Liza Path

Overview

About Liza Path

Why go

Wild feeling river valley without a summit
Plunge pools, gravel beaches, and mountain views
Usually quieter than Lake District classics

Heads up

Not waymarked and easy to lose beside the river
Long approach on rough forest track
Wet ground and limited mobile signal

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation117–177 m

TrailheadLiza Path54.52617, -3.37767

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at Bowness Knott Car Park at the east end of Ennerdale Water. The approach road beyond the gate is restricted to people who live or work in the valley, so visitors should park at the lot and continue on foot. Space is limited, and the road, gate, and turning areas must stay clear.

Best time to go

Allow about 4 hours at a steady sightseeing pace. This is not a summit walk, but the distance and surfaces make it a moderate outing. The riverside section is not waymarked and can narrow to grass or gravel beside rough ground and side slopes. Wet patches are likely, and the route can be difficult to follow after high water. Walking boots are the sensible choice.

Safety

The riverside section is not waymarked and includes narrow grass or gravel, rough ground, side slopes, wet patches, and stream or bridge crossings. River levels can rise quickly after rain. Keep dogs close around free roaming cattle and sheep, and plan for poor or absent mobile reception farther up the valley.

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

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Liza Path, 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

Bowness Knott: Waterfall or Forest Walk

0:00 / 1:12

“You're approaching Bowness Knott, where you can leave the car for a waterfall walk or head much farther into Ennerdale Forest.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Liza Path

The routeThis is an 8-mile (12.9 km) out-and-back, measured round trip from Bowness Knott.

This is an 8-mile (12.9 km) out-and-back, measured round trip from Bowness Knott. The route is stored as the physical corridor once, not doubled for the return. Follow the forest track east, then take the rough, unwaymarked path beside the River Liza. Turn around near the upper valley crossing and return by the same corridor. The 8 miles includes the walk from the car park to the riverside section.

The valleyThe route stays low in a secluded valley of native woodland, conifers, open fell, and the River…

The route stays low in a secluded valley of native woodland, conifers, open fell, and the River Liza. Expect gravel beaches, plunge pools, rocky river edges, and changing views toward the surrounding mountains. The quiet setting is a good place to look for woodland birds and watch the river work through the valley.

Practical detailsThere is little mobile reception farther up the valley and no public toilet in the valley.

There is little mobile reception farther up the valley and no public toilet in the valley. The approach beyond the access gate is restricted to people who live or work there, so visitors should park at Bowness Knott and walk. Dogs are welcome when kept under close control around grazing animals and on the riverside path.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

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 map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.