Lake District

Ambleside Champion Tree Trail

View from the ground up to the towering canopy of several tall fir trees, some with square labels on their trunks — The tallest grand fir in Cumbria, on the Champion Tree Trail, Skelghyll Woods | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Follow the tree symbols as you wind through Skellghyll Woods, and discover some of the tallest trees in Cumbria – and England. With picnic benches at all the best viewpoints, this is a great short walk to enjoy at lunchtime. You may even spot a red squirrel having a snack too.

Near to

Ambleside

Start point

Stagshaw Garden National Trust car park, off the A591, grid ref: NY38100290

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 0.8 (km: 1.28)

Duration 45 mins

Dog friendly***

*Generally wide, undulating tracks with one short, steep climb. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Trail quite steep in one section, unsuitable for wheelchairs or puschairs. For further details, please see Access section.
***Dogs welcome on leads. For further details, please see Facilities section.

Address
Stagshaw Garden National Trust car park, near Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0HE
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
From the ferry or car park at Waterhead, follow the pavement back towards Windermere past the traffic lights for about 300yd. Opposite a converted petrol station there is a footpath that takes you to the driveway leading up to Stagshaw Garden car park.
By train
Kendal train station is 8 miles from Windermere. The West Coast Main Line connects with the Oxenholme to Windermere line, which has regular services throughout the year. There are bus connections from Windermere Station to all locations in the valley.
National Rail
By bus
Regular Stagecoach bus connections from Windermere station to locations throughout the valley. Numbers 555 or 599 to Waterhead, followed by a very short walk along footpaths to Stagshaw Garden.
Traveline
Cycling
The National Cycle Network has a proposed route from Windermere station along the A591 to Ambleside. A cycle lane runs along this section to Stagshaw, but please be aware that some sections run along the main road.
Sustrans
By ferry
In the main tourist season, regular boat trips leave Bowness Pier for the Waterhead jetty, where Stagshaw is within easy walking distance.
Windermere Lake Cruises
By road
From the A591 at Waterhead, turn down a narrow driveway signposted for Stagshaw Garden. Satnav: LA22 0HE.
Seating available
Three picnic benches along the route, allowing you to pause and enjoy the views.
Steps/uneven terrain
Mostly wide track, narrow and bumpy in some places, with one steep climb.
Accessible route and/or map
Steps 1 to 4 are on a relatively smooth, wide and undulating track, before the steep section. You can pause or stop at the picnic bench at Step 4, to enjoy views of the tall conifers without having to climb uphill.
The trail follows some original paths and tracks that were first used by coppice craftsmen to move cut timber around the wood, and then by the Victorians as they planted exotic conifer trees. The paths are generally wide and undulating, but have narrow and bumpy parts leading up- and downhill. The trail has one short and steep climb, which is lined with very tall trees, worthy of a stop to admire them while catching a breath.
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
Stagshaw Garden National Trust car park, off the A591, grid ref: NY38100290
Stage 1
Standing in the car park for Stagshaw Garden, look uphill and you will see a metal sign saying Skelghyll Woods. At this sign take the right-hand footpath into the woods.
Follow the waymarks through Skelghyll Woods to see some of Cumbria's tallest trees | © National Trust/Ben Knipe
Stage 2
Follow the route as it passes the first of three picnic benches, and joins a historic track that is wide and gentle. It passes through conifers that were planted by Victorian plant collectors.
Stage 3
Shortly after passing through a gap cut into a fallen tree, turn left to begin a steep climb through the Gallery of Giants.
Bluebells in Skelghyll Woods, Ambleside | © National Trust Images/Robert Morris
Stage 4
If you don’t have the energy to walk up this steep hill, there is a picnic bench here where you can admire champion trees with ease. Otherwise continue uphill, looking at the trees as you go.
Stage 5
After a short trek, you will be in amongst the tallest Wellingtonia and Douglas fir trees in Cumbria, and the tallest grand fir in England. Their heights are written on plaques attached to the trees.
The tallest grand fir in Cumbria, on the Champion Tree Trail, Skelghyll Woods | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Stage 6
Halfway up the hill, turn right to follow a narrow path onto a wide, rocky outcrop. If you turn around and look, you can see the tallest tree in its entirety – a rare and awe-inspiring sight.
Stage 7
From here, stay on the outcrop but meander uphill to re-join the path. It gently curves up and left, passing another picnic bench sited on a flat piece of ground called a ‘charcoal hearth’ that coppice craftsmen will have used when making charcoal.
Stage 8
Pass through another gap in a fallen tree and follow the gentle curve up and right, weaving between trees in a conifer grove, each with unique colours and patterns on their bark.
Stage 9
On joining a level path, turn left and follow this until you reach a junction with a larger path weaving down through the wood. Follow this wide track downhill, keeping left as you go, past a beautiful bubbling beck.
Stage 10
Before long you will find yourself back in the car park where you started, hopefully with enough time to explore Stagshaw Garden.
Stagshaw Garden, Ambleside, in June. | © National Trust Images/Robert Morris
End point
Stagshaw Garden National Trust car park, off the A591, grid ref: NY38100290
Trail map
Map of the Ambleside Champion Tree Trail | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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