Elterwater, Colwith & Skelwith Force Loop

From Lowfield House, turn left onto Side Gates road. After approximately 11 minutes you will come to the Three Shires Inn on your right, continue up the road a further 3 minutes or so, then turn left down a tarmac lane, sign posted for Tilberthwaite.

Follow the lane for about 200 metres, passing a couple of properties on your right, then turn right to leave the lane and join a footpath marked with a wooden fingerpost on the right directing you across the field to Slater's Bridge. The path descends through pastures, passing through stone wall gaps to reach Slater's Bridge on the River Brathay.

Slater's Bridge is an old packhorse bridge, used by the quarrymen of Little Langdale to reach the slate quarries on the other side of the valley and thought to date back to the 1600s. The bridge has three spans and takes advantage of a large central rock. 

The views ahead of Lingmore Fell are glorious. Cross the bridge and keep ahead on the path to emerge to a junction with a lane. Turn left to follow the lane towards Stang End.

After passing through the tiny hamlet of Stang End, continue on the lane for about 500 metres to reach the farmhouse of High Park. Turn left here to join the path leading across a pasture and into woodland (we have now joined the Cumbria Way again, which we will follow to the end of the walk). As you enter the woodland, take the left-hand of the two paths (the footpath, not the bridleway) which will lead you to the riverside and past the waterfall of Colwith Force. Continue with the river on your left and you will emerge out to a junction with a lane, near High Colwith. 

Turn right (away from the river) and then turn left to join the surfaced path leading into more pastures. Follow this surfaced path leading you east, passing through Park Farm and past Park House. Beyond Park House, ignore the right-hand path branch which heads to the road, instead keep ahead on the path into trees. The path swings left and leads you down to the river. Cross over the river via the Trevor Woodburn bridge.Turn right along a track with the River Brathay on your right, and after a very short distance you will come to a metal viewing platform for Skelwith Force to your right.

When you have finished at the waterfall, continue on the surfaced riverside path (part of the Cumbria Way) with the river running on your left. You will have wonderful views of the Langdale Pikes in the distance ahead as the path leads you through grass pastures. You will pass the small lake of Elter Water on your left; the name of this lake translates as Lake of the Swan and whooper swans over-winter on this lake. Beyond the lake, continue on the riverside path and it will lead you into the edge of the village of Elterwater, emerging to a road.

Turn left to cross the road bridge over Great Langdale Beck. At the far side, turn right onto the small side road, still following the Cumbria Way.

Follow this access road leading you uphill for about 300 metres to reach a stone lay-by on your right. Follow the footpath signs here, forking right to join the footpath leading you into the trees. 

Follow the path with the beck running on your right. When you reach the bridge, do NOT cross this, instead swing left to continue with the beck on your right.

Stay with this bridleway path as it leads you up into the site of a slate quarry. 

Follow the bridleway as it swings right around the quarry buildings and then bears left to continue into the trees.

Burlington Stone quarries are famous for green slate which was formed 455 million years ago.

Turn right along the track for about 200 metres to reach a fingerpost marking a path junction (pictured). Turn left here to follow the sign to Wilson Place. Where the path forks, take the right-hand option. Follow the footpath which leads you through a kissing gate and then bears right to continue along the right-hand edge of fields. You will emerge to Wilson Place. Turn left to follow the lane a short while to return to Lowfield House after a white Bungalow on your right.

These impressive Langdale glacial worn boulders overlooking beautiful views of the Langdale Pikes are located at Copt Howe, approximately 26 minutes from Elterwater if you fancy adding it to this walk. It is a lovely place to spend time in.
 

The boulders date to the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age periods (c. 2800-500 BC) and provide one of our most important insights into prehistoric `art'.  

The exact meaning of the designs is unknown, but they may be interpreted as sacred or religious symbols. 

LOCATION & DISTANCE

Head north-west on the B5343 towards Great Langdale, from Elterwater. As you enter Langdale, follow the valley road (B5343) to Chapel Stile. The boulders are a further 1/2 a mile up the valley and are easy to spot (through a gate) in a field to the left of the road next to a large tree. Google Maps.

TOP TIP

Wainwright's Inn at Chapel Stile between Elterwater and the boulders; is a good halfway point for a bite to eat before the final leg to the boulders.