Ponyshoe ? - It's like Horseshoe, but not as big Not too strenuous, though I think my companions thought differently !
NB this route gives you a long ascent and a short, steep descent - you may prefer to go the other way round

• Distance 17.6 km, 972m total ascent
• Terrain - mostly well trodden paths
• Refreshments - none
• Parking - there is room for about half a dozen cars in Kentmere - get there early

 Requires OS Outdoor Leisure Map 7 - Lake District South East - buy it here

Assuming you have managed to park in front of the church, walk a couple of hundred yards up the road, then take the driveway to the left, and as soon as you reach the buildings, take the signposted path to the right, which heads northwest, then west, taking you along Crabtree Brow and Garburn Pass by way of a well trodden track. When, after Garburn Pass, the path levels out, keep your eyes open for a track of to the right. If you miss this path, simply take the right hand path at the T-junction later on

This path, paved in places, will take you over Yoke (706m), Ill Bell (757m) and Froswick (720m+), with the Kent Valley falling away steeply to the right and the Kirkstone Pass to the left, with views of Windermere behind you

From Froswick, carry on down (then up!). Shortly after the fenceposts in the picture (left), the main path, the Roman 'High Street' that gives High Street its name, carries straight on, while you take the smaller path to the right,that circles round the end of Kentmere, taking you behind Gavel Crag, Bleathwaite Crag and on to Mardale Ill Bell, then down on to Nan Beild

From Mardale Ill Bell and Nan Beild, you should get a good look at Haweswater to the East. and if the weather is bad there is a small shelter at Nan Beildto get out of the wind. From the shelter the path drops down and ziz-zags to the south. then descends more gently past Kentmere Reservoir, eventually dropping down to the valley floor. Once at Overend, you are out of open country, and into more enclosed track - follow this until it joins the unclassified road, then take the road that drops down sharply on the right at the first junction, which will take you back to the church at Kentmere

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