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This is a longer walk, a stunning combination of riverside and fellside territory. There is one awkward scramble, only for the fit, but it can be avoided - the rest of the walk is straightforward.

Turn left outside the Horse and Farrier and go down the road at the back of the Salutation Inn, with Wilson’s plant hire depot on your left. Just opposite Wilson’s is narrow “cut” which brings you to the A66. Cross the main road with care using the “refuge” provided, and go down the lane opposite.

On your left is the Threlkeld Sports Pavilion and newly extended cricket field (Threlkeld is a very active cricketing scene in the summer).

Continue along this lane until you reach the bridge over the river. Do not cross the bridge, instead turn left immediately before it along a track alongside the River Glenderamackin.

Follow the path along the river bank. All kinds of wildlife can be seen here. Keep on this riverside path beyond the road bridge leading to Keswick Golf Club (the golf course is on the other side of the river for part of this walk). Go across a little bridge with gates on. Continue along the riverside path until it turns left to a kissing gate onto a tarmac road.

Turn right along this tarmac road (ahead of you is the hamlet of Guardhouse). After a few yards you will see a footpath sign indicating two paths - Stoneraise (right) and Scales (left). Both paths lead to the same place, but the left path is a bog when it is wet. If dry go through the white five-barred gate and head east (the path is unclear) until you can go left through a metal gate where the track is clearer.

Follow the track until you reach a post with two yellow circles. Head towards Blencathra and the A66, crossing a little beck. Once you have crossed the field to a big wooden gate and stile, you can see a big tree at the crossroads of four fields - head for it! Pass this tree and follow the track to face the gate in the corner. Go over the stile to a metal gate and head up the hill to another stile beside a metal gate to reach the A66 at Scales

Cross the A66 here with care. You will see the White Horse pub to your right. This is well worth a visit for a meal or a drink. But your walk turns left along the tarmac foot/cycle path for a short distance to Scales Green. Turn to the right between the two houses, and head up the track (don’t go through the metal gate on your left) to a kissing gate. Go through this gate and turn left.

Follow the track with the wall on your left. Before long you will reach Scaley Beck. This is the tricky bit - you have to clamber down over some rocks to the beck, and back up again on the other side. This is manageable without much difficulty, but needs hands as well as feet, and is slippery in wet or icy weather, so be careful or avoid it (see below) if in doubt.

Once you have reached the track on the other side of Scaley Beck, follow it for about a mile until you reach a beck with a small dam. Cross the stream and turn left through a gate. Walk down through a wood by the beck. Go through a gate into the farmyard of Gategill Farm. Turn right for a few yards, then follow the farm track to the left of the wall, with a bungalow and a model of a fox a few yards down it on your left. This track goes downhill to a tarmac road. Turn right here into the village.

To avoid the awkward bit at Scaley Beck, simply follow the cycle path from Scales Green back into the village. The first part alongside the A66 is not very pleasant, but it later leaves the main road and follows the old tarmac road into Threlkeld.

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This is a short but sweet walk in the village, good for quickly blowing away the cobwebs, or to take a look at some of the “sights”. It takes about 20 minutes of steady walking, a bit more if you look at some of the points of interest.

Turn left outside the Salutation/right outside the Horse and Farrier. Cross over the beck (on the right just before the bridge is Bill Cowper’s paper shop). Immediately over the bridge, turn right. Just past the cottages on your left, fork right by some huts to take a path which follows the side of the beck - this is Kilnhow Beck, and the area through which you walk here is called Kiln How.

The Parish Council has promoted a lot of conservation work here in recent years. On your left you will see an outdoor classroom overlooking the beck. Keep the beck on your right, ignore a small footbridge on your right and keep going. The track is quite clear, it crosses the beck twice by small footbridges, and emerges at a car park known locally as the Dickney.

If you want, you can extend the walk a bit here by going up the track beyond the top of the car park, beside the beck (now a series of waterfalls).

