The Horseshoe Hack
The Hack is 13 miles and includes 1330m of ascent. The Hack is for experienced walkers who must carry a 1:25000 scale Ordnance Survey map and compass. Walkers must be experienced in navigation in bad weather conditions.
From Kentmere Village Hall (Checkpoint 4) turn left onto the road, follow it round, keeping left until it runs out, then turn right for the footpath to Garburn Pass. Follow the path, climbing all the way to Checkpoint 3.
On leaving the checkpoint, take the left turn on to the fell path. A wall appears on the right, follow this north crossing at a wall corner. Continue keeping to the wall, along well-trodden paths across Yoke to the cairn. Continue down and up to Ill Bell (past another cairn), then down and up again to Froswick (another cairn) then down along the ridge crest. Keep left on the main path as you walk uphill to Thornthwaite Beacon, where you will come to Checkpoint 5. After the checkpoint turn east on to the High Street Roman Road and when you reach the wall swing right along the path east to Mardale Ill Bell, then south-east to Nan Bield pass where you will find a shelter. Continue east along the path uphill to Harter Fell, where you will find a cairn and a fence. Turn right and follow the fence south over the Knowe and Kentmere Pike. Continue south east on the path, keeping left to the stile over a wall by a fence, then up to Shipman Knotts (cairn). Follow the path by the wall south to the junction with the bridleway to Sadgill. Turn left through the gate to Checkpoint 6.
From the checkpoint keep on the track to Kentmere. Turn left at the end and follow the road until you come to a stile on your right. Go over the stile and continue down until the next stile. Go over this stile and cross the bridleway. Go over the wooden bridge to another small stile, then keep left along the walled footpath. Keep to the track to the left and follow it until you reach the church. Turn right and go to the finish at the Village Hall.
From Kentmere Village Hall (Checkpoint 4) turn left onto the road, follow it round, keeping left until it runs out, then turn right for the footpath to Garburn Pass. Follow the path, climbing all the way to Checkpoint 3.
On leaving the checkpoint, take the left turn on to the fell path. A wall appears on the right, follow this north crossing at a wall corner. Continue keeping to the wall, along well-trodden paths across Yoke to the cairn. Continue down and up to Ill Bell (past another cairn), then down and up again to Froswick (another cairn) then down along the ridge crest. Keep left on the main path as you walk uphill to Thornthwaite Beacon, where you will come to Checkpoint 5. After the checkpoint turn east on to the High Street Roman Road and when you reach the wall swing right along the path east to Mardale Ill Bell, then south-east to Nan Bield pass where you will find a shelter. Continue east along the path uphill to Harter Fell, where you will find a cairn and a fence. Turn right and follow the fence south over the Knowe and Kentmere Pike. Continue south east on the path, keeping left to the stile over a wall by a fence, then up to Shipman Knotts (cairn). Follow the path by the wall south to the junction with the bridleway to Sadgill. Turn left through the gate to Checkpoint 6.
From the checkpoint keep on the track to Kentmere. Turn left at the end and follow the road until you come to a stile on your right. Go over the stile and continue down until the next stile. Go over this stile and cross the bridleway. Go over the wooden bridge to another small stile, then keep left along the walled footpath. Keep to the track to the left and follow it until you reach the church. Turn right and go to the finish at the Village Hall.
Route maps and profiles reproduced with the kind permission of Memory Map.