Today's walk: Finsthwaite Heights (Wainwright's Outlying Fells p74)

AW's sketch of Newby Bridge now almost obliterated by trees

Finsthwaite Heights from Newby Bridge

Newby Bridge from the terrace of the Swan Inn

the start of the path onto Finsthwaite Heights

looking down the path on the east of the wall not the west as shown by AW

AW does not mention this signed viewpoint over the Levens valley

Finsthwaite Tower

zooming in on the 1799 inscription on the tower

AW's route forks left at this junction leaving the permissive path ..

.. descending to this open gate ..

.. and then to this one ..

.. which opens easily but carries a hostile notice on its other side

below it we join a right of way ..

.. which soon leads to the village of Finsthwaite

the bridge above Finsthwaite leading into the High Dam area

Low Dam

the dam of Low Dam

reflections in High Dam

looking to the island in High Dam

a closer look at the island

a good path now leads right round the lake

the dam of High Dam ..

.. and again from the west

the dam of Low Dam

Low Dam from its dam

Finsthwaite church from the east

Finsthwaite from the return track

zooming in on the church

AW mentions this, now ancient, seat at the entrance to the wood

ignore AW's route and turn right almost immediately following a waymark

other paths and the promised view of Windermere are obliterated by forestry
- the permitted path ignored below the tower joins the descent path here

there is now a woodland path which avoids most of the busy road back to Newby Bridge