Otherwise turn left down the road (Blease Road) towards the village. On your left is Threlkeld Primary School. The building was erected in 1849, to replace a former school almost opposite, now a house (The Old Schoolhouse). It is a thriving, popular and well respected school, attended by children from Threlkeld, Threlkeld Quarry and beyond.

Where Blease Road joins the main road through the village, turn left towards the pubs.

However, before turning left, walk a few yards along the road to the right. Here you will see the Threlkeld Public Room, our village hall, opened in 1901 and still the centre of a lot of village life. In the summer, the Public Room Committee provide a service of light refreshments (mainly home baked produce) at weekends and Bank Holidays. Behind the Public Room is a car park which can be used by visitors, and also public toilets.

Going down the road back towards the pubs, you pass St Mary’s Church on your right. The present building dates from 1777, on the site of a previous church. It is usually open, and is well worth a visit. The graveyard contains the Huntsman’s Memorial, just inside the gate nearest the pubs; this commemorates several famous members of the fox hunting community of years gone by. The graveyard is also noted for a wonderful display of snowdrops, so don’t miss this in January and February.

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This is a gentle walk, mainly beside the River Glenderamackin, with attractive panoramic surroundings. It takes about half an hour at a steady pace.

Turn left outside the Horse and Farrier and go down the road at the back of the Salutation Inn, with Wilson’s plant hire depot on your left. Just opposite Wilson’s is narrow “cut” which brings you to the A66. Cross the main road with care using the “refuge” provided, and go down the lane opposite.

On your left is the Threlkeld Sports Pavilion and newly extended cricket field (Threlkeld is a very active cricketing scene in the summer).

Continue along this lane until you reach the bridge over the river. Do not cross the bridge, instead turn left immediately before it along a track alongside the river. This is the River Glenderamackin.

The precise origins of the river’s name are unknown (it is probably Celtic), but locals ask what else would you call a river which has already flowed north, east and south before settling on its westerly journey to join St John’s Beck and become the River Greta, Keswick’s river.

Follow the path along the river bank. All kinds of wildlife can be seen here. On your left is a house, Bridgend, in the middle of a field. This house is known locally as Noah’s Ark, because in wet weather (yes, this is known to occur in Threlkeld), the house is completely surrounded by flood water.

The panorama of Blencathra’s ridges and gills dominate the view to your left. To your right the rounded crest of Clough Head is prominent, with Threlkeld Knotts nestling below it. The whole valley here was carved out by a huge Ice Age glacier which travelled along the dale only 8000 years before you.

When you reach another bridge, turn left along the tarmac track (over the bridge is Keswick Golf Club). Follow this past Threlkeld Hall Farm until you reach the A66.

Cross the A66 with care. Directly opposite through a gate is a track. Follow this until you reach a narrow tarmac road - this used to be the main road before the modern A66 was built. Turn left along this road and follow it down into the village.

This walk can be profitably extended (an additional half hour or so). At the bridge by the Golf Club, instead of turning left, carry on along the riverside track. This is a very pleasant section, with plenty of possible picnic spots. On the right is the golf course, on your left the fields of Threlkeld Hall Farm.

When you reach a tarmac road and bridge (with the small settlement of Guardhouse just beyond the bridge), turn left and follow the road up to the A66. Cross the main road very carefully and walk to your left along the cycle track on the far side. After a few metres, the cycle track leaves the A66 and joins the old road into Threlkeld described above.

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This is a favourite walk for local people - up the fellside through the woods by a beck, along the fell wall under Blencathra, with beautiful views across to Clough Head, down and back through fields. It takes 40 minutes of steady walking, more if you stop to admire the views.

Turn right outside the Horse and Farrier/left outside the Salutation. Walk through the village towards Keswick, passing St Mary’s Church; then turn right up Blease Road (signposted to the Blencathra Centre).

Walk up Blease Road. Threlkeld School is on the right hand side. About three hundred metres up Blease Road there is a car park on the right. Take the path leaving the top of the car park.

This is an attractive footpath through a small wood, beside a series of waterfalls. It is quite steep in places, but there are some wooden steps and a footbridge where you have to cross the beck.

