Sunday: Grizedale Tarn (4.5 Miles)
After another rest day Saturday (Carlisle) and creaking around after the Newlands Adventure Friday , we decided on something shorter and easier. The whole week had been very warm and humid and all thoughts of a long walk up a fell had evaporated.
We had never visited Grizedale forest and so thats where we headed Sunday.
A good 50min or so drive from Portinscale we arrived at the Forest visitors centre car park around 10:30.
We registered for parking at the machines (pay when you leave) and went to find the visitors centre.
The forest has many walking and cycling trails and after a visit to the centres shop we bought both walking and cycling guides (£1.50 each) consisting of a fold-out map showing the individual trails. The walking routes are all colour coded and most are short and family orientated. All around the forest are various sculptures including wind-up musical trees (well mechanisms inset into trees that play a tinkly tune when wound).
The trail we chose to follow took us up to Grizedale Tarn through the forest in a loop back to the visitors centre area. It was just over 4 miles, and pretty easy going most of the way around, though there were some diversions around various forestry works.
The cycling routes look pretty good, mainly towards the easier end rather than steep mountain bike trails. Think we will definitely be back to cycle another time.
The paths are all well defined and colour coded signs make way finding easy.
Another thing that was good was the separation between much of the bike and walking trails, they do meet up from time to time but most of our walk we saw few bikes.
Grizedale tarn was pleasant and we ate lunch there enjoying the warmth of the day and nice surroundings. It was fairly quiet too for a Sunday, guess most were heading up the fells.
The return loop back to the visitors centre was more of the same type of forest tracks, and a slow short descent back down to the main track.
A framed view back near the visitors centre. There is a visitors shop selling souvenirs, and a cafe selling food and drinks in a courtyard type setting.
We had a brief rest there, before heading back to the car, paying for parking and heading back Keswick way (after a brief trip to Coniston for an ice cream).
Our Walk Score: 6.5/10
Monday: Cycle to Thelkeld then home.....
Another nice fine day, we packed the car and checked out of our accomodation.
We parked just up the road from the hotel in Portinscale, and decided we would cycle into Keswick then join the old railway track for the short cycle up to Threlkeld and back, about 10 miles all in.
Narrow track before joining the main old railway track.....
Lots of old bridges and short tunnels along the way.......
We stopped off at the Horse & Farrier pub in Threlkeld village, had a drink there and headed back the way we came. Actually easier coming back as its a very slight upwards incline going from Keswick (though fair to say it is still flat really and easy going!)
Arriving back at Portinscale after a very short amble into Keswick town centre, we headed off home around early afternoon having had a brilliant week with good weather every day, and not a drop of rain all week..... not bad for the Lake District.
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