(S) From YHA Coniston Holly How go down to the road (A 593) and cross over to take the side road along Yewdale Beck. At Shepherd Bridge, join the Cumbria Way heading north-east up to High Guards. At the end of the forest (on your right) go past a spring, straight on to pick up the track that goes left to Low Yewdale. Keep on the Cumbria Way along the beck then veer off to the right to go into Tarn Hows Wood. Still on the Cumbia Way go through Tarn Hows Cottage farm but turn left and go behind the farm to head north to the A 593 road. Turn right through a wooden kissing-gate and then turn left at Yew Tree Farm to go through a wooden gate and up a gravel track.When the track leaves the wood, turn off to the right to head north to Harry Guards Wood. Yew Tree Tarn should be visible on the right hand side before you enter the wood. At a fork in the path, bear left then left again to go up Uskdale Gap and finally reach the cairn at Holme Fell (Wainwright at 317m).
(1) From the top of Holme Fell, looking south-east, you should be able to see something of Tarn Hows behind Tom Heights The footpath descends east to pick up a path going north-east to Man Crag and following the dry stone wall down to the road. Stay next to the stream, parallel to the road and head up for about 300m to High Oxen Fell and High Arnside Farm. Turn sharp right up the tarmacked road (once again part of the Cumbria Way) heading south towards Tarn Hows. Stay on the track when the Cumbria Way leads off right to go to Tarn Hows, cross the stream and climb gently towards Limestone Hill. Stay on the track and head down to pass a disused quarry before reaching Knipe Fold. Turn right and then immediately left past Sand Ground down Skinner How Lane. At the crossroads turn left, then right after about 50 yards along the B 5286 to Hawkshead
(2) Hawkshead is a good place to have lunch and maybe a pint of the local beer at The Queen's Head. There's plenty to see in Hawkshead but don't forget to go up the hill to the church and visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery and William Wordsworth's school The Old Grammar School. Leaving Hawkshead by the side of the Red Lion pub (signposted Public Footpath to Latterbarrow and Claife Heights) walk along the tarmacked path to reach the B5285 road. Go straight across and follow the path (signposted Public Footpath Wray Castle and Ambleside). The path goes across fields to reach Scar House Lane. Keep straight on until you reach Loanthwaite Lane. Here, turn right and follow the winding road up to a crossroads. Turn left and then right through a gate to start the ascent to Latterbarrow. Once into the woods, there is a fork in the path. The left hand path goes straight up to the summit but it is preferable to take the right hand path along the dry stone wall for about 300 yards until the path turns left to head up to the obelisk at the top of Latterbarrow
(3) After taking in the 360º views from the top of Latterbarrow head off south-east into the woods and pick up the path that leads down to a disused quarry. Here, be careful not to get confused with all the forest tracks. The route leads south to another forest track. Turn left and then right at the guideposts (Long Height) heading south until you reach a crossroads. Here, turn right through the Hollin Band Plantation. When you come out of the forest, Highs Moss Tarn should be on your left and further along the track Wise Een Tarn. Keep on this track passing Moss Eccles Tarn until you reach a track that joins from the right. Turn left and follow the track to another fork, this time taking the right hand track down to Near Sawrey. This is where Beatrix Potter's House is if you want to visit the National Trust property Hill Top. Turn left along the B5285 road for about 100 yards then take the footpath off to the right. At Town End turn right along the road then left to pick up a footpath behind the church that will take you down to the main road again. Follow the road until you reach the path going up to the Claife Viewing Station (from the carpark).
(4) From the Claife Viewing Station, drop down the other side to reach the Windermere Ferry landing stage. Put your feet up on the crossing on the ferry but enjoy the views from this peculiar perspective. Once on dry land again, head up the road and take the footpath off to the left heading to the camping and caravan site. Cross the road and keep straight on to meet up with the A592 next to the Tourist Information office in Bowness near the ferries and jetties. From here, follow the A 5074 through Windermere to reach Winermere station(E)
