Wordsworth may have complained but he could do little to stop the railway extending into his beloved Lake District.

The train terminus at Windermere, taking its name from the nearby lake, opened in 1847 and the resort town quickly sprung up between the railway and the lake. If Wordsworth was worried about the influx of tourists the new railway would bring then his fears were proved right. Victorian day-trippers from the industrial towns hopped off the train and climbed the nearest high crag they could find to take in the view. Orrest Head is one such crag. Just 20 minutes walk from the station, its unrivalled panoramic view began many a love affair with the Lake District, including legendary fell walker Alfred Wainwright. Lancashire lad Wainwnght got his first taste of these mountains in 1930 when he climbed Orrest Head from Windermere train station just like thousands of visitors still do today. From the benches and viewpoint indicator on the top of the crag can be seen the southern and central fells and the length of Lake Windermere, the longest lake in England. This walk continues north from Orrest Head to provide a circular walk along field paths and lanes through wooded pastures. Along the way we pass many of the fine gardened villas and hotels built by the original Victorian entrepreneurs who opened up the Lake District to outsiders. The walk is short enough to give you plenty of time for Xmas shopping in Bowness.

DISTANCE: 2 miles (allow 1-2 hours)

START: Windermere visitor centre, by the train station car park and Booths supermarket. (OS. Grid Ref 414 987). Windermere is situated upon the A591 north west of Kendal.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Windermere train station has regular connections from Bolton.

Use these route directions in conjunction with the relevant OS map (Explorer 0L7 English Lakes South-East)

From the visitor centre, walk to the busy junction and cross the main road with care to the far side on which stands the Windermere Hotel, built for railway travellers in 1847 Pick up a path to the left of the hotel, opposite both the junction and the Nat West bank. which is clearly signed with a large board "Footpath to Orrest Head 784 feet above sea level". Follow this path which begins as a driveway winding up through woodland. A wooden signpost indicating a path to the left "A592 Troutbeck Road" is soon reached but ignore this and bear right along the track which continues to climb through the woodland. It winds its way gradually uphill alongside a wall to the left and soon reaches the woodland boundary. Bear right here along the main track following the upper boundary of the woodland until a metal kissing gate in a wall is reached between memorial stones. Go through the gate and climb up to the summit of Orrest Head.

After taking in the great views, the walk continues straight ahead from here heading north. A clear grassy path drops downhill from the crag on the opposite side to the way you climbed it. The field path runs across pastures and heads towards nearby farm buildings, crossing stiles over walls along the way. Soon a minor lane is reached. Turn left along here and it is now followed for about mile. The winding lane passes roadside farms and drops gradually down to the Troutbeck Valley. When it forks into two, take the left fork, keeping to the main lane which drops through woodland to a road junction.

At the junction turn left and almost immediately on the left you will see a waymarked path at a gate leaving the road along an access track. Join this path but continue straight ahead diagonally across the field when the track turns sharp left. The track heads up to the National Trust property of St Catherines but the walk continues straight ahead across the field (ignore the other path crossing it) heading for the edge of a woodland. Enter the woodland via the waymarked gate and a clear stony path leads you directly ahead for about mile, keeping woodlands and craggy hillside to the left and skirting the boundaries of handsome gardens and villas on the right.

Ignore paths to the left and right but keep going straight ahead until you eventually reach the path junction on the driveway passed at the start of the walk. Turn right along this driveway to descend to Windermere. Cross the main road with care to return to the visitor centre.

COUNTRY CLIPS

The famous Snowdon Summit Cafe at the end of the Snowdon Mountain railway is about to be rebuilt. Plans are well advanced to replace the present 1930s building, often regarded as an eyesore, with a more appropriate smaller building in keeping with its scenic surroundings on top of Wales' highest mountain. The new building will have improved facilities, ensuring it remains a welcome retreat for ramblers, particularly after climbing Mount Snowdon in foul weather.

THE famous Snowdon Summit Cafe at the end of the Snowdon Mountain railway is about to be rebuilt. Plans are well advanced to replace the present 1930s building with a more appropriate smaller building in keeping with its scenic surroundings on top of Wales' highest mountain. It will have improved facilities, ensuring it remains a welcome retreat for ramblers, particularly after climbing Mount Snowdon in foul weather.