Head inland from the lake and discover some rarely visited country offering a quiet Windermere walk. There is a short climb up School Knotts followed by a visit to two peaceful tarns. The return is via the Dales Way.
I never thought walking from Windermere could be so much pleasure! To the east of Windermere lie two small, but rugged fells which enclose a delightful, but seemingly nameless, tarn. The walk and area is rarely mentioned in any walking guide. School Knott and Grandsire may become more popular in summer but on this glorious Spring day I found them delightfully empty. The vast majority of visitors stick to the lakeside or the short walk up Orrest Head.
The views over Windermere and the lake are excellent rom School Knotts. They offer evidence to Wainwright’s oft quoted theory that the best Lakeland views are often not from the highest fells. From the first ‘unnamed’ tarn I joined the final yards of the Dales Way (a long distance walk from Ilkley to Windermere) and past some grand old houses. Here it is easy to imagine Victorian families emerging and taking a walk down to the lakeside. Heathwaite Manor is a particularly good example. I also enjoyed the lovely copse before reaching the fellside at the start of the walk. All in all a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
From the gate to the east of the tarn is the path up to the second summit of Grandsire which is definitely worth a short extension.
The path heading up School Knotts starts from the north south lane on the edge of Windermere. The path strikes east through some trees justt before the trees stop to the south.
We did this walk this week. We parked on Victoria Road North and got access to the fell from a gate at the end of Victoria Road North.
You need to look at your plan for the school knott walk as there is no public right of way from Victoria Road to Victoria Road North other than by Limethwaite and Fairfield Road
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