Parking
Start at the small parking area beside Kentmere Village Hall, also called Kentmere Institute, opposite St Cuthbert's Church. Parking is limited by the church and Institute. Do not park at Hartrigg Farm or the route's upper gateway.
Overview
About Kentmere
Why go
- Smooth tarmac reaches the upper Kentmere valley
- Dramatic fell scenery without a high-fell path
Heads up
- Long 1:7 slopes challenge some wheelchairs and scooters
- Limited parking and no facilities on the route
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation164–230 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Kentmere, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Kentmere: Valley Walk or Horseshoe0:00 / 1:11
“You're approaching Kentmere village, where you can choose between a walk into the valley and a full day on the ridges above it.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Sadgill: Grey Crag and Tarn Crag
- Kentmere: The Lake That Came Back
- Troutbeck: Wansfell Pike and Baystones
- Goosanders: Peering Below the Surface
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Kentmere
The route in shortA linear out-and-back on a surfaced lane into the upper Kentmere valley. The 2.89 miles (4.
A linear out-and-back on a surfaced lane into the upper Kentmere valley. The 2.89 miles (4.65 km) is the full round trip, out to Hartrigg Farm and back the same way, and most people take about 2 hours at an unhurried pace.
Sequence and payoffStart from the small parking area beside Kentmere Village Hall (Kentmere Institute), opposite…
Start from the small parking area beside Kentmere Village Hall (Kentmere Institute), opposite St Cuthbert's Church. The lane climbs away from the village, then levels out after roughly 200 metres and runs north with the valley opening ahead. The turn point is the end of the tarmac at Hartrigg Farm, where the fells close in around you. Retrace the lane back to the village.
Surface, slopes and accessibilitySurface is smooth tarmac for the whole route, with no stiles to negotiate.
- Surface is smooth tarmac for the whole route, with no stiles to negotiate.
- Graded Miles without Stiles: For some, mainly because of long 1:7 slopes near the start.
- Suitable for class 2 or 3 mobility scooters only.
- The rough stone track continuing beyond Hartrigg Farm does not meet the accessible standard, so treat the farm as the turnaround.
Scenery and wildlifeThe valley walls rise in craggy slopes, with the ridgeline of the Kentmere Horseshoe peaks…
The valley walls rise in craggy slopes, with the ridgeline of the Kentmere Horseshoe peaks above. Watch for buzzards, ravens and peregrine falcons working the crags and updraughts.
Practical detailsThe route listing shows no facilities along the way.
- The route listing shows no facilities along the way.
- Nearest toilets and refreshments are in Staveley, about 6 km south.
- No mobile phone reception, so tell someone your plans.
- Parking is limited to the spaces by the church and the Institute.
- There is no direct public transport to Kentmere.
DogsDogs are welcome on this public route.
Dogs are welcome on this public route. Keep them under close control, and on a lead where livestock is present, since the lane passes working farmland.
If you want something harderThe Kentmere Horseshoe is the long, steep ridge circuit from the same village, a full mountain…
The Kentmere Horseshoe is the long, steep ridge circuit from the same village, a full mountain day on rough ground. It shares the starting point but has nothing in common with this route in terms of effort or terrain.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
