By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies (needed to provide our website’s features) and our Terms of Use.
This Orrest Head walk from Windermere is a short, easy-to-follow Lake District walk that passes through Elleray Wood before reaching the summit of Orrest Head and the view that captivated a certain Alfred Wainwright and changed his life.
In accordance with our Disclaimer, you agree to take full responsibility for any use you make of the information contained in these pages.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy products or services via these links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
| Walk title: | Orrest Head walk from Windermere |
| Author: | Andrew Forrest - April 2026 |
| Walk start point: | Orrest Head footpath sign next to A591 in Windermere (grid reference SD 412 987). What3words: stored.purified.buildings |
| Parking: | Quite a few places to park in Windermere including Broad Street car park as shown in the video. |
| Directions to nearest parking place: | Various parking as above in Windermere. For Broad Street car park: Google Maps: get directions here / What3words: stretcher.economics.thousands |
| Walk distance: | 3.5 km - full walk. Following the blue signs for the Miles Without Stiles route. If you follow the red signs, the walk is a little shorter. |
| Estimated walk time: | 1 hour |
| Height climbed: | 136 metres - full walk. |
| Technical difficulty: | Easy - as determined by our interpretation of the Ordnance Survey guidance on technical difficulties |
| Peaks / summits: | Orrest Head |
| Wainwrights: | Outlying Fell - Orrest Head 781ft / 238m |
| Map: | Ordnance Survey - Explorer OL7 (The English Lakes - South-eastern Area) Buy this map from Ordnance Survey |
| GPS/GPX file: | Download available to registered users - Register and Login here - It's FREE to register |
| Facilities / refreshments: | Toilets and various places to eat and drink are shown in the walk description below and in the video. En route, you pass the Blacksmiths - see below |
| Nearest town: | The walk starts in Windermere |
| Local self-catering accommodation: | View self-catering accommodation close to the start of this walk |
| Local hotels, inns and B&Bs: | View hotels and inns close to the start of this walk from The Inn Collection Group |
Estimated walk time
Walk time estimates used are from the Ordnance Survey mapping app, which uses a refined Naismith's rule, adjusted by OS overlaying their own data collected from more than one million people using the OS mapping app. Naismith's rule allowed one hour for every three miles walked and added pro-rata an additional hour for every 2000ft of ascent - roughly one hour for every 5km, plus one hour for every 600m of ascent.
Ordnance Survey Mapping App
Use on any device and make it easy to explore the great outdoors for just the price of a coffee a month. Premium allows full UK access to all OS Explorer and Landranger mapping, along with the ability to import and export routes, save maps offline, aerial 3D, and print A3/A4 maps.
This Orrest Head walk from Windermere is a short, accessible Lake District walk that starts at the Orrest Head footpath sign next to the A591, just a couple of minutes' walk from Windermere railway station and Booths.
Following the blue waymarkers of the Miles without Stiles route, this walk ascends through Elleray Wood on a wide gravel track, making it one of the more accessible options for those seeking an easier route without stiles, scrambling, or steep ascents. Although there are still some slopes and gravel surfaces, the route has no steps, gates, or stiles and is suitable for many people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users and families with pushchairs.
On the way up, the route is straightforward to follow, passing a series of numbered wooden waymarkers, benches, a small money tree, information boards, and an array of Gruffalo-style wooden carvings, making this a particularly good walk for children and a lovely introduction to hill walking. There is also a small coffee stop, the Blacksmiths, when open.
The highlight of the walk is the summit of Orrest Head, where the views open out into a stunning panorama over Lake Windermere, the Lakeland fells and, on a clear day, Morecambe Bay. The summit is also where Alfred Wainwright first saw the Lake District, a moment that shaped the course of his life and inspired his famous walking guides.
Here you can enjoy the Orrest Head Compass, the commemorative plaque, and the expansive views before returning the same way. Back in Windermere, there are nearby places to eat and drink, making this a short but fulfilling walk with history, scenery, and easy-to-follow paths.
The video shows the entire Orrest Head walk from Windermere. The route for the walk is shown on the Ordnance Survey map - both above.