At the top of this woodland path, go through the gate by a stone sheepfold. Turn right (east) through a five-barred gate. The path runs along the fellside, just above the fell wall, crossing a couple of stiles. To your left are the gills and ridges of Blencathra, with views right up to the summit. To your right you look down on the village and across the Glenderamackin Valley to Threlkeld Quarry and Clough Head.

When the path goes through a gate and drops to cross a beck beside a small dam, stop. The path ahead of you continues along the fell wall; also a path zig-zags up the ridge end towards Halls Fell and eventually the summit of Blencathra. A short distance to your left, beside the beck, are the ruins of some mine buildings. This small valley is the site of Threlkeld’s once lucrative lead and zinc mining industry.

Do not cross the beck. Turn right through a gate and drop down through a wood above the beck, which is on your left - again some waterfalls. At the bottom go through a gate into the farmyard of Gategill Farm. Over to your left you will see the home of the Blencathra Foxhounds.

After going through the gate into the farmyard, turn right along a track for a few yards, then right again with a farm cottage and barn on your left. Go through a gate into the field, and keep left by the hedge to where a yellow arrow points through a five-barred gate. Head towards the next field over a stone wall stile, through a field past a big tree stump and a barn. Follow the ditch downhill and over another wall stile, then cross another stile.

Now head diagonally across the field towards a group of houses. The path becomes more distinct at the far side of this field, and drops down to a gate and small footbridge across the stream - Kilnhow Beck. Over the footbridge, turn left and follow the path with the beck on your left. In recent years the Parish Council has promoted nature conservation and education measures in this area; on your right you will see an outdoor classroom. The path leads to the village just by the pubs.

The path from Gategill Farm to Kiln How can be boggy in wet weather, which has been known to occur in Threlkeld occasionally. To avoid this, after the gate into the farmyard at the bottom of the track through the woods, turn right for a few yards, then follow the farm track to the left of the wall, with a bungalow and a model of a fox a few yards down it on your left. This track goes down hill to a tarmac road. Turn right here and this heads into the village.

Near this hut, turn right off the railway track through a gate, and then right again after a few metres and another gate. Follow the rough road up the hill to where the road joins a more substantial tarmac road at the hamlet of Wescoe. (The poet W H Auden stayed here in the 1920’s and 30’s - his family had a holiday home at Far Wescoe, a cottage about two hundred metres to the left of the road junction).

Almost opposite the top of the rough road up which you have come is a gate. Go through this along a signposted footpath through fields, across a few stiles and through some gates, passing the large house Ings (former home of Colin Welland, film actor, writer and director) on your right. Beyond Ings the path is reasonably distinct, with several stiles and gates. It emerges through a gate at some cottages (Town Head). Turn right down the hill past Threlkeld School on your left. At the bottom of the hill turn left into the village, past St Mary’s Church to the two pubs.

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This is a longish walk, two and a quarter hours or so, but is very easy throughout, with only one straightforward uphill section. It takes in a variety of scenery through woods, part of the old Penrith-Keswick Railway track and footpaths across some open fields.

Turn left outside the Horse and Farrier and go down the road at the back of the Salutation Inn, with Wilson’s plant hire depot on your left. Just opposite Wilson’s is narrow “cut” which brings you to the A66. Cross the main road with care using the “refuge” provided, and go down the lane opposite.

On your left is the Threlkeld Sports Pavilion and newly extended cricket field. Continue along this lane, cross the river at Millbridge, and keep going until the road crosses a small bridge over the former railway track. Leave the lane just before this bridge by going through a gate on your right onto the old railway track.

Turn right and follow the railway track. This is the route of the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway which was opened for mineral traffic in November 1864, and for passenger traffic in January 1865. It was closed in March 1972.

Along this section of the track, there are views to your right across to Blencathra. On your left is a retaining wall above which is Threlkeld Quarry. The large granite quarry is now closed. It is the site of a Quarry and Mining Museum. A flight of steps through the retaining wall (look carefully for this) goes to the Quarry if you wish to visit the Museum.

