Kentmere Horseshoe, Lake District
After few months of walking in Peak District and Yorkshire Dales we missed Lake District walks and decided to visit this wonderful place for a day.
We have found a close route to Kendal which is easily accessible from the motorway and after just 1 hour and a half drive we arrived in Kentmere.
The route starts from Kentmere, a valley, village and civil parish in the Lake District National Park.
Kentmere Hall is famous for its tower house; a fortification built for status in the 13th – early 14th centuries – ostensibly to guard against raiding parties from Scotland. Another great building is St Cuthbert’s Church, dated 17th century and refurbished over the years.
There is few car park spaces near the church but there is a larger car park before you get to the church, £3 per day. We started early morning so we didn’t have issues with the parking.
The route start in front of the church, turn right and follow the road to River Kent.
Once we crossed the river we started to gradually ascend the mountains.
The weather was very nice, sunny but windy and after just few miles I was feeling the warmth and needed to stop for a drink. Staying hydrated while walking is very important, otherwise you will feel more tired and the energy level will drop very quick.
After a good tea we climb to the first peak of the day, Shipman Knotts, at 587 meters. As soon as we reached that height the views started to be more and more spectacular.
Soon after Shipman Knotts the next stop was at Kentmere Pike (730m).
The views from up there are really amazing. On a clear day you can even see the Yorkshire Peaks or the sea.
Kentmere trig was also my first climb on the trig which was more challenging than I thought.
The next leg on the route is towards High Street which was more challenging with rocky terrain and up and down paths to the other peaks (Brown Howe, The Knowe). When we reached to Harter Fell (778m) we turned left and started to descend a little bit. The path is rocky and the views are really nice. On one side you can see Ullswater lake and Blencathra and on the other side the valley between the peaks and Windermere Lake at the horizon. This was the perfect spot to have our lunch and take in this picturesque scenery.
After our well deserved sandwich and tea we continued our journey and started to ascent again to the other peaks.
The next and final stop was Mardale Ill Bell (760m), a fell rising to the south west of Haweswater Reservoir. I was very happy and grateful to be able to do this route and see so many beautiful places. Also, the sunny weather gave me a boost of energy.
The route is about 12.6 miles, not too long but it is quite challenging due to a lot of up and down on rocky terrain.
I would say that life is definitely a journey not a destination and we have enjoyed every minute of this route, walking on a beautiful sunny day and discovering these magnificent landscapes in Lake District.
