The second deviation is the off road section at Witherslack Scar (part of LakLev2 but I omitted when I walked LakLev3)....

Jenny Sanderson

I loved the initial, newly-constructed track from Lakeside to Newby Bridge. The busy road crossing of the A590 (on LakLev Three) is avoided on this route. Instead, apart from about 50 metres, the short section of main road from Newby Bridge was paved or had a wide verge. Then there is another quiet road, before the route passes through farms but is, initially, a little tricky to find....

Mary Oz

In particular, I loved the initial, newly-constructed track from Lakeside to Newby Bridge. Be aware that there are no facilities at all (apart from the campsite and a holiday let cottage in Witherslack) between Newby Bridge (10% of the way) and the Derby Arms (at 69% of the way). The quiet roads through Witherslack and on past the Derby Arms were picturesque and easy, but there was a constant drone from the A590 nearby....

Mary Oz

See the route Overview for my experiences when walking this route....

Jenny Sanderson

I made some alterations to straighten and simplify the route. It is a long route with a lot of elevation change, so for some people conserving energy and minimising the need for navigation may be preferred. The modified route took me 6 hours and I would give that 4 stars.. I walked this route on a calm, overcast day in October and enjoyed it. The highlights for me were the view looking back over Lake Windermere on the long climb to 200m elevation, and the contrasting woodland and grazed fell sections over the tops.....

Jenny Sanderson

Or you can continue to stay high, and take in the glorious views from Helsington Church then follow the edge of Scout Scar in its entirety. Once over the bridge and onto Kendal Fell with its golf course, it is usual and perfectly acceptable to deviate slightly off the footpath to take in your third summit of the day, and enjoy some more glorious views from the perfectly positioned bench - another of my favourite places....

Alison Cairns

Continue to follow the route to Kendal, if time permits it's worth taking a small detour on Crunswick Fell up to the Cairn for more excellent views of the Lakeland Fells....

Chris Doyle

I left Crosthwaite downhill on a quiet road before heading along a farm track. There was a short bit more road uphill through trees out of Brigsteer, before I turned off onto a gravelled track between the trees. Use the footpath from the 700 cycle route mark to Lawrence House Farm, not the more southerly footpath close to the Slow Way Place because that involves walking along some very fast, busy A6 with no pavement. I quite enjoyed this route, particularly south of Brigsteer, but the road section was tedious....

Mary Oz

I wasted a lot of time trying to walk through an uncomfortable field at Nab's Hill, having started from Crosthwaite, when I should have been going along a narrow enclosed lane. Also nearer Levens, the route on the ground is not the same as the OS marked Right of Way. I had been through that section before, otherwise I might have wasted time there too....

Mary Oz

On leaving the wood through a gate follow the edge of the field with the woods on your left along an obvious rising path. At Parkend Lane follow the footpath signs up to Wells Garth. 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....

Mary Oz

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. The path leads onto a long section of easy walking across open, grassy sheep pasture, and around the corner into a field which leads to a footbridge over the busy A591 Kendal Bypass. There are good views of Kendal from the golf course, but I found the footpath signposting to be unclear, and it seemed a lot easier to descend through Serpentine Wood, than try to find the path shown on the map....

Mary Oz

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. 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)....

Mary Oz

Here the Lancaster Canal Trail is joined which leads all the way into Kendal....

Mary Oz

Leaving Grange station the route follows the pavement of the main road, however the first quarter of a mile can be walked along the prom, as there is a footbridge over the railway to meet the pavement. Soon the route turns onto the first of many quiet roads with no pavement. Then there is another quiet road, before the route passes through farms but is, initially, a little tricky to find....

Mary Oz

I would give a 5* rating for the central 5 miles, from Hazelslack to Mabbin Hall, but the start and finish sections are not quite so good. Levens Hall, with its spectacular topiary, is worth a visit, but the rest of the walk into Levens village is a bit tedious. There are some bus stops in Levens village, but the buses run only a few times a week, at around 2pm. The best option for buses is to head back to Levens Hall where the hourly 555 service stops....

Mary Oz

Discretion got the better of me, so I skirted off-route round the house by the sharp right turn at 486888. 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!...

simoninthelakes

You will continue to walk through Dallas deer park, then taking very quiet country lanes to reach Levens Hall which also has a deer park. The final section uses footpaths but is close to a very busy road just before you reach the village of Levens....

JanMet