The railway track path goes through what is left of the old Threlkeld Station, crosses the B5322 road via a couple of gates, and crosses the Glenderamackin on a small viaduct. When you reach a tarmac road, turn left over the river at Threlkeld Bridge (this is where St John’s Beck and the Glenderamackin join to become the River Greta), and immediately turn right onto the continuation of the footpath through some woods. After a short distance this joins the main Threlkeld-Keswick railway footpath. (On your right here you may well spot red squirrels).

Walk left along the footpath through pleasant woodlands with the river on your right (look out for herons), across bridges and through a tunnel. After about a mile you emerge from the woodland with a platelayer’s hut on you left. This is a nice place to take a break before tackling the hill up to Wescoe. There is a seat in the sunshine or under shelter.

Near this hut, turn right off the railway track through a gate, and then right again after a few metres and another gate. Follow the rough road up the hill to where the road joins a more substantial tarmac road at the hamlet of Wescoe. (The poet W H Auden stayed here in the 1920’s and 30’s - his family had a holiday home at Far Wescoe, a cottage about two hundred metres to the left of the road junction).

Almost opposite the top of the rough road up which you have come is a gate. Go through this along a signposted footpath through fields, across a few stiles and through some gates, passing the large house Ings (former home of Colin Welland, film actor, writer and director) on your right. Beyond Ings the path is reasonably distinct, with several stiles and gates. It emerges through a gate at some cottages (Town Head). Turn right down the hill past Threlkeld School on your left. At the bottom of the hill turn left into the village, past St Mary’s Church to the two pubs.

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This is an easy stroll, taking about 40 minutes, with long views down St John’s in the Vale, Catbells and Derwentwater prominent in the west. It is mainly on tracks through woods and fields, with sections on tarmac road.

Turn right outside the Horse and Farrier/left outside the Salutation. Walk through the village towards Keswick, passing St Mary’s Church; then turn right up Blease Road (signposted to the Blencathra Centre).

Walk up Blease Road. Threlkeld School is on the right hand side. About three hundred metres up Blease Road there is a car park on the right. Take the path leaving the top of the car park.

This is an attractive footpath through a small wood, beside a series of waterfalls. It is quite steep in places, but there are some wooden steps and a footbridge where you have to cross the beck.

At the top of this woodland path, go through the gate by a stone sheepfold. Turn left (west), crossing the beck, and make your way along a path on the top side of the fell wall above Blease Farm and High Row Farm (behind some trees).

Stick close to the wall on your left when you go through a gate above Blease Farm; don’t be tempted by a distinct track going up to your right (this goes up Blease Fell and Blencathra). There are glorious views (weather permitting) to the south and the west. Follow the wall until you reach the point where it drops down the hill to your left and the path drops down to meet the tarmac road by a gate.

Go left along the road for about 150 metres. Immediately before you reach the row of cottages on your left, turn right to follow a footpath sign into the field. This footpath sign is not immediately visible from the road but if you go to the wall on the right hand side of the road just before the cottages, you will see it.

(An alternative shorter option at this point, especially when it is wet, is simply to carry on down the road back into the village).

Make your way down along an intermittent path, crossing a stile and keeping to the right of small group of trees, until you reach the back of a large house (Ings). There is a path, not very distinct, which is parallel to the fence at the back of the house.

Turn left (east) along this unsigned path and go through the gate in the corner of the field. This path continues across the fields, with several stiles and gates, until you reach a gate by some cottages (Town Head). Go through the gate and few yards further brings you back to Blease Road just below the car park.

Turn right down Blease Road and back into Threlkeld village.

A slightly longer alternative when reaching Ings is to pass through the gate in the fence at the back of the house and continue straight on down the drive/track for about two hundred metres. This comes out onto a road. Turn left down this road, past a large old farm building on the right (The Riddings). This joins the main road through the village at the Keswick end, so just walk back to where you started from.