Day 6 - Tuesday 13 May 2014
Burneside to Bowness on Windermere (10.8 miles)
GPX File
Well here we were - our last day on The Dales Way. Breakfast was a curious affair but nicely cooked all the same. We set off on the shortest leg of the walk at about 0930 and hoped to be in Bowness around 1400. The weather was looking promising today although we were to get a bit of drizzle as we finished the walk.
We had to run the gauntlet of the A591 and the busy road back down to Burneside and we were soon back on The Dales Way and heading towards the small village of Bowston. The way follows the River Kent as far as Staveley and this is another delightful stretch of river walking and we saw hardly a soul.
We had to run the gauntlet of the A591 and the busy road back down to Burneside and we were soon back on The Dales Way and heading towards the small village of Bowston. The way follows the River Kent as far as Staveley and this is another delightful stretch of river walking and we saw hardly a soul.
We soon reached the bridge over the river at Bowston and headed for Cowan Head which, when you first see it looks decidedly out of place. This luxury residential development of 60 apartments and cottages was created on the site of an 18th century paper mill. The path then stays above the river and arrives in Staveley but leaves the village near Moss Side Farm and heads to New Hall and along quiet country lanes before leaving the road to head to Hag End.
Cowan Head
Up above the River Kent heading to Staveley
Just before Hag End is Crag House Farm and it was here that we encountered a path that was covered in manure. There was nowhere else to go therefore the 3 of us had to plough straight on through it - very nice! In the photo above the path on the left is where the offending putrid matter was.
A lovely view over the Lakeland Fells from near Grandsire - the Langdale Pikes can be seen just right of centre
Dark clouds are looming as we pass Hag End
Nearly there.........
All is quiet and serene at Matson Ground
The remaining mile or so of The Dales Way is easy walking and we passed between the Outlying Fells of Grandsire and School Knott and headed towards Cleabarrow and on to Matson Ground. We were joined on this part of the way by the chap we had seen at Conistone Pie on Day 2. We then reached the Dales Way bench just above Brantfell Road and duly completed this fantastic walk - and it had started to drizzle!! Photographs duly taken, we then made the short journey to our B&B at Fairfield House where we borrowed the hose to clean all the Crag House Farm cow shit off the 3 of us.
The Dales Way seat at journey's end.
Fudge looks decidedly unimpressed that the walk was over
Overnight Accommodation
Fairfield Guest House, Bowness - http://www.the-fairfield.co.uk
A very comfortable B&B that made a fuss of our dog, let us keep our car with them for 7 days and provided us with a very nice stay at the end of the walk. That night we drove over to Ambleside for a very nice evening meal at The White Lion.
A very comfortable B&B that made a fuss of our dog, let us keep our car with them for 7 days and provided us with a very nice stay at the end of the walk. That night we drove over to Ambleside for a very nice evening meal at The White Lion.
Day 6 Data
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Start
Finish
Cumulative Time
Cumulative Mileage
Time
Start
Finish
Cumulative Time
10.8 miles
88.8 miles
4 hrs 40m
0930
1410
38 hrs 20m
88.8 miles
4 hrs 40m
0930
1410
38 hrs 20m