermere with turrets, towers and informal grounds.
6
After resting for a while at Wray Castle, turn around and retrace your route back to your start point at Claife Viewing Station.
End:
Claife Viewing Station