Below is a brief description of the walk. Places where you can eat and drink after the walk are shown during and at the end of the video.
There is plenty of parking in and around Windermere for this Orrest Head walk starting from Windermere, so instead of starting from any individual parking spot today, we'll begin at the footpath to Orrest Head sign next to the A591. Parking is noted in the table above, and the Broad Street car park is also shown in the video.
Footpath to Orrest Head from Windermere sign
Initially, just a few yards past the Orrest Head footpath sign, you can see the board welcoming you to Orrest Head and Elleray Wood. It displays your current location and the summit's position.
Information board welcoming you to Orrest Head and Elleray Wood
The next sign, 'Our first ascent in Lakeland', is all about the legendary Alfred Wainwright, whom we'll learn more about later.
Information board about Alfred Wainwright and the wildlife on the walk
To begin today's walk, we simply stroll along the road. This is a Miles Without Stiles walk. As well as having no stiles to climb over, Miles Without Stiles routes are more accessible paths suitable for people with limited mobility.
The lane that heads up away from the Orrest Head footpath sign
This includes wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, the visually impaired, and anyone wanting a gentle walk without scrambling, climbing, or steep hills.
While there are several routes to the Orrest Head summit, we'll follow the blue signs marking the easier Miles without Stiles route. We soon see a sign to the left for Orrest Head Viewpoint. We will ignore that and continue following the blue sign for Orrest Head instead.
The path splits, both ways head to Orrest Head, but we follow the 'Miles without Stiles' blue footpath sign
Continue along the road following the blue arrow. The Lake District National Park has 51 'Miles without Stiles' walks listed on its website, and the Orrest Head walk is number 50.
After a short while, we arrive at a break in the path where you'll see signpost number two on the wooden post.
Number 2 wooden waymarker, with the blue arrow following the Miles Without Stiles path
We then turn left here to follow the gravel path. You may continue along the road if you prefer, as it connects with this path a little further on.
The Miles Without Stiles wooden post number two, heads left away from the road
The route today has no steps, gates, or stiles, but it still includes some steeper sections and gravel surfaces, so it might not be suitable for everyone. However, it is designed to be the more accessible option, including for wheelchairs and prams, as long as you can handle the slopes.
At the top of this path, at the next wooden sign marked number three, we carry on straight ahead, again along the lane.
Upon meeting the road, the path heads left
Then, at the next sign numbered four, we follow the Orrest Head sign.
At the signpost, the Orrest Head path heads left away from the road
The path winds along a gravel track through the woods, where you can often hear birdsong all around.
The Orrest Head footpath through Elleray Wood
After a while, we reach post number six, again marked with the blue arrow. Where the path splits on either side of the wall here, the blue route takes the right-hand path.
At signpost number 6, the Miles Without Stiles Orrest Head path heads to the right of the wall ahead
The track then continues to run alongside the wall.
The Orrest Head footpath continues by the side of the wall through Elleray Wood
As you begin to notice a gap in the trees ahead, the path curves to the right along the wall, now on your right-hand side. There is a bench ahead if you'd like a short rest; if not, continue past it.
Shortly afterwards, the path splits again. We take the right-hand route marked by the blue arrow.
At the next signpost, the blue route heads to the right, while the shorter, rougher red route heads to the left
The red route we often see signs for, if you decide to take it, also leads to the summit. It is just less even and not suitable for wheelchairs and prams because of the tree roots and steps along the way. The red route is shorter and more direct.
After a while, we pass a small 'money tree' - well, a cut-off trunk in this case. These are ancient tree stumps or trunks where people hammer coins into the wood, often as a type of wishing tree or for good luck. There's a bit of old folklore associated with them, with some traditions linking them to leaving illness behind or making a wish.
The money log on the path to Orrest Head
Then, close to that and just beyond the bench, you'll see a couple more information boards.
The first is the same as the one you saw at the start, showing the red and blue routes to the summit, and the one on the right is also the same as the one you encountered at the beginning of the walk. You can stop here if you like; there is a bench nearby, and several carved wooden animals are close by.
