Walks
You're spoilt for choice if you want to go walking using Gap Cottage as a base. There's something for most people, whether you want to tackle England's tallest mountain Scafell Pike, or prefer a gentle woodland stroll or lakeside saunter.
Here are one or two local walks to get you started – which don't involve getting the car out.
If you are planning on going up on the fells, it's worth thinking about basic safety and being prepared: there's some information about this here. For one thing the weather, and visibility, can change rapidly, and we regularly see Mountain Rescue off to help people who have got into difficulties.
There is a Met Office mountain forecast for the Lake District from this link.
One other note of caution: we strongly advise against trying to go round the lake using a 'path' at the foot of the Screes on the far side; it's said to be unpleasant and treacherous!
Lower walk to the Lake through Nether Wasdale.
Once you've made it through the village this is a fairly flat walk.
Go out of the cottage and turn left up the lane (please use the drive rather than going through the neighbour's). Keep going until it joins the 'lower road' to Nether Wasdale. Follow this road through the village (about 15 minuters) and beyond.
If you want to drive the first part, drive through and out of the village, fork right at the first turning over a bridge until you see a sign to a car park on your right. Rejoin the main road you left for the walk.
Keep following the road out of the village along the lane for about 15-20 mins, passing a 'camping barn' on your left (sells eggs) and a large house and grounds, Galesyke, on your right. Keep going along this road until you reach a farm that also offers bed and breakfast on your left.
Opposite this there's a gate at the top of a field, pictured. Follow the path down the hill through the field towards another gate by the river. The path continues for a short distance next to the river until you reach a stone bridge on your right. You can cross this and continue on that side of the river, or take the woodland path to the left.
There are some great views in good light, with the reflection of the Screes in Wastwater - so you might want to take your camera! You can continue past the boathouse and eventually rejoin the lane at the Youth Hostel.
Low round woodland/riverside walk from cottage - around 1.5 - 2 hours
This is a lovely local walk that takes you through fields, over and alongside a river, through woods, and eventually back to the road near Nether Wasdale.
Turn left out of the cottage drive and keep going until you reach the village.
Turn right by the phone box, just before The Strands pub. You'll pass by the pub garden on your left - well worth returning to for some refreshment on the way home if the weather is fine, perhaps!
Follow the footpath along the track and then through the woods (bluebells in season) as you head towards the river.
Cross the river by the bridge and turn left. Taking the smaller footpath closest to the river, eventually you will come across some National Trust arrows marking the route. If you continue straight ahead, as you near the end of the walk you reach a fork in the footpath - rather than following the river bank veer right to come out through a gate at the main road. Turn left at the road, cross the river over a bridge and fork left to head back home through the village.
Buckbarrow from the Cottage
If it's good weather and you want to go up on the fells, Buckbarrow is within walking distance, and you can gain height quickly (it's a bit steep and can be pretty wet). You'll get some great views within just a short time from beginning your ascent (spot the cottage from above - the view's even better with binoculars); if you research, once you're up you could use this to start a longer expedition, coming back down via another fell, etc. These pictures show one starting point.
Turn right out of the cottage, and then head right again towards the lake.
Go over the cattle grid, pictured above, with Buckbarrow ahead.
When you reach the farm entrance, pictured above on your right....
...you need to turn off to your left, and start your ascent between the stone wall and the stream.
It's perhaps 15-20 minutes' walk from the cottage to this point so you don't need to take a car.
Views from the ascent.
Low circular walk along the lane to the Lake and back through village
This walk is best done out of season/school holidays when there are fewer cars on the lanes.
This is a fair old hike to do the whole thing. Turn right out of the cottage, and then head right again towards the lake as if heading for the walk above. Keep going along the lane until you reach the lake.
When you reach the lake, turn right and keep going until you reach Nether Wasdale. Refreshments strongly advised! You could veer off along the way and incorporate the first walk in reverse via the Youth Hostel.
From Nether Wasdale it's up the steep hill out of the village, fork right onto the first little lane shortly after the sign that welcomes you into the village going the other way, and you're on the road home. Nearly there!
Drive to Wasdale Head (cars may be prohibited in high season but a shuttle will run instead)
If you drive and turn left at the above signpost, as it suggests you will end up, via a lovely but at times narrow, three-mile lakeside drive, at Wasdale Head, where there's a pub and car park, from where you can start many other perhaps far more ambitious walks. For one, you could just cross the small river at the rear of the pub and follow the path up through Mosedale as far as you like; the lower section runs close to the river where there are some interesting waterfalls - a particularly welcome sight on a hot day!
