Skip to main content

Chapel House Plantation & Cartmel Fell, South Lakes


As with many areas in Cumbria many people will have driven past Chapel House Plantation not realising this area is a little bit of a gem. Routes from here can be a short 4 miles loop up to Simpson Ground Reservoir or you can do a longer route up to 11 miles over Cartmel Fell with a pub stop at Strawberry Bank.  

Starting from the parking area enter Chapel House Plantation through the main entrance track past the Forestry England signs. Here take the path past the vehicle barrier, which is a little narrow and then proceed up the hill on the track. The further you go up the hill you will start getting fantastic views of Windermere and distance fells. I like to then take the rocky bridleway up to Simpson Ground Reservoir, but if you would like a smoother route keep of the forest track and you can loop back up to the reservoir. Once at the reservoir this is good place for a picnic and also the point where you need to decide which way to go. You can either do a short loop around another track and loop down to the parking area (around 4 miles) or carry on across Cartmel Fell. By looking at the map you can see there are a few options depending on how long you would like your ride to be. All are very enjoyable and it really is a great place to explore. On the way back you come in via a forestry track just after Sow How and then follow the main track down the hill back to the parking area.

Parking

In laybys on the Staveley-In-Cartmel lane at the bottom of Chapel House Plantation or the old A590 road LA12 8NG. If your coming from Kendal direction on the A590 I would recommend driving down to the roundabout at Newby Bridge. Here turn right to Fell Foot/Windermere on the A592 and before you get to Fell Foot turn right to Staveley-In-Carmel and drive down the lane to the parking area. By approaching the parking area this way you are pointing in the right direction to get home for a Kendal direction. You can also access this area from Witherslack.

Things to note

Route Update June 2024 - Forestry England have put a kissing gates in on the main entrance off the Staveley-In-Cartmel Lane and a narrow barrier off Sow How Lane entrance. Therefore, these routes can only be access via the Bridleway from Staveley-In Cartmel or you can get a permit from Forestry England for the barrier gate at the start of this ride/main entrance and the Sow How Lane entrance (meaning these rides are still possible with a permit). The permit with give you a padlock code for both gates. TO GET A PERMIT YOU NEED TO EMAIL FORESTRY ENGLAND ON grizedale@forestryengland.uk Currently this is free permit and for example say ' Dear Sirs, As I local horse rider I would like to request a permit and key code for the gates at Chapel House Plantation. Many thanks' giving your name, address and phone number.



The area is popular with local mountain/gravel bikers and walkers. There is a small ford to cross on Cartmel Fell and bridleway passes through fields with sheep. Most gates can be done on horseback. The bridleway up through the forestry is rocky in places so as ever best to go up this rather than down. This is also a great area to explore by 4x4 off road wheel chairs.

The routes are on permissive Forestry England forest tracks (or fire roads), quiet roads and bridleways. Would say at least 90% off road, even for the longer routes.

A GPX route file of this route can be downloaded from the Facebook Group Ride Cumbria https://www.facebook.com/groups/367414084781168 and also is a public route on OS Mapping app














Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Case to included Equestrians in all Active Travel Policy and Projects

  In my spare time I do quite a lot of voluntary outdoor access work. Here is my response for a call for evidence from the government's All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking on Active Travel and Social justice (  https://appgcw.org/2024/11/12/active-travel-and-social-justice-inquiry/  ) New riding routes coming soon, but thought I would post by my paper here for future reference.   The All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) Active Travel and Social Justice Inquiry The Case to included Equestrians in all Active Travel policy and Projects Active travel is a growing focus in urban planning, as governments aim to promote healthier lifestyles, reduce congestion, and decrease environmental impact. Policies often emphasize the use of bicycles as a primary mode of active transport, with campaigns targeting cyclists for infrastructure development, safety, and accessibility. While much of this fo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Equestrians need to Think Like Cyclists and Just Ride it! - Keswick to Threkeld Railway Trail

I am normally a person who does everything by the book, but I do develop strong views if I believe something is not quite right. If your an equestrian the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail (K2T) is one of these places as horses are not allowed on the trail. On 22 March 2024 we decided to ride the Keswick to Threkeld Railway Trail after discussing the matter with other rights of way experts and decided that this is the only way forward to get equestrians access. A few of us from Cumbria Bridleway Society have been campaigning for over 5 years to get equestrians access to K2T. After many letters, emails, meetings, reports (on both sides) we still do not have a genuine reason from the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) as to why equestrians cannot be included on K2T. The LDNPA is the principal landowner of K2T and therefore in my mind this is public land. The upgraded trail cost nearly £8 million pounds of public money and the aim of the grant money was to get Vulnerable Road ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Loughrigg Fell, Ambleside, Central Lakes

  The Lake District is good at any time of year and often your can get four seasons in a day! Spring though has the added benefit of it being a bit quieter and a good time to go on a bluebell ride. After spending several years working in Grasmere I have become very fond of Loughrigg Fell and in a past work life this was my morning dog walk before work. I remember the bluebells being good, but the day of this ride they really were spectacular! There are a couple of car parks in Elterwater, but this time we tried Silverthwaite Car Park between Elterwater and Skelwith Bridge. Once you have worked out how the machine works this is a great car park to start a ride. From Silverthwaite car park cross the road and take the path directly opposite the car park entrance. This leads you through a small wood and links onto the bridleway. Some people may like to dismount and lead their horse along this path. Once you have done this, the bridleways around here are well signed, but you still need...
Post a Comment
Read more