In Europe the haute routes are some of the finest trails, taking in the high mountain passes between valleys and giving walkers stupendous views of the major peaks – with the option to climb them if you want. So, we came up with a cracker of a Haute Route right here in the UK’s Lake District. It is a celebration of the Lakes: a way to see the area at its very best in 6 wonderful days.
Here’s how to walk it for yourself…
ROUTE DETAILS
DAY ONE - AMBLESIDE TO CONISTON
Start Ambleside NY374043
Finish Coniston SD302975
Strenuousness ■■■
Navigation ■■
Technicality ■■
Distance 16km (10 miles)
Total ascent 575m
Terrain parkland, access tracks, low fells, minor roads, lanes, rough bridleways and cycletracks
Maps OS Explorer OL7 (1:25,000); OS Landranger 90 & 96 (1:50,000); British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40,000): Harvey Superwalker Lakeland Centre & Southern Lakeland (1:25 0000)
Accommodation
Youth Hostels: Ambleside – tel. 0845 371 9620; Langdale – tel. 0845 371 9748; Elterwater – tel. 0845 371 9017; Coniston Holly How – tel. 0845 371 9511; Coniston Coppermines – 0845 371 9630 or visit www.yha.org.uk
Camping in Elterwater (Baysbrown) and Coniston. Hotels and B&Bs in Ambleside, Elterwater, Little Langdale, Tilberthwaite, Yewdale and Coniston. For accommodation listings visit www.golakes.co.uk
DAY 2 CONISTON TO ESKDALE
Start Coniston SD302975
Finish Eskdale NY175008
Strenuousness ■■■■
Navigation ■■
Technicality ■■
Distance 20.5km (12¾ miles)
Time 8 hours
Total ascent 950m
Terrain steep road, fell tracks, high mountain passes, valley roads, boggy woodland track and old packhorse tracks
Maps OS Explorer OL6 (1:25,000); OS Landranger 90 & 96 (1:50,000); British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40,000): Harvey Superwalker Southern Lakeland (1:25,000)
Accommodation
Youth Hostels: Coniston Holly How – tel. 0845 371 9511; Coniston Coppermines – 0845 371 9630; Eskdale
– tel. 0845 371 9317 or visit www.yha.org.uk
Camping in Coniston, Dunnerdale and Eskdale. Hotels and B&Bs in Coniston, Dunnerdale and Eskdale.
For accommodation listings visit www.visitlakedistrict.com/
DAY 3 - ESKDALE TO BUTTERMERE
Start Eskdale NY175008
Finish Buttermere NY174169
Strenuousness ■■■■
Navigation ■■
Technicality ■■
Distance 20.5km (12¾ miles)
Time 8 hours
Total ascent 1055m
Terrain lanes, fell tracks, exposed moorland, valley roads, high mountain passes, remote valley head, steep pitched bridleway and lakeside woodland
Maps OS Explorer OL6 & 4 (1:25,000); OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000); British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40,000): Harvey Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25,000)
Accommodation
Youth Hostels: Eskdale – tel. 0845 371 9317; Black Sail Hut, Ennerdale – tel. 0845 371 9680; Buttermere – tel. 0845 371 9508 or visit www.yha.org.uk Camping in Eskdale, Wasdale and Buttermere. Hotels and B&Bs in Eskdale, Wasdale and Buttermere. For accommodation listings visit www.visitlakedistrict.com
DAY 4 - BUTTERMERE TO KESWICK
Start Buttermere NY174169
Finish Keswick NY265234
Strenuousness ■■■
Navigation ■■
Technicality ■■
Distance 22.6km (14 miles)
Time 7 hours
Total ascent 770m
Terrain valley roads, packhorse track, high open col, quarry workings, old tramway, high pass, stony bridleway, village lanes, lakeside woodland, wooded gardens and riverside pasture
Maps OS Explorer OL4 (1:25,000); OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000); British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40,000): Harvey Superwalker Lakeland West (1:25,000)
Accommodation
Youth hostels: Buttermere – tel. 0845 371 9508; Honister Hause – tel. 0845 371 9522; Longthwaite, Borrowdale – tel. 0845 371 9624; Keswick – tel. 0845 371 9746 or visit www.yha.org.uk
Camping in Buttermere, Seatoller, Grange, Keswick. Hotels and B&Bs in Buttermere, Seatoller, Rosthwaite, Grange, Portinscale, Keswick. For accommodation listings visit www.golakes.co.uk
DAY 5 – KESWICK TO GLENRIDDING
Start Keswick NY265234
Finish Glenridding NY386169
Strenuousness ■■■
Navigation ■■
Technicality ■■
Distance 19km (11¾ miles)
Time 7 hours
Total ascent 900m
Terrain roads, lanes, pasture, valley bottom bridleway, steep packhorse track, high open col, high remote corrie, steep side gill, mine workings, rocky valley and village lanes
Maps OS Explorer OL4 & 5 (1:25 000); OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000); British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40,000): Harvey Superwalker Lakeland Central (1:25,0000)
Accommodation
Youth hostels: Keswick – tel. 0845 371 9746; Greenside, Glenridding – tel. 0845 371 9742; Patterdale – tel. 0845 371 9337 or visit www.yha.org.uk
Camping in Keswick, Dale Bottom, Legburthwaite, Glenridding and Patterdale. Hotels and B&Bs in Keswick, Legburthwaite, Thirlspot, Glenridding and Patterdale. For accommodation listings visit www.golakes.co.uk
DAY 6 – GLENRIDDING TO AMBLESIDE
Start Glenridding NY386169
Finish Ambleside NY374043
Strenuousness ■■■
Navigation ■■
Technicality ■■
Distance 18.6km (11½ miles)
Time 7 hours
Total ascent 750m
Terrain lanes, low wooded fells, long steep-sided valley, high-level tarn, open corrie, high mountain pass, steep corrie and ghyll, main road, minor roads, wooded hamlet, valley side track and parkland
Maps OS Explorer OL5 & 7 (1:25,000); OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000); British Mountain Maps Lake District (1:40,000): Harvey Superwalker Lakeland Central and Lakeland East (1:25,000)
Accommodation
Youth hostels: Greenside, Glenridding – tel. 0845 371 9742; Patterdale – tel. 0845 371 9337; Grasmere – tel. 0845 371 9319; Ambleside – tel. 0845 371 9620 or visit www.yha.org.uk Camping in Glenridding and Patterdale. Hotels and B&Bs in Glenridding, Patterdale, Grasmere, Rydal and Ambleside.