The Cottage walks

1. Devoke Water (25 mins drive) - You can walk around the tarn (2 hrs) or just go to the lake and back (25 mins each way). A fabulous deserted spot. Sometime there are sheep on the fells by the bridle way. Visit the Crosby Cake Cupboard a bit further along the road for tea and cake ... literally in the middle of nowhere! Great spot for swimming. 

https://where2walk.co.uk/walk/devoke-water/ 

2. Hodbarrow reservoir (15 mins drive) - circular walk you pass a great cafe called HerdwickS....very dog friendly and nice views from the outdoor terrace (1.5 hrs). No sheep.

http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/routeslinkswalks/hodbarrow-lakes-nature-reserve-walking-route

3. Walks around Bootle station (from the door) on the England Coastal Path - You can walk in either direction from the bottom of the drive utilising the new England Coastal Path. Going south you can do a 1.5 to 3 hour loop taking in Bootle station village and the beach (Tarn point) and going down to Annaside for the longer walk. At Tarn Point there is a new serve yourself refreshment hut (Tarn Bay Treats, has a Facebook page), with hot drinks, ice cream and homemade cake which is a 20 minutes walk each way from the cottage, and which pass on the loop walk. You can also now walk the coastal path all the way to Silecroft and get the train back or even walk back if you want to! There is a little cafe at Silecroft beach. There are a couple of places where you will need to put your dog on a lead, but it is mainly livestock free.

https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/england-coast-path-north-west/

Please note that there are some restrictions on the walk at the moment and if you are planning to do this walk you will need to walk on the beach for a few hundred metres if you have a dog to avoid a field of calves. I can point this out so please ask.

It's also possible to do a longer walk heading north up the beach in front of Eskmeols, through the nature reserve and back along the road behind Eskmeols....about 3 hours, no sheep apart from one farmers field.

4.Walks around Eskdale (20 to 30 mins drive, depending on where you start) - My favourite walk here is to park near Boot, either at Dalegarth station or the nearby free Trough House car park and walk further up the valley along the Esk river, up to Doctor Bridge and back on the other side. Do visit St Catherine's Church and the stepping stones! Also, Stanley Ghyll with Dalegarth waterfall (same place to park) is lovely and you can walk up through the Ghyll to the new viewing platform at the top and then out to the bridle way and come back down. Another nice walk in Eskdale is Giggle Alley. See also the Ravenglass link below for more walks in Eskdale. Lots of good tea and food stops. There are 5 pubs in Eskdale, and they are all good: the Bowerhouse Inn, Brook House Inn, Boot Inn, The George and the Woolpack. My favourites are the Bowerhouse and Boot Inns. There is also Woodlands tea room at Santon Bridge (amazing afternoon tea, pre book). Also lots of spots for swimming in the Esk as well. https://eskdale.info/brag/ 

5. Nether Wasdale (25 mins drive) (bottom of the lake, with the iconic view) -Fab views of Wasdale. Mainly sheep free, just a couple of fields. 1 to 3 hours depending on route. Of course, when in Wasdale, please do take a drive up the valley along the lake to Wasdale head and have a walk around there too and visit the iconic Wasdale Head Inn. This is also the start of the walk up Scafell Pike (highest mountain in England and is the big mountain you can see in front of the cottage!) Another opportunity to visit Woodlands on way home or the new Sawmill Café which is also great. There are two pubs in Nether Wasdale.

https://www.andrewswalks.co.uk/nether-wasdale-2.html

6.Irton Pike (20 mins drive) - Another huge favourite with fab views of Wasdale, no sheep apart from on the open land at the top but do go there to see the view. Follow the path from the parking and to the now locked and blocked farm gate., but there is a stile (tricky with dogs as you have to lift then over). Once out into the open land walk to the left off the path, towards a pine tree for fabulous views of Wast Water. Afterwards retrace your steps, back over the stile and take the path along the inside of the fence til it turns left and takes you to the top of the Pike for more amazing views. It's 20/25 minutes up plus however long you want to admire the views on top and same way down. You can continue a much longer walk onto Whinrigg and do a loop back into Miterdale. It’s about 10 miles but a super walk. This is near Santon Bridge/ Woodlands tea room.

https://family-walks-pubs-lake-district.com/2016/09/04/irton-pike-near-santon-bridge/

7. Muncaster Fell (10 mins drive) - amazing walk which can be shortened by getting the train back. Circular route 4-5 hours, walking back along the south side, ending at the golf course. Occasional sheep. Park at the golf course or main castle car park.

http://www.stridingedge.net/walks/6778/

8. Strolls around Ravenglass/Muncaster (10 mins drive) - Walk to the Roman baths, up the Esk trail, along the golf course or just around the village and along the beach! Have lunch at the Ratty Arms. Have a drink at the Inn at Ravenglass at sunset. No sheep! You can also walk up a path and into the top of Muncaster Castle, out at the top entrance and back along the Esk trail. No need to pay, as this is a public right of way. You do have to pay to explore the grounds and gardens, but they are beautiful. There is a new ice cream place in Ravenglass and a lovely gallery /cafe. 

