Broughton-in-Furness

Now it has been greatly improved and waymarked. The second part I had not walked before. In the Easter holidays I took my grandchildren along it and they very much enjoyed it, so much so, that this half term they asked to walk it again.

Broughton has no car park. Most people park in the Square, grid ref 213876, if they can find a space. There is street parking but again these places get taken quickly. So perhaps an early start is a good idea.

Buses from Millom and Ulverston stop in the Square. For information telephone Traveline 0871- 200-22-33.

The walk: 1 From the Market Square, head towards the signposted toilets and, beyond, turn right down the track to cross the old railway track. Climb the stepped stile opposite and turn left to walk along the left side of the field.

Pass through the gateless gap into the second field and continue on beside the hedge on your left.

Before the wall ahead, wind around right and descend to the bottom corner of the field.

Go through a squeeze stile and on beside the wall on the left. Stroll on to the far corner to pass through another squeeze stile.

Turn left beside the wall and at the waymark continue climbing a little, following the narrow path to where it reaches a belt of bushes at the top of a small slope.

Descend a narrow path to a stile on to a wide track. Turn right and immediately take the left branch beside a small triangle of grass.

2 A short way along, join another track and descend steeply through glorious deciduous woodland. Stroll on until you reach the Five Arches road.

Turn left and climb a short way before passing, right, through a stile into a huge pasture where the hawthorn bushes are ablaze with blossom.

Stride the good track beside the wall on your right as it rises and falls and eventually crosses a humped-backed footbridge over Galloper Pool.

Go through the gate and look across towards a gated bridge over the Kirkby Pool.

Head towards it, over the pathless pasture and cross the bridge with care.

3 Beyond, walk ahead through rushes picking the driest way to reach a waymark. Here turn left and follow the grassy swathe to the waymarked corner.

A wide grassy track continues left, below the slopes of Thornthwaite Latter Rigg, on your right.

Enjoy this delightful way across a large field and just before the corner leave the track for a few steps, right, to pass through a tall waymarked deer gate.

A narrow waymarked path leads you on through young trees, tiny open spaces and where the bracken hasn’t yet started to grow.

This is a glorious path and one to savour all the way along as it winds a little bit, climbs a little bit, and goes over a little rough bit.

It then goes into a small grassy clearing, just the place for a first break.

4 Head on along the path, following the waymarks until you reach a wide grassy track. Here turn left to follow the waymarks, of the Woodland Trust, which put ‘Walkers Welcome’ on its green and white waymarkers.

The delightful path leads you through a magical part of wooded Cumbria.

Wherever you make a turn there is always a comforting waymark leading you on.

Eventually you descend to a stream, a dancing lively beck in winter and now, after several rain-free weeks, just a stony bed to cross. Then follow the markers as they take you through a large birch wood and on until you descend towards the Kirkby Pool once more.

5 Climb the ladderstile over the wall and walk ahead to the stiled bridge over the pool. Go on over the next ladderstile into a pasture. Continue ahead to climb the next stile and walk up beside the hedge on your left to a step-stile tucked up in the corner of the hedge and the wall ahead.

Beyond, turn right to climb another stile into ancient woodland, colourful in early summer with wild flowers.

In a few steps join a track and bear left to emerge from the trees by a gate. Walk ahead, wall to the right to a gap stile, where it can be muddy in the winter.

Carry on along the delightful track, especially now that summer is here.

6 At the road, turn left and walk the quiet way until you reach a gate, set back, on the right (easy-to-miss). Climb the winding track beyond to go through another gate and continue up to join the old railway track.

Stroll left to enjoy the lovely way. Go past, or pause on the seat of the first lake, and then carry on until you reach Broughton.

Turn right to return to the square where there are seats, a pub, a café and the bus stop.

Information Distance: 5.5 miles Time: 3 hours Terrain: Good paths and tracks. Well waymarked for most of the way.

Map: OS Explorer OL 6 NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.

Pix Path through woodland 0312 View of Black Combe from the walk 0316 Waymarker 0313 and Woodland Trust logo 0319 Birch woodland 0321 A farm at Woodland 0323