First, you pass a carved wooden fox.
The Gruffalo-style wooden characters by the side of the Orrest Head footpath
Then what appears to be a Gruffalo-style creature with two large teeth and horns, followed by a squirrel with a nut and then a snake.
The carved wooden snake
Overall, this walk is well-suited for children and would make a great introduction to hill walking.
The carved wooden owl
There's also an owl. They make a charming addition here.
Opposite them, there's also a small coffee stop called the Blacksmiths. When it's open, it serves coffee and cakes, all from a converted horsebox.
The Blacksmith's coffee shop in the converted horsebox
Keep following the blue arrows up the hill, as we continue along the gently sloping gravel path.
After a while, as the path veers to the right, look to the left, and you'll see another numbered arrow. This time, a number nine. From this vantage point, you also begin to catch sight over the wall of some of the Lakeland fells, offering an initial glimpse of what awaits you at the top.
The first glimpse of the Lakeland Fells from the Orrest Head footpath
A few yards further on, the path splits again. The left-hand route is the red one, crossing over tree roots and making it unsuitable for wheelchairs.
The red and blue paths again diverge, the red taking the rougher route over tree roots, the right-hand blue path keeps ahead on the smooth gravelled path
You may choose to go that way if you wish, but we will continue following the blue arrow along the gravelled route. It's not completely flat. It has a gentle incline, but it is the smoother and more accessible route.
Continuing along this route, we again encounter the red path coming in from the left, before following the blue arrow around to the right.
There's another bench here if you want to rest for a bit. There are also some slightly more distant views over the wall.
A bench over which the Lakeland Fells can be seen
Just carry on along the gravelled path, passing another bench, gradually gaining height as we ascend.
Another bench alongside the Miles without Stiles Orrest Head footpath
We carry on up the slope to a gate on the left that I used to pass through. This was the original route to the summit, before the accessible route was created, now marked by the red path.
Passing by more blue waymarker arrows on the way to Orrest Head
For this walk, we're following the Miles without Stiles route marked by the blue arrows, so we'll keep in that direction. We pass the next one, post number 11, as we head towards the summit.
If you find that this walk in the fresh air, surrounded by beautiful scenery, benefits you, have a look at the wellness section, which includes many tips for walking your way to wellness.
A little further on, again on the left, there's another bench where you can sit and enjoy the view.
From this point, you can now see Lake Windermere below towards the right.
Looking down over the southern end of Lake Windermere
We continue along the track. Then, just before we pass through this gap in the wall, where another blue sign lies just beyond, if you turn right, you'll get an even better view back over Windermere.
The view of Lake Windermere from a bench by the side of the Orrest Head footpath
Again, near the wall, there is another bench; if you want to pause, rest, and enjoy the scenery.
The gravelled path passes through a gap in the wall
Pass through the gap in the wall and keep along the gravel path, past post number 12, as it now leads towards the summit.
The number 12 wooden marker on the Miles Without Stiles footpath to Orrest Head
As we approach the top, with the trees becoming sparser, you can also see the seating now installed at the summit of Orrest Head. This feature at the summit is known as the Orrest Head Compass, created by local artist blacksmith Chris Bramall.
Approaching Orrest Head summit
As you approach the summit, you can see it opens into a genuinely impressive area, designed not just as a spot to sit but also to help you appreciate the surrounding landscape.
This view changed Alfred Wainwright's life.
Alfred Wainwright arrived here from Blackburn at the age of 23, having disembarked from the train at Windermere and then walked up to Orrest Head for his first view of the Lake District. He later described it as a moment of revelation, writing that he stood transfixed, unable to believe his eyes.
Looking south-west over the summit seating towards Lake Windermere and the Southern Lakeland Fells
This first sight of the mountains and lake below had a profound impact on him, and truly, the rest is history. That initial view shaped the course of his life.
Wainwright comes from the then-industrial town of Blackburn, and this first glimpse of the Lake District deeply impacted him.
He went on to become not only one of Britain's most renowned walking authors but also to introduce countless people to the Lake District through his books, hand-drawn maps, and descriptions of the fells.
