Troutbeck valley - the first car-free walk!
A moderate walk (mountain (above 600m)) in national park Lake District starting and finishing in Cumbria, England, about 18.90km (11.74 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 7:30h. It is unsuitable for families with children, prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent
629m (2063ft)
Descent
694m (2276ft)
Max. Elevation
760m (2493ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss
1323m (4339ft)
Start
Windermere train station
End
Ambleside bus stop
Distance
18.90km
(11.74mi)
(11.74mi)
Duration
~7:30h
Difficulty
Moderate
This valley walk in the Lake District was where the idea for Car Free Walks came from! It's a long walk in, and I was on my own, so plenty of time to think, and I had even remembered a notebook! Enjoy one of the Lakes' peaceful, scenic valleys and practise your wild camping skills in this quiet spot (not a description that can be applied to all of the Lake District!)
Walk Functions
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- $walk->POI array(0)
Waypoints
OS Grid SD414987
Start at Windermere, where trains and buses are regular. This walk starts opposite the train station, but buses call here too.
OS Grid SD414994
From the station, head for the footpath next to the hotel (across the main road). Follow the path up through woodland until you reach Orrest Head, a small summit with good views of your route ahead.
About 0.71 km (~0.44 miles) from 
OS Grid NY415011
Follow the path down from Orrest Head through farmland to Allen Knott, another small viewpoint owned by the National Trust.
About 1.70 km (~1.06 miles) from 
OS Grid NY426064
Follow the bridleway along Longmire Road (a track). This will take you to the Limefitt Park campsite, from where you can join the main path into Troutbeck.
About 5.43 km (~3.37 miles) from 
OS Grid NY428082
Follow the bridleway past Troutbeck Park. Find a suitable isolated spot to wild camp and enjoy the peace and quiet. Remember, there is no legal right to wild camp in the UK; you should ask the landowner's (the National Trust in this case).
About 1.79 km (~1.11 miles) from 
OS Grid NY418099
Wake up early to enjoy the solitude of the Lakes at dawn. Follow the path at the end of the valley, alongside the stream, up to Stony Cove Pike.
About 2.06 km (~1.28 miles) from 
OS Grid NY401081
Follow the footpath across Caudale Moor, and pick up the path heading in a southwesterly direction, going downhill. You will pass St Raven's Edge and end up at the Kirkstone Pass Inn, a famous Lakeland pub.
About 2.46 km (~1.53 miles) from 
AmblesideOS Grid NY377044
From the pub (if you can tear yourself away) take the smaller, steep Kirkstone road. You will soon see a footpath on the left hand side of the road. You can follow this all the way into Ambleside, passing the spectacular Stockghyll Force waterfalls on the way.
About 4.48 km (~2.78 miles) from 
3 comments... join the discussion!
Timwoods
Hi Maduka, yes a day would be enough. essentially, you can walk as far up the valley as you wanted to, then turn back the other side, so you could do a shorter version of this route, i.e. get as far as the Tongue, then head off for Ambleside.
Maduka
I am planning to do a walking trip on this route. Do you think a full day would be enough for complete it? Thanks in advance
GaryShipp
A beautiful area to explore and even better that you can get there without using a car!