New route opens

9:20am Friday 20th June 2008

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Tarn Hows is now reconnected with the home of its creator. In 1835 the Monk Coniston estate was sold by the Knott family to James Garth Marshall and he was responsible for the creation of Tarn Hows. After his fortune declined, the house and gardens were sold to a Mr J.P. Bradshaw, in 1926. The rest of the estate, including all farmland and Tarn Hows, was purchased in 1930 by Beatrix Potter. She sold half of this at cost price to the National Trust (NT), which bought the land with a large donation by Sir Samuel Scott of Windermere. The remainder was passed to the NT after Beatrix’s death in 1943. In 1945 the NT purchased the hall and gardens, re-uniting the estate once more. Since then, Monk Coniston Hall has been leased by the NT to HF Holidays, and the hall and grounds have been closed to the general public. The hall remains private, but part of the original Victorian path, from Coniston Water to Tarn Hows, has been reopened by the NT whose staff, with the help of many volunteers, have worked hard clearing the grounds and vegetation. All this work has been supported by a £450,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant and £20,000 of Lake Distict Sustainability Fund grants. Walkers can access the start of this new route from the car park at the head of Coniston Water, grid ref 316978, reached by taking the A593 from Ambleside south to Coniston, or by taking the Steam Yacht Gondola to Monk Coniston Jetty.

1/ From either of the above, cross the road and go through a signposted gate. Walk ahead along a wide grassy swathe sweeping across a fine meadow, once an access track to Mount Coniston. Ahead are superb views of the Yewdale Fells. Take the waymarked gate on the right and walk on until you can bear left to visit the gazebo where, in the small upper room, tea parties were held. Outside the gazebo, wind round and down a slope, to visit a lower room. Here a fire was kept well stoked to warm the room above and food was prepared for the visitors.

2/ Return along the path to a gate, on the left, which leads into the large walled garden. The gate is a replica of the original one and the enclosed area has been cleared. Turn left and visit the potting shed, where there is a fascinating book of photographs. Then head for the metal gate in the wall on the left and go on to the signpost ahead. This directs you along a glorious green terrace, through woodland, and brings you to a gate onto the hawkshead.com" target="_blank">Hawkshead road. Take care as you cross.

3/ Stride the signposted rising path, opposite, through mixed woodland of Hill Fell. Cross a narrow footbridge over School Beck then climb a steep flight of steps to join a bridleway, where you turn right. Ignore any right or left turns and continue on the main track until you reach a Y-junction of paths and a signpost directing you left for Tarn Hows. This curves gracefully upwards and then winds right to carry on through a gate. Stroll on the high-level track that runs above Tarn Hows main car park, on your left, and to the road. Here you might wish to take a detour into the parking area to see the fine new centre and facilities, installed by the National Trust, and detailed in The Westmorland Gazette of June 6.

4/ If you wish to extend your walk, cross the road and follow the well-restored and recently-drained path round the tarn. On reaching the road and the entrance to the car park once more, follow the one-way road, right, downhill. Continue on the quiet way, enjoying superb views, until you can turn right, through a gate signed Tarn Hows Cottage to walk along its pleasing access track. Just before the track turns right to the cottage, take a field gate on the left. Follow the wide grassy swathe that traverses the pasture to a gate onto a grassy path beside Tarn Hows Wood, on your right.

5/ Where the wood ends, head on along the path as directed by a waymark. Then suddenly the way becomes indistinct. Here the route curves round left to arc, right, round a large clump of beech trees, and becomes obvious and substantial once more. Pause on this high-level traverse to appreciate a magnificent view of Coniston Water. The track is believed to have been an old access route to Monk Coniston Hall. Go through a gate and on along the continuing way to pass through a second gate onto a wide gravel track. Turn left, pass through Boon Crag Farm and the NT sawmill to join the hawkshead.com" target="_blank">Hawkshead road. Turn right and, in a few steps, move right to join the off-road path, with a dense beech hedge between you and the traffic. On reaching the first exit through the hedge, at the foot of the lake, cross the road and take the new path through the meadow, or walk along the shore of the lake, to return to the start of your walk.

Information

Distance: 5 miles plus the optional walk round the tarn. Time: 3 to 4 hours Terrain: Good paths and tracks all the way. A little road walking. Map: OS Explorer OL 7. Or pick up a leaflet, depicting the route, from car park. NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.