Looking south from Orrest Head summit over Lake Windermere
His guides became classics, and his influence on Lakeland walking remains evident today. Wainwright later moved to Kendal and authored the renowned seven-volume 'Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells', books that have inspired generations of walkers to explore the Lake District themselves.
As Wainwright himself put it, 'Orrest Head, for many of us, is 'where we came in' - our first ascent in Lakeland, our first sight of mountains in tumultuous array across glittering waters, our awakening to beauty. It is a popular walk, deservedly, for here the promised land is seen in all its glory. It is a fitting finale, too, to a life made happy by fellwandering. Dare we hope there will be another Orrest Head over the threshold of the next heaven?'
If you want to learn more about Alfred Wainwright, read our detailed article on Alfred Wainwright's life and books, along with an interactive map of all the 214 Wainwrights.
First of all, take a moment to take in the circular view from the summit of Orrest Head. As you look around, you can see towards Kentmere, then round towards Lake Windermere, and most of the Lakeland fells come into view.
Looking south-east from Orrest Head summit
Straight ahead is that breathtaking view beyond the summit compass and seating. As we look around, you can see a wide expanse of Lake Windermere stretching below.
Looking west over Lake Windermere towards the Lakeland Fells from Orrest Head summit
You can also see the path we've just walked along.
And then, as you turn further around, you can see out towards the coast in the distance on a clear day. Spend time simply wandering around the summit now, and seated, taking in the views.
Looking north over the bench from Orrest Head summit
A few yards below the summit, a commemorative plaque dedicated to Alfred Wainwright is located. The ground here becomes slightly rougher underfoot as you approach, but there is a plaque depicting the surrounding hills, using one of Wainwright's - or 'AW' as he was known - drawings from his Outlying Fells of Lakeland book. The original was vandalised, and this new plaque was erected in 2021.
The Windermere and High Fells plaque celebrating Wainwright's first ascent of Orrest Head in 1930
The summit viewpoint has seen notable improvements, especially on the main upward route, although the lower section to the plaque remains somewhat uneven underfoot. It would have been a nice touch if they had also extended the accessible path a few more yards down to this commemorative plaque, which indicates which hill and mountain are visible in the panorama ahead.
Looking north-west from the Wainwright plaque over Lake Windermere towards Fairfield
Looking around to the right, you can see more of that sweeping, far-reaching panorama across the Lakeland fells, with the plaque in the foreground and Windermere below.
Looking west to north-west over the Wainwright plaque towards Wetherlam, Crinkle Crags, Scafell Pike, Bowfell and others
Back at the circular seat, you can see a compass in the centre. If you are unsure of your directions, you can check them there.
The compass and seating installed on Orrest Head's summit
Benches extend from the central directional marker and align with the correct compass bearings. So it's not just a seating area; it's also a viewing aid that complements the surrounding landscape.
The correctly orientated Orrest Head Compass, with surrounding seat slats at one-degree increments
Even the bench slats are carefully arranged in degree intervals, with the longer markers highlighting the bearings, showing the significant thought put into it.
If you wander across the summit and continue in the same direction as you approached it - straight ahead - there is a path heading down that you can follow if you wish.
The path heading north from Orrest Head summit
If you go down there and then take a left after you have descended quite a way, you can make this a more circular walk and reconnect with one of the woodland paths we passed earlier. So, if you want to extend the walk and make it a bit more circular, you can. This walk extension is not described here, but it is reasonably easy to follow with an OS map.
After spending a little time at the top, we'll begin to descend, retracing the upward route. Return along the gravel path you walked up.
We start our journey back down the gravelled path
On the left, you pass a wooden waymarker, numbered 13, which is the final wooden marker before reaching the summit.
The number 13 wooden waymarker with the blue arrow - the nearest one to the summit of Orrest Head
Pass that and head back down the gravel path.
We head back down the gravelled path in the reverse of the way up
As you descend, you can enjoy some of the views you had on the way up again, with Windermere ahead.
Looking out over Lake Windermere as the path swings around to the right
As you descend past the number ten post, just continue following the blue arrows on your return journey exactly as you did when going up.
