My birthday ended up being elongated over a few days. We had cycled to Knott End and Morecambe with Stockport Community Cycling Club on Saturday and Sunday. Then, Sarah and I took a short break in Ambleside.

On Monday we decided to go for a walk.

So, starting from Miller Bridge car park, we headed over to Market cross in central Ambleside.

From the Market Cross in Ambleside, we follow the A591 towards Windermere, out of the town along Lake Road. After a short while we turned off into Old Lake Road.

We took another turning signposted to to ‘Jenkins Crag, Skelghyll and Troutbeck’.

Soon we had our first fine views out over Lake Windermere.

We followed path through Skelghyll Woods.

And past Jenkins Crag.

Continuing to follow the path, we reached High Skelghyll farm then headed on towards Troutbeck.

We got a little confused with directions at the brook (as it seems were a couple of other groups also looking at their maps intensely). Eventually, we realised just across the bridge, the path turned left, through a gate, and went up the hill.

At the end of the path we turned onto Robin Lane.

This took us into Troutbeck.

We walked through the village.

Then turned left and headed up an ancient track called Nanny Lane towards Wansfell.  

This was a long and steep track, and with Sarah having back trouble it was quite a challenge

Unfortunately, we missed a turn and kept climbing up the road farther than we needed to.

Eventually, we retraced our steps and took the correct turn.

While we thought Nanny Lane was steep, the path up Wansfell Pike was even steeper.

That said, the views from the top were fantastic and worth the climb!

There were some superb views over Ambleside and the surrounding fells.

From the summit we took the steep path down to Ambleside. This was even sharper than the climb up to the top! Thankfully, there were steps all the way.

I am, however, rubbish going downhill, so took things very carefully.

Towards the bottom we met the road followed the footpath back to the centre of Ambleside.

We had walked over 8 miles by the time we returned. This had been a fine walk which had both really enjoyed.

You can view our Ambleside walk route below: