Thirlmere Way an overview of the walking route

An overview of walking Thirlmere Way in Cumbria and Lancashire, England including links to walking information, walking equipment, walking holidays, walking maps and travel related to walking

Thirlmere Way 229km / 137 miles Linear Walk

part of the Walking on the Web guide to walking in England

Start Heaton Park SD834044

Finish Thirlmere Reservoir Cumbria NY310190

Maps Ordnance Survey Explorer 276, 277, 287, 286, OL2, OL7 and OL41

Information by Region

A route following the up hill gradient of a gravitational aqueduct from Greater Manchester to its start at Thirlmere Reservoir in Cumbria. The aqueduct is approximately 2m dia and requires no pumps to get the water from the Lake District all the way down to Manchester.

The way starts at the hall in Heaton Park Manchester and heads south towards the boating lake before turn right heading for the intersection of the A665 and a railway line with a Metroline Station. Going directly across the A665 the route follows a minor road west (Whittaker Lane then Rectory Lane) through a housing estate finally emerging at a T junction to the A56 Roman Road.

Again almost directly opposite the way picks up a footpath through a linear wood to join the Irwell Sculpture Trail on the banks of the River Irwell. Turn right to enter Prestwich Forest Park and go under the Thirteen Arches Bridge.

At the point where the Sculpture Trail turns right away from the river the Thirlmere Way turns left utilising the bridge to cross it and continue along its bank under the M62 and into Clifton Country Park.

Past the Industrial Estate to the right the walk heads for Gibb Farm and on to the edge of the M61

Edward Street off the B5238 to pick up a footpath to take you to the A673. Turning right and then left the road crosses Hamers Creek and the way leaves the road and enters Rivington Country Park.

Head initially for Rivington Lodge and then onto Liverpool Castle. The castle has and is still taking a bit of a pounding by the large amount of visitors attracted to the country park. From here keep to the bank of Lower Rivington Reservoir to Rivington

although you can if tempted detour to the cafe and visitor centre before. Beyond Rivington continue to follow the waters edge before stiking out to the right heading for the corner of and then following the west bank of Yarrow Reservoir.

A left turn along a minor road at the top of the reservoir takes you to a path along the east bank of Anglezarke Reservoir to join Moor Road around its top. From here a clearly defined path zig zags up through the trees and across to Healey Nab. Atop the nab there are excellent views towards the Irish Sea.

From the Nab head north to a 90° bend in Higher House Lane. Follow the lane down to the T junction. Head straight across under the old railway line to Heapey and into Wheelton

where it meets and follows the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Just before Bridge No 87 look across the canal and you will see the Thirlmere Aquaduct in all its glory as it comes above ground to cross a small valley. If you want a closer look go under the bridge and a path returns back up and over to the other side. Also a good chance of finding a gate or two!

Passing Withnell Fold notice the mill with its square chimney. This paper mill once produced the paper for British banknotes. Again for a better look cross the bridge and go up into Withnell Fold. The majority of the houses were either built to house the mill workers or are conversations from mill buildings. Note the Old Reading Room at the bottom corner of the open space in the village. Also note the Aquaduct again at the top of the open space. Its got gates as well! The mill has outline planning permission to convert it into more housing.

On to Ollerton Fold where the route leaves the canal having crossed Ollerton Bridge No2 up into Ollerton Fold. From here you're heading straight through the village and out to the T junction of the Chorley Road with a minor road opposite

Take the minor road past a few dwellings on the left hand side before picking up a footpath to the left that evetually joins the Bolton Road into Abbey Village

Stanworth and join the Witton Weavers Way through Stanworth Farm under the M61 and back to the Leeds Liverpool Canal which it crosses and turns left up to the paper mill.

Cross the A674

towards Hillock Farm going off to the left just before. Having crossed fields the path descends through woods to the bank of the River Darwen. This section can become boggy after rain and high river levels. Follow the river on a distinct path that takes you past a mill wier going between the river and the mill race whilst the river drops away. Under the railway viaduct and join the road into Hoghton Bottoms.

Continue at low level through the village passing the road out to the left. Just beyond what may be mistaken for another "gate" a footpath sign to the left indicates the route that takes you up to meet the track into Bolton Hall leaving the Witton Weavers Way behind. The corner of Wild Bottom's Wood is the next destination before descending to the river again and following it downstream to yet another weir. The track curves off away from the river heading for a farm gate and style to the left.

The Thirlmere Way doesn't enter Samlesbury Bottoms but turns left and heads for Green Lane and Cardwell's Farm. You'll know Green Lane when you see it because there's a sign saying Green Lane in white letters on a blue background. Go through the farmyard at Cardwell's Farm and take the path to the right down to Roach Bridge and another paper mill. Pass through a big heavy red gate into a copse and descend to the road and another less heavy red gate. The main part of the mill is on the right and is at present sadly neglected.

The mill wier is fantastic. Stand on the bridge for a while and take in its power and if you're standing in the middle notice the bridge has a name carved into it. There is a faded sign at the side of the road giving a short history of milling in the Darwen valley if you can read it! Cross the bridge and turn left along the northern bank of the River Darwen cutting the corner over to the weir and on into Carver Fold. North along Potter Lane to Smithy House turn left towards the "Works". A diagonal path takes you to the B6230 and a bridge crossing the M6.

After 500m take the track down to Cuerdale Hall off to the right past the "No Tressing" sign. Beyond the farm the bank of the River Ribble is reached and followed up to the next bridge. This is the A59 into Preston

. Cross Brockhole Bridge and join the Ribble Way for the next stage of the journey.

The path goes under the two slip roads at Junction 31 of the M6 before crossing the flat plain towards Boilton Wood where it climbs through and then follows the edge around a bend in the river.