At waymarker number 9, the blue Miles Without Stiles path heads around to the left, whilst the red path takes the more direct route back down
Once again, we pass the small Blacksmith coffee shop and the carved wooden figures in the style of the Gruffalo.
Here, we again follow the path to the right, following the blue arrow, this time signposted for Windermere. On the way up, of course, the signs pointed towards Orrest Head.
We pass by the small money tree log again and then carry on along the path.
Passing back by the money log
Throughout, whenever the route splits, just continue following the blue arrows.
At the next wooden waymarker, the blue sign keeps straight on, while the red path heads to the right
If you want to find out how many steps you've taken or how many calories you've burned on today's walk, remember to check out our interactive walking calculator. You do not need to walk the often-quoted 10,000 steps to enjoy the many health benefits of walking.
Heading down the gravelled track through Elleray Wood
As we rejoin the road, turn right and continue straight along the tarmac as it gently descends.
Turn right along the road
Heading down the road, we turn off and follow the blue sign to the right, then stay on the left side of the fence until we reach the road again.
Turn right off the road, following the blue arrow on waymarker number 3
We turn right onto the road and follow it downhill.
Turn right upon meeting the lane
We soon reach the footpath sign for Orrest Head again.
Arriving back at the start by the Orrest Head footpath signs
There are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby once you're back in Windermere. If you cross over the A591 to enter Windermere, use the nearby pedestrian crossing to do so. From the pelican crossing, turn left along the pavement and then right down the main road through the centre of Windermere.
Over on the left, you can see Windermere train station, and next to it is Booths if you want to do some shopping. From there, we'll just head down this street.
OPA Greek restaurant in Windermere
The first eating place we pass is OPA, a Greek bar and restaurant. It's a good choice if you want a proper sit-down meal after the walk, rather than just a quick coffee stop. The road ahead that approaches us, we will walk back along that road in the end, but for now, we'll just continue along the left-hand side.
Next, you pass Treasure Mountain if you fancy some Chinese food. It's a Chinese restaurant and takeaway, making it a convenient choice if you want something hot and filling after your walk.
The Elleray pub and hotel in Windermere
Then, across the road, you can see the Elleray, a pub and hotel, and another convenient spot to stop for food or a drink after the walk.
The Crafty Baa pub in Windermere
As you walk along the road, on the opposite side, you can also see the Crafty Baa and the Queens. The Crafty Baa is probably my most-visited pub in Windermere, quite quirky and with a good selection of beers. They claim to have over 100 craft beers in their fridges and 100 whiskies, including the world's two strongest beers, but I can't say I've tried them. They serve a variety of pizzas, pies, salads, and sandwiches, and it is dog-friendly as well.
The Queens in Windermere
Next to that, the Queens is another pub serving a variety of drinks, including real ale. I believe it is dog-friendly and has screens showing Sky Sports.
Brown Sugar in Windermere
Keep walking along this left-hand side, and around the corner ahead, you can see Brown Sugar. They've got tables outside and seating upstairs on the balcony as well, which is a lovely touch if the weather stays nice. It feels more like a cafe, bar, and restaurant all in one rather than just a coffee shop. They serve a wide range of food and drinks, and again, I believe dogs are allowed downstairs.
Then just next door is Magic Wok, another choice if you're after a takeaway or a quick bite. That one is takeaway only. We pass a variety of shops as we go down.
The Cowshed cafe in Windermere
And then, across the road on the other side, there's Cowshed, which is more of a cafe stop if you're after coffee and cake rather than a full meal, besides sandwiches and cakes. They also serve toasties and pies.
We carry on down this side of the road. If you were staying locally, there's a wine shop there, if you wanted to pick something up.
And then we pass Tilly's Bar and Kitchen, where they serve freshly prepared homemade dishes each day, along with draught beers, wines, coffees, cocktails, and soft drinks. I believe dogs are allowed if kept on a short lead.
Then on the other side, at the corner, is Popeye's Pizzeria and Grill, where you can try pizzas, burgers, wraps, kebabs, and chips.
