A 5km pre-prandial autumnal stroll from Grasmere with Ian W (L only, T in bed with lurgy)
Route: Leaving the car at Broadgate Meadow (£7.20 for 4 hours), and walking through the village to meet Ian outside the Grasmere Gingerbread shop. From there walking out of town, past the primary school, to the southern mini-roundabout and across to Town End to talk the diagonal road up past Dove Cottage. Turning onto the footpath (the start of the route up to Alcock Tarn) and climbing steadily up.
Following the wide ascent path as it zigzags up north for less than half a kilometre and then leaving it to carry on, north, contouring under the fell, on a permissive path, emerging from trees to views across the village (no photo, sadly).
Continuing northwards for another kilometre, in and out of trees, gently descending to look across the market garden, polytunnels and greenhouse at Forest Side, and walk round them, dropping down to the drive up to the main building. There turning right to return to the main road.
Doglegging right and left across the main road to take the footpath back to the village, bending due south across fields, until it reaches the Rothay and there crossing the footbridge to follow the river bending round and back and across another couple of footbridges to return to the car park.
Conditions: Dry, still and mild despite forecast rain but no sunshine.
Pub? Lucia’s Café, next to Fred Holdsworth’s bookshop, for soup, sandwich and coffees
