There's not really any original way to write about how Orrest Head was Alfred Wainwright's first glimpse of the Lake District. I know this because - my word - I've tried, through several discarded drafts of this opening paragraph. This shovel's been digging all day long, can't even seem to make a scratch...
Perhaps the stroll to the top of Orrest Head has itself become something of a cliché as a gateway to Lakeland, but that's with good reason - it's a lovely little walk with views that far exceed the effort required to obtain them.
Of equal importance is the tremendous accessibility of the starting point. Windermere town's transport hub is across the street, with a regular hourly rail service down the branch line to the West Coast main line at Oxenholme and some trains going direct as far as Manchester Airport. Buses run to Keswick, Kendal, Lancaster, and Barrow, as well as the local tourist services to Grasmere and Bowness. Parking is busy but there is always plenty of choice - if you're early enough you might even be able to nab one of the nearby lay-by spots on the A591 itself.
With the weather well set on the morning of New Year's Eve, it was time to use Orrest Head as a gentle introduction to the Lake District for another new visitor. Not my friend Mike, who is a regular walking buddy, but his seven-month-old German Shepherd puppy, Remus. Hey, this is a new site, did you really think I'd pass up the opportunity to post some photos of a really cute dog?
Hello there, Remus!
The well-known large sign at the foot of the path helpfully informs you it is 20 minutes to the viewpoint, along with a handy arrow. 20 minutes is a fair estimate, but probably best to leave 30 minutes each way plus some time at the top if you are not used to walking uphill.
Truth be told - and I definitely don't say this lightly as a fellwalker - it would take an effort to get lost. There are a number of fairly obvious ways to Orrest Head. The public footpath sign takes you left into the woods and then right up the hillside. Wainwright himself suggested taking the right-hand route which winds up a paved lane through a series of hairpins - the WalkLakes website has a really handy guide to this way up (as well as an extended route back). If you're there on a weekend or school holiday, you are in any case highly unlikely to be alone, whichever route you take.
There is about 100 metres of meandering ascent in total. There are some steeper sections, but if you take the left-hand path through Elleray Wood then it is usually possible to bypass the steepest parts and follow a slightly longer, slightly shallower route.
So how's the view? Well, considering the limited effort, and assuming a clear day, it's a fantastic vista - almost the full length of Windermere is in front of you with the high fells behind. The Wainwright Society have installed an information board so you won't be left in the dark about what you're looking at. Ah, who am I kidding, you only read this far for the dog pictures, right?
There's plenty of choice for refreshment in Windermere (and further down the hill in Bowness), but it's hard to look beyond the fantastic Crafty Baa which has an extensive drinks selection and a fine line in sharing platters. It's "deceptively spacious" though, so it does fill up very quickly. After a swift drink there, we chose to eat on the way back at another local gem - the Watermill at Ings, just off the A591 on the return drive towards Kendal. The Watermill houses the Windermere Brewery and has a great food menu, as well as being delightfully dog friendly.