Heughscar Hill from Pooley Bridge

This is a 10.3 km / 6.4 mile circular loop, and that figure covers the whole circuit rather than one direction. From Eusemere car park you walk through Pooley Bridge and over the bridge, then follow lanes and field paths near the River Eamont and past Barton Church Farm to the grounds of St Michael's Church at Barton, a solid historic stop early on. The way continues by Celleron and Winder Hall before climbing gently onto the open moorland on the Askham Fell side of Heughscar. The high track along the flank and the cairned ground near the top is the payoff, with Ullswater below and long views toward the Helvellyn range, the northern fells, the Eden Valley and the distant Pennines when the air is clear. The descent uses the western and southern flank and Roehead, returning through the village to the car park.

Rated moderate, with about 198 m of ascent and descent, a high point near 348 m and a low point around 150 m. Recorded moving time is close to 2 hours 45 minutes; allow around 3 hours for a realistic pace with stops. Most of the climbing is gradual and there is no scrambling. Underfoot you get a mix of tarmac lanes, farm and field paths, public footpaths and bridleways, stony unpaved track, and grassy or heathery moorland that holds water and turns muddy after rain. Boots with grip are worth having for the fell section.

The ascent is easy, but the fell is crossed by many paths and junctions are not always obvious, so carry a map or GPS and check your line rather than following the nearest trodden route. The upper section is open, with little shade and nothing to break the wind, so wet or blustery weather makes the moorland part of the walk noticeably harder work than the numbers suggest.

Heughscar's limestone outcrops and pavement give the hill its character, pale rock breaking through the grass and framing the drop toward the lake. The contrast between the sheltered, hedged lower miles and the bare fell top is the main appeal of doing the full circuit.

Dogs are welcome. The route crosses working farmland and grazed open moorland where sheep, ponies and other livestock may be loose, so keep dogs under close control and on a short lead near animals. On open access land a short lead is legally required from 1 March to 31 July to protect ground-nesting birds. Expect gates and stiles along the field sections.

Start and finish at Eusemere Car Park in Pooley Bridge, a named pay and display village car park. The walk begins at or beside it and then uses village streets and minor roads before reaching the footpaths and bridleways.

The short Roehead walk covers similar fell ground in far less time and is the simpler choice for a quick outing. This longer loop suits walkers who want the village, the Barton church section and the fuller approach to Ullswater, accepting more road and field walking to get it.