Levken two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Levken here.

This was a lovely route, but there is a small diversion needed, so I have included a map of the suggested route in with the pictures. Bearing in mind that this diversion is very small, I would regard the route as being acceptable as part of the Slow Ways network.
After walking through the lower part of the pretty village of Levens, the route goes along the bottom of the wooded slope of Brigsteer Park, with views across the marshes towards Whitbarrow and the River Kent estuary. The path can be a bit muddy. On leaving the wood through a gate, follow the edge of the field with the woods on your right along an obvious rising path (see my map). At Parkend Lane follow the footpath signs up to Wells Garth. Just after the stream and gate, the most straightforward path is to the right ie south east. This route is also suggested by Simoninthelakes (in reverse). It is a bit steep and rubbly but will soon bring you to the very pleasant wooded and then moss-walled lane. A footpath off the next farm track leads into the gorgeous Honeybee Wood which is full of beech trees. Footpath signs at Barrowfield Farm direct you around the buildings and up through the field to more woods and the steep path climbing up Scout Scar. Even on a dull day the views from the top are phenomenal!
At the cairn, the route heads away from the scar across the moorland where there is a lot of exposed limestone. There are great views over Kendal during the gradual descent. Eventually a field is reached via a kissing gate. An obvious path leads across it to a pinch stile, and onto the quiet road that heads over the A591 into Kendal. The route down footpaths, alleys, and staircases is well plotted and I found it easy to follow in this direction. However, finding the correct lane in the opposite direction, from Kendal, might be tricky. It is called Entry Lane and is between WH Smith's and Holland & Barrett's, almost opposite Market Place and the Great War statue.

A pleasant walk from Kendal to Levens, but with a couple of curiosities in the route.

The departure from Kendal winds its way through some of the oldest parts of the town, and it is easy to mistake the cross streets from one lane to another as they are often just steps. It would be frustrating to miss the right one and end up in a cul-de-sac, so perhaps it would be advisable to stick to the main streets as far as Brigsteer Road.

The first real curiosity is the descent from the Cairn at 486906, where the obvious route to Levens is to turn left and head out via Helsington church. However, LevKen2 doubles back and descends steeply to the farm at Barrowfield, adding slightly to the distance and a little more than that to the duration.

The next difficulty is the sharp right turn at Wells Garth 486889. There is no indication that a public right of way exists down the steps to the side of this house, from the top it appears to go onto a terrace behind the house. Discretion got the better of me, so I skirted off-route round the house by the sharp right turn at 486888. It’s not clear from the other side either.

The right of way takes you through the yard of Park End Farm, where they have made great efforts to steer walkers round the outside - but he signs are only visible fro the road so they don’t work in this direction. The giant zig zag of the right of way across the next field is a bit of a local joke, just cross the field to the gate!

For the return I took the northerly footpath out of Levens at 487871, then the bridleway north east from the junction at 489875 to pass Helsington church and cross Brigsteer Road at 487893. The path is then pretty straight back to the Cairn. About a mile or so shorter, and much easier to navigate.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.