Waterfalls and the Cathedral Cavern, from Elterwater

From the Britannia Inn behind the big maple tree in the middle of the village walk down towards the bridge and Great Langdale Beck, just before turn left through the National Trust car park. Bear right and go through the gate alongside the beck onto the newly restored cobbled path.

The path passes through more gates and skirts round the north side of Elter Water, below the Langdale road. Behind you are fantastic views to the Langdale Pikes. Continue to the far end of the fields and go through the gate. Here the road is only just to your left, the wall has occasional gaps.

Reaching the footbridge, don't cross yet, but first carry on along the path for 50m (55 yards) and drop down to your right to the walkway onto rocks beside the Force. When the river is in spate the noise of the falls is tremendous, way louder than any of the lorries on the road.

Return to the path and turn left, walk back 100m (110 yards) again to the footbridge and cross. Bear left on the path through the woods. You get another view of the force from this side. Follow the path round to the right, let it sweep you right to the gate into the field.

Cross the field by the path, and bear right onto the farm track. At Park House - an interesting old barn, go through the small iron kissing gates to the left signposted "Colwith" and into the next field. Cross this field to Park farm.

Go through the farm yard, beware of the loose hens, and follow the directions of the small yellow footpath marker on to the path: not the farm driveway. At the end of the field climb over the stile, cross the next field bearing left to the stone stile. Go over the stile into the narrow lane.

Reaching the farm at Low Park cross the road, do not go into the farmyard, but bear slightly right to a kissing gate. Cross the field following the path to a stile. Follow the path along the terrace to the steps. Down the steps, and across this field to the minor road at the stone stile. Bear right and in 100m turn up left to the gate. Go through and bear right on the rocky path to the force.

There are good two viewpoints. The first is obvious. To continue to the second retrace your steps for 20m (22 yards) and turn right up stone steps. At the top bear right and follow the path round. The upper falls come into view.

To continue the walk, carry on following the path through the woodland. This gets a little boggy at times. Climb to the far wall corner. Go through the gate and along the edge of the field. Bear right through another gate towards the farm at High Park. Turn left up the driveway to the quiet lane. Turn right and follow the lane to Stang End.

At Stang End don't go into the farmyard but turn left into the lane which soon turns into a rough track with a wall on your right. If you look over the wall and fields you may catch a glimpse through the trees of one of the entrances to Cathedral Quarry.

Bear right through the gate and continue on the track to Hodge Close - which is one of the second set of buildings. Opposite The Old Forge, bear right through a gate. It isn't marked other than "close the gate". Follow the track as it winds down firstly left and then right. Below the spoil heap at the stream the track seemingly splits. Follow the middle one! it may appear to be a stream, certainly was in wet weather, but it does become a dry track a little way down.

Reaching the Tilberthwaite to Little Langdale bridleway, bear right. Go through the gate, and in 800m (880 yards), just before reaching the bridge over Greenburn Beck, is a stone stile in the wall to your left with oddly worded National Trust notice.

Climb through the stile, noting the sign beyond. Follow the rough eroded path ahead up into the trees, swinging left. In only 30m (33 yards) bear left off the remains of the path into a clearing. This is the top of a spoil heap and to your right is the long tunnel entrance. This is why you need a head torch. Go through the tunnel minding your head!

At the junction keep straight ahead and out over rocks into the light. Bear right around the edge of the rocky jumble, past the wooden railings to the upper cavern viewpoint.

You can clamber down the jumble of rocks behind you to the lower level, with care, but you may prefer to experience the tunnel again and go in the other entrance.

So retrace your steps back through the tunnel. Bear left and down to the stile and the track. turn left, shortly reaching the river and bridge turn left again. In 60m (66 yards) climb up the small stone stile high in the wall on your left. Bear right to the other entrance and go through the much shorter tunnel, you won't need a torch here, into the lower cavern.

Having explored in the cavern return to the lower track, and bear left.

In 100m (110 yards) go through the kissing gate on your right down to the delightful little stone Slater Bridge. Follow the path bearing left to climb above a little rocky knoll. Follow the path at the top of the fields beside the wall on your right, to High Birk Howe farm.

Bear left and follow the farm driveway to the Wrynose Pass road. Take the lane opposite signposted "Ambleside (challenging option)" which is part of national cycle route 37, via a short left then right staggered junction.

Follow the road up to the farm at Dale End and bear left onto the rough track. Cresting the pass below Howe Banks, continue on the track.

As you drop towards Elterwater keep right on the track.

Reaching the tarmac again bear right.

Reaching the road above Eltermere Inn bear left to return to the village on the other side of the bridge at the start of the walk.