Six Walks to do from Ennerdale Bridge

Ennerdale Bridge is a starting point for a variety of wild and remote hikes ranging from lowland forest and lakeside trails to exhilarating days in some of the Lake District highest mountains. The Ennerdale valley contains one of the largest forests in Cumbria, with more than 20 miles of forest tracks meaning there is plenty to explore here! 

  • Ennerdale Forest Road Hike 

Distance: 18.5km Time: 5 hours Difficulty: Medium 

This long but memorable route passes some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the Lake District from the crag of Pillar Rock to exploring Ennerdale Water and the banks of the River Liza and finishing at Black Sail youth hostel at the end of the valley. Spend a day exploring Ennerdale’s extensive woodland and river trails before turning back from the youth hostel via Moss Dub reservoir back to the start.  

  • Ennerdale Water Loop

Distance: 11.7km Time: 4 hours Difficulty: Medium 

Ennerdale Water is one of the only lakes with no road around it, making it a beautiful, secluded hike from roads and traffic. The circular route can be started at either end of the lake from both Bowness Knott and Bleach Green. The route is a mixture of flat footpaths and some steep, scrambly sections, especially at Robin Hoods Chair below Angler’s Crag. The route also crosses over the River Liza and provides stunning views of the surrounding fells including Crag Fell and Pillar. Keep an eye out on the waters and rivers as populations of beavers have recently been reintroduced into the area; if you’re lucky you might spot one or two! 

  • Smithy Beck Waterfall Walk 

Distance: 3km Time: 1 hour Difficulty: Easy 

Starting from Bowness Knott car park, this short yet rewarding route explores peaceful woodland and visits the picturesque lakeshore waterfall at Smithy Beck before returning. The route follows well-maintained lakeshore and forest tracks and passes a picnic bench overlooking the water for a refreshment stop with a view!

  • Ennerdale Horseshoe 

Distance: 29.3km Time: over 10 hours Difficulty: Challenging 

One of the most challenging Lake District hikes of them all, the Ennerdale Horseshoe is a gruelling day visiting over 15 summits and 8 Wainwrights including Great Gable, Green Gable, Haystacks, High Crag, High Stile, Kirk Fell, Pillar, Red Pike (Buttermere) and includes over 7000 feet of ascent! If you’re up for the challenge, it can be completed in a day with an early start and good pace, however you could break the route up into two days and stay at High Gillerthwaite youth hostel. Scarth Gap, Windy Gap and Black Sail also all have routes back down to Ennerdale Valley if you wish to cut the walk short. The full route starts at Bowness Knott car park and heads up to High Gillerthwaite youth hostel, visiting Red Pike as the first Wainwright. From Red Pike, you continue on to Haystacks then to the Hopper Slate Quarry before ascending Great Gable. From here, the steep walk to Pillar marks the end of the route before returning to the start point at the car park. 

  • Pillar 

Distance: 13km Time: 4 hours Difficulty: Medium 

Pillar is one of Lakelands classic mountains and is the eighth highest mountain in the Lake District. Its presence towers over Ennerdale with Pillar Rock dominating the face of the fell. The route begins at Bowness Knott car park and heads 4 miles in to the memorial bridge. From here, the footpath begins to climb directly up the craggy fellside. The route continues through Pillar Cove where you can see the magnificent view over to Pillar Rock.  The rock is inaccessible to hikers and is reserved for experienced climbers. For hikers, the path leads to Shamrock Traverse which follows the ledge at the base of Pillar Rock to the summit. The top of the Pillar has a wind shelter and trig point boasting stunning views of the Scafells, the coast and the mountains to the north. Descend back to Ennerdale Valley via Black Sail Pass. 

  • Great Gable 

Distance: 3.2km Time: 2 hours Difficulty: Medium 

Great Gable literally is one of the greats standing proudly over Wasdale rewarding hikers with stunning views over Wastwater and neighbouring fells Haystacks and the High Stile ridge. The aptly named mountain is the fourth highest fell in the Lake District boasting craggy scrambles, wild mountain backdrops and stunning summit views. There’s a few ways you can tackle the mountain from Ennerdale. Either the Windy Gap or Beck Head routes can be reached from Black Sail Youth Hostel via Tongue. The most natural route from Ennerdale would be to visit Kirk Fell, Great Gable and descend via Haystacks, returning to the valley through Scarth Gap.