Cathedral Cavern from Tilberthwaite

This is a circular route of 3.8 miles (about 6.1 km), and that figure is the full circuit back to the Tilberthwaite car park where you started. Expect around 200 m of ascent and about 3 hours if you actually go into the workings and stop to look around. You could move faster, but there is little point.

• Start at the Low Tilberthwaite car park and follow the road and track past Tilberthwaite Farm.
• Continue on the bridleway through old quarry ground, with slate spoil and abandoned workings on either side.
• Take the signed quarry approach, with the option of the adit and tunnel section, to reach Cathedral Quarry.
• Explore the main chamber and the linked workings.
• Exit toward Little Langdale and cross at Slater's Bridge.
• Climb the return path past the old farm and quarry buildings, back through Tilberthwaite Farm to the car park.

Call it moderate, about 4/10. The distance is small, but the climbing is real, the paths are rocky and uneven, there are gates and stiles, and the approaches around the workings can be slick. The outward leg is the easy part, mostly a relatively flat surfaced and rough track through woodland and spoil. The cave approach and the higher return path are rougher and often wet. This is not a smooth or accessible trail.

• Unprotected sheer drops and deep water inside the disused workings.
• Possible rockfall, loose footing and dark tunnels.
• Bring a torch or headtorch: it is needed for the longer adit and useful in the main tunnel.
• Follow the on-site signs, keep to the main path, and keep children close.
• Mobile coverage is unreliable, and there is no dependable water or shelter on the route.

There is no parking at the quarry itself. Use the Low Tilberthwaite and Tilberthwaite Ghyll car parks at NY 306010, LA21 8DG, reached on a narrow single-track road off the A593 between Ambleside and Coniston. The National Trust lot is small and the neighbouring national park lot is larger. Park only in marked spaces and never block passing places, gateways, junctions, verges, farm access or emergency access. There are no toilets, no cafe and no bins at either the car parks or the quarry, so carry food, water and your rubbish.

Ordinary dogs are fine on the public route, but this is working farmland and open grazing. Keep dogs on a lead at all times and under close control near livestock, wildlife, gates, the farm and the quarry edges. Having a dog with you is not a reason to head into the unsafe tunnels.