Gunnerside Gill is a fantastic walk! In fact it has to be one of my favourite walks, as although it is relatively hard in places it is well worth it as parts of the walk are quite dramatic and the views are sensational! The photos are from a very icy Sunday in January, crampons would have been a good idea but alas I was not that organised. Lesson learnt…I now have crampons in my pack as essential kit on all winter walks!
The Route:
The walk begins in Gunnerside, parking can be found in the village close to the village hall opposite the smithy. It can be busy in the summer so you may have to park along the road on the exits of Gunnerside.
Once parked, cross the bridge so that you are by the Kings Head pub, directly opposite the pub you shall see a track. Walk down this track with the gill to your left. After about 100 yards or so you shall come to the entrance to a drive, a couple of metres before this drive entrance on your right you shall notice a couple of steps leading to a footpath. Take this footpath and follow this across a couple of fields up the gill, through some woods.
After around 15 minutes of walking you shall come out of the woods into an open space with the first sight of some remains of the lead mining. Continue past this to the sty on the right. Continue through the second section of woods and then come out the other side to an open area. Cross the sty in the wall to the beginning of the ascent.
Continue along the path with some fantastic views of the gill. You shall come across some more remains of the lead mines. Shortly after there is a crossroads in the path. You can continue on to the waterfalls or go left. We turned left down into the valley.
At the bottom you shall find some more remains of the lead mining. We crossed the small bridge and then followed the track on the opposite side of the valley that you have just walked. This track leads you back to the top of Gunnerside by Roof Farm on the road to the Miller Estate. Head down the road back into the village over a cattle grid.
FYI – the Kings Head is well worth a visit…I often have a soup and it never disappoints! Their fish and chips are pretty awesome too!
