1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
18. The Martindale Round
Date: 14/07/2021
Meeting Point: Patterdale Hotel Car Park, Patterdale, CA11 0NN
A fantastic lakes walk beginning in Patterdale. Leaving the village, we climb up towards Angletarn Pikes, before following the ridgeline towards Beda Head and Low Brock Crags. From there, we drop down into the valley before reaching Martindale.
We pick a route up Hallin Fell, passing its huge summit trig, before descending towards the shore of Lake Ullswater. Passing through Sandwick, we climb up the slope of Sleet Fell, then on to High Dodd, and finally Place Fell, our highest point at 657 metres.
From Place Fell, we descend gradually and return to Patterdale. A wonderful fell walk and a solid challenge in a beautiful part of the lakes.
Distance: 16.7 km (10.38 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