The path leaves the edge of the wood briefly to take in the delights of an industrial estate before returning to and passing through it again to cross a field and meet the tarmac road form Place House Farm. This in turn comes to a T junction with Elston Lane at which point the ways turn left past the Big Wood.

A couple of fields on and the farm road to Marsh House goes off to the right and so do you.

Past Marsh House the path crosses farmland to Lower Yew Tree Farm. The Ribble Way goes straight on and the Thirlmere Way turns left along Alston Lane. Just before Alston Cottage Farm a path is taken to the right over two fields before turning left and heading for Manor House. A 90° turn takes the path north to Bury's Farm and the gap between Alston Reservoirs before entering Longridge by the church.

Head back out south on the B6243 to Bolton Fold and take the footpath opposite the minor road to the left to Daniel's Farm and on to Shay Farm at the side of the dismantled railway line. Continuing north west the path begins a long curve to the left. At the end of the curve take the path to the right past Bottom's Farm and on to the B5269 Cumeragh Lane. Turn right and then left at the next footpath taking you to the outskirts of Tenter Hill.

A right left zig zag at the minor road then takes a path heading towards Kidsnape but doesn't quite make it. Instead another left curve brings the path out onto another minor road between Hill Farm and Horins Reservoir. Head past the reservoir and upto the crossroads with the pub. Turn left!

Walk along the road to the T junction and take the path directly opposite past Fir Tree to meet the next road at Plane Tree. Turn right and go past the Champion Dog Hotel before a path to the left cuts the corner onto Church Lane oppoite the entrance to the Ashes.

Breifly go north west along Church Lane before taking the track up to Fell Side Farm. The path continues through the farm to Crombleholme Fold and Beacon Fell.

After turning left along the lane select the path to the right opposite the next minor road. This footpath leads across to the start of Hobbs Lane and takes you up to Butt Hill from where another path goes over to Infield House and Cobble Hey to Landskill Farm.

From here select the path into Cader Vale to cross the River Calder by the mill and take the footpath on the right to Kelbrick Farm. Continue across the minor road and turn right at the next junction heading towards Bank Farm but turn left before along a green lane until you meet yet another minor road to turn left again.

Just beyond the cattle grid the way leaves the road and heads for Fell End before returning to and crossing the small road a little further on. The path is now traversing albeit at low level Grizedale Fell with the Aqueduct clearly marked on the map.

The way out of Dolphinholme is a reverse of the way in over the same bridge but instead of going along the footpath the route now continues along Wagon Lane to the lane down to Dolphinholme House. The lane is followed for a short distance before taking the path straight on as the lane turns left.

Over a series of fields the walk eventually enters Mark Holme Wood to then cross the river via the Long Bridge and into the Long Wood. Emerging quickly from the trees the path keeps to the edge before breaking north to Lentworth Hall

take the path opposite the lane to Brook House and Meeting House Farm to go through Lower Moor Head and Lee Tenement before turning right past Westfield House and up to the Jubilee Tower

The tower was built in 1887 for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria by James Harrison.

From here its straight to the top of Grit Fell (468m) passing the walks' half way point on the way up

Cross the beck again and go left up to and across the Lancaster Canal. Join its west bank and follow it past the village of Crooklands, past Oldhall Bridge, past Mattinson's Bridge, past Field End Bridge before finally arriving at the A590 trunk road. Take the minor road heading north to Sedgewick.

From Sedgewick the path continues to follow the route of the old canal although the canal itself has long gone. It even goes under canal bridges that have been stranded in time and now find themselves stuck in the middle of fields with nothing to do!

Cross the River Kent at Hawes Bridge and continue along its west bank into Kendal

The walk continues to follow the River Kent's west bank out of Kendal all the way to Burnside. In the centre of the village the route turns right along Hall Road crossing the river and passing a large mill complex on the right. Just outside the village the Thirlmere Way joins the Dales Way to head towards Windermere and the Lakes skirting past Staveley

on the way.

Just before Windermere the Dales Way departs south whilst the Thirlmere Way heads north along a bridleway that takes you into Windermere via a housing running along the railway line. If you've crossed the track you've gone to far. You should end up at the Railway Station

and Tourist Information.

Across from the Tourist Information a footpath leads north again. At each footpath junction take the right turn heading upwards towards the view at Orrest Head. Continuing north the path reaches a minor road. Turn right towards Near Orrest and just before this small hamlet go left heading towards Far Orrest and Allen Knott.

Take the major minor road down to the A592, go right a short distance before a path off to the left takes you to Trout Beck's Town End.

Robin Lane to High Skelghyll and on into Skelghyll Wood and Jenkin Crag before descending into Ambleside

The A591 is the route north out of Ambleside before picking up a path on the right just beyond Scandale Bridge that takes you through Rydal Park to Rydal Hall. Don't take the path up to Rydal Mount, unless of course you want to, but head for White Moss Common and down past Dove Cottage into Grasmere's Town End. The Grasmere Skyline Classic Walk is crossed on White Moss Common.

Easedale Road taken out again past Goody Bridge before turning right along a minor road past the

at Thorny How. At the T junction turn right over Low Mill Bridge to Mill Bridge and take the footpath directly opposite up to Grizdale Hause and Grizedale Tarn.

Descend from Grizedale Tarn via a path following and to the north of Raise Beck to the main road before turning right along a permissable path running northwards parrllel to the road. This path is followed through the forestry right to the end where it emerges at two car parks on either side of the road.

Cross the road at this point and follow the bank of Thirlmere Reservoir all the way to the dam at the northern end and the end of the Thirlmere Way.