A 9km linear walk, returning by bus.Route: leaving the car at the Great Wood car park under Walla Crag (free for NT members) and taking the path southwards, climbing to a footbridge (ignoring the left turn up Walla Crag) and then descending and continuing for 1.5km on a kind of balcony path, a couple of hundred feet above the lake. Joining the road at Ashness Bridge and walking up it to the Surprise View and then a clear path leading off to the right. Crossing a footbridge to the other side of Watendlath Beck and walking in parallel to it to Watendlath. Then heading uphill south-west via Pudding Stone Bank and descending towards Rosthwaite but diverting left on the path towards Seathwaite and then back along the Cumbria Way to improve the timing of the pub, beer and bus. After a pint, catching a surprisingly full 78 bus back to the car park.
Conditions: 4C and cold in the breeze but warmer in sunny spells.
Pub: the Scafell Hotel, Rosthwaite, for Tirril Old Faithful and Hobgoblin Ruby.
