Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which are indicated by the use of a dagger (†). All review words and opinions are my own. All photos are copyright property of Me Becoming Mum.

Discovering a place called Fairy Glen not only exists (we'll just ignore it's real name of Galleny Force) but is local to us, was amazing. If you're looking for places to explore in the Lake District, this ramble comes highly recommended! Read on to discover all about this walk and how to find this beautiful spot.

About Borrowdale's Fairy Glen

Where can I park?

We parked in a National Trust pay and display car park in Rosthwaite. It has very limited spaces and is also used for other walks such as Castle Crag. I recommend arriving early to guarantee a space.

To find the car park, use this post code: CA12 5XB.

If you are a NT member, you will need to scan your membership card in order to park for free. If you need to pay and display, you can pay with cash or card.

There is some parking in Sonethwaite, but it is limited so if you want to do a shorter walk, you need to get there early!

How far is the walk?

There and back is around 5 miles. How long this route takes is dependent on how fast you walk and who you have with you. For us, with our little ones in tow, it took about an hour to walk to Fairy Glen.

Is this walk suitable for children?

My children loved it!

With fairly level paths and a distance of around four miles, (and the additional fun of being on the lookout for fairies!) this is certainly a good walk to do with your family. In total we walked for around 2.5 hours, and despite being young (six and three!) both girls did fantastically.

It's not really pushchair friendly.

Although the terrain is mostly level, the path is sometimes narrow, with rough stony ground and occasional steps and bridges. This means it's not really suitable for pushchairs. I carried Munchkin in a sling there and back (and I promise I wasn't as grumpy as I look, I was making notes of the route to share here!)

Are there facilities available?

Both Squidgy and Pickle used the toilets at the National Trust Car Park before and after our walk, so luckily didn’t need to go during our time out. If your children are likely to need to go (or if you have younger ones who may need nappy changes) in the 2-3 hour window of your walk I recommend taking a carrier bag, tissues or even a My Carry Potty†.

N.B. If you do change nappies, have a picnic or create any rubbish, please take it away with you. Always leave the area as you would expect to find it.

Bonus

How to find Fairy Glen

N.B. These directions are based on parking in Rosthwaite car park.

Once parked, you want to walk left out the car park, retracing the way you drove to reach the B5289 and turn left. Along the road on the right is a track signposted to Stonethwaite, and the Hazelbank Hotel.

Journey to Fairy Glen, Galleny Force, Lake District, Cumbria

After following the track and crossing a bridge, turn right at the crossroads. Take the lower path, which is a level track with a wall to your left and the beck to your right. From here you want to follow the path through the fells. Scroll through to check out the stunning route:

A few highlights (in order in the above photos) along the way you can use to ensure you're on the correct path include:

A sign on the wall ahead of you pointing the ‘Path to Stonethwaite’ to the left.
Along your walk you will pass through a couple of different gates, with some beautiful views to your right before a cross roads with a bridge to Stonethwaite on your right. Here you want to head straight, following the signpost to Grasmere.
After a bit more walking and a couple more gates there is a small bridge. When the water is low you can walk across the stones of the beck, but if you choose to cross the bridge take care, as the sides are a little wobbly at the moment!
There is a wall to your right and if you have a look over it you can spot a campsite and a barn with bright blue doors!
Through another (yes another!) gate you'll need to cross the base of a shallow ghyll that leads into the beck.
There is a water gate on your right. Take care crossing (especially if it's been raining!) and make sure you keep hold of smaller children to help them across.
Ahead to your right you will see a bridge which leads to Galleny Force and the pools that make up Fairy Glen.
Walk towards it and go through the gate and down the steps to reach the bridge and cross it.

Welcome to Fairy Glen.

Fairy Glen, Galleny Force, Lake District, Cumbria

While there we sat on the rocks for a picnic (REMINDER: If you do the same, please take your rubbish away with you!) Plus, the girls had a paddle in some of the shallower pools (you can swim in the deeper ones if you’re brave enough), took some family photos and enjoyed the quiet, people-free beauty of the area.

If you fancy exploring further than the first pool, head up to Galleny Force where you'll find a bridge to cross. Follow the path down on the opposite bank to your original route and find a cascade of smaller falls and pools to explore.

Although this route is a bit rough under foot at times (I recommend sturdy walking boots!) it is absolutely stunning and all five of us enjoyed both the walk and exploring the pools at Fairy Glen.

For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful places we have on our Cumbrian doorstep check out my Lake District category here. Have you found somewhere free and amazing in the Lake District? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.

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