https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/plan-visit/things-to-do/walking/

9. Black Combe (10 mins drive to Witcham church or a few mins into the Village) - our nearest Wainwright, with both mountain and sea views. 3 to 4 hours up and down. You can actually walk this from Bootle village, too, or even from the cottage! But it's more like 4 plus hours. The easiest route is from Whicham Church. The link below is a circular route but many people just walk to the trig point and back. A few sheep about. 

http://www.happyhiker.co.uk/MyWalks/LakeDistrict/BlackCombe/Hiking%20Pages%20-%20Black%20Combe.htm

10. Walks around Dunnerdale and Ulpha (25/30 mins drive)

Do google this area as there are plenty of nice walks along the Duddon. The Ulpha Park walk is about 2.5 hours. Park on the Corney Fell road for this walk. Lots of great walks from Seathwaite and visit the Newfield Arms which is now run as a second pub to our local the Brown Cow, so, both have great food.

11. Gibson Spout, Bootle fell and Corney (5 mins drive)

In Bootle village, just take the road behind Bootle stores, so left off the A595 opposite the Chapel and drive to the end where there is a place to park. This is also the start of the walk up Black Combe from Bootle. Go through the gate and take the bridle way and explore. Gibson Spout is a little waterfall accessed by going through another gate about 200m further along on the right. A few sheep. 5 minutes drive from the cottage. Less than 1 hour walk. Can be made longer by walking all the way up to the Corney fell road and back. Fab views of the coast and Black Combe. If you do this walk then you can visit The Byre, our very own cafe in Bottle Village! Great scones and afternoon teas, but only allows dogs outside. 

12. Drigg to Seascale and back (20 mins drive)

Park at either end and walk in the dunes and along the beach. Don't forget to stop at Mawson's ice cream parlour for ice cream, coffee and cake.... homemade and delicious. No sheep apart from an occasional one sometimes in the dunes. About 45 minutes each way.

13. The Pepper Pot (Stainton Tower) Waberthwaite (10 mins to parking at Broadoak) - I recently did this walk with a friend who lives at Broad Oak, the start of the walk. About 1 to 1.5 hours up and down. it can be done on its own or combined into a bigger walk with Muncaster Fell:

https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/15394085.walk-birkby-fell-and-laal-ratty/

http://josweeney.net/muncaster-fell-and-stainton-tower/

14. Swinside stone circle (20 mins to parking place): Fab circular walk that I have recently done. Park by the bridge about 2 miles off the A595. 

http://www.stridingedge.net/walks/7310/

https://almostginger.com/swinside-stone-circle/

15. Miterdale from Eskdale Green (20 mins to parking) 

Park by Giggle Alley, near the shop on Eskdale Green Village. You can explore the forest there before taking a path along the valley with a vantage point before going up and over into the next valley of Miterdale. There is one high stile which requires you to lift a dog at the top. Return by walking along the valley and then another bridle way back to Eskdale. 2 to 2.5 hours. 

1.Ennerdale water circuit (40 mins drive) 7 miles and 3 hours. The pub at Ennerdale Bridge had a decent pint and Sunday lunch.https://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_83.html

2. Tarn Hows and Coniston (45minutes), various walks and no sheep. Tarn Hows is flat and about 1 hour, cows but no sheep. Bluebird cafe on the shore at Coniston us a must stop!https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston

3. Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater (50 mins to 1hr 15mins). All reachable easily from the cottage. Various routes can be found when googling! Best ones are Buttermere 4 miles and 2 hours and Rannerdale Knotts, but there are so many, like around Loweswater, also lovely. Love the Kirkstile Inn! Rannerdale - https://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_92.htmlButtermere - https://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_90.htmlLoweswater - https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/mileswithoutstiles/mws26

4. Around Loughrigg and Loughrigg Terrace - Two walks which are both gorgeous and have views of Grasmere. The circular walk is longer: Visit the Badger Bar for a pint and snack.https://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/cumbria/loughrigg-terracehttps://www.alltrails.com/trail/england/cumbria/loughrigg-fell-circular-walk  

5. St Bees Head....just over 30 minutes away. Great Ice Cream Place on the beach. This walk below is a longer walk from Whitehaven to St Bees, but you can just go up and down again from the beach at St Bees.https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buttermere-valley/trails/whitehaven-colourful-coastal-walk

Lots of other walks up big hills - nearby and further afieldNearby: Scafell Pike....in front of the house (5 -6 hrs), Middle Fell, also in Wasdale (3 hrs up and down)Whinrigg and Illgill Head and Miterdale (5-6 hours), Further away: Helvellyn and St Sunday Crag next to Ullswater, Haystacks, Rannerdale knots, Coniston Old Man, Great Gable, Fairfield Horseshoe (this walk is amazing but 11 miles). These are a few old favourites. There is a very big selection of walking books in the cottage for your use.Best also to take a map, there is also one in the cottage of this area (SW Lakes).

I can also give you a tel no. of a local walking guide, if helpful, please ask.