Keep going along the road, then pass Greggs, which can now be found in most towns across the country. Now, with over 3,000 shops in the UK and sales exceeding £2 billion, that's a lot of sausage rolls and steak bakes!
We pass the Post Office, and there are side streets to the side that you might want to explore.
Continuing on, we pass the Prince of India, the Tandoori restaurant and takeaway, offering another evening meal option if you're staying in Windermere.
If you're staying locally, you've got the butchers just across the road, and then we pass the Co-op.
The Brew Room in Windermere
Next to the Co-op is the Brew Room, another café stop where they serve all-day breakfasts and a varied lunch menu, along with, as you'd expect from their name, a selection of coffees and teas.
Next door to that, if you fancy an ice cream, you'll find Sugarfinery. Besides ices, they offer a very wide range of sweets.
Cafe Italia in Windermere
Then, at the corner on the other side of the road with the large red frontage, there is Cafe Italia, which offers plenty of seating. It has a wide range of salads, snacks, mains, pizzas, pasta, along with various alcoholic drinks, teas, coffees, and desserts.
Next, we pass Topios, which serves Mediterranean tapas, traditional small plates, and Spanish beers.
And then we reach the street corner here. Before we carry on, as we're going to turn around and head back up the other street, there is a car park in case you need it.
Broad Street Car Park in Windermere
To find it, turn left here onto Broad Street. You'll see a large chargeable car park on the right-hand side. This is Broad Street car park, so you can park there if you'd like.
Back at the corner, we turn right and walk along the left side of Café Italia, with Sainsbury's opposite the road.
Homeground Coffee and Kitchen in Windermere
Also, across the road, just to the left of Sainsbury's, is Homeground Coffee and Kitchen, which offers a selection of sweet and savoury items, as well as coffees and teas.
Francine's restaurant in Windermere
Walking along the road, we pass Francine's, a bistro-style restaurant serving seafood and offering an à la carte menu.
Brambles Cafe (now Brambalino's Bistro) in Windermere
Next, we pass Brambles Cafe Bar, another casual place for food and drinks. I recently went past again, and it is now called Brambalino's Bistro, with a new menu.
Slate Cafe in Windermere
Walking on, we reach Slate, another licensed cafe bar that offers breakfasts, light bites, desserts, and a selection of drinks.
Bandito Burrito in Windermere
The place across the road with the red window is Bandito Burrito, a Mexican restaurant and takeaway offering a variety of burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and sandwiches.
As we continue along the road, you can see we've got the Queens again on the right-hand side. This time, we take the left-hand turn. Then, take the first right, which is signposted, Kendal.
The Lamplighter dining rooms in Windermere
On the other side, the larger building with outdoor seating is the Lamplighter Hotel restaurant and bar. Its dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a wide à la carte menu. Then we continue along the road.
Pass the Greek restaurant again, and you will arrive at the junction opposite where we started, at the footpath sign for Orrest Head.
If you're hungry, you could always eat first and then go for the walk, as walking after a meal helps reduce blood sugar spikes.
Don't forget to watch the full walk video, which also includes a brief fly-through of the walk created in the Ordnance Survey app. This provides more perspective on the walk and the area. You can also see the route around places to eat and drink.
If you enjoy these videos, please click the like button, subscribe to our channel, and hit the notification bell so you know when any new walks are uploaded. Your likes and comments do help promote our channel.
Gifts and presents for hikers and walkers
Are you struggling to pick the perfect gift for your hiking-loving friend or family member? Don't fret! Explore our curated selection of top-notch gifts for walkers and hikers that will have them trekking with joy on their special day.
What to wear and take on your walk or hike
Whether you are a seasoned hiker or new to walking, wearing and taking suitable hiking kit and clothing is essential for a day hike for your comfort and safety. So we have put together a hiking essentials checklist to cover all you'll need. Our Hiking Essentials checklist for 2026 takes you through planning your walk, the hiking essentials checklist itself, optional extras, explanations, and recommendations for all the hiking essentials.
Check out the reviews for this walk:
