Start at The Britannia Inn, Elterwater With the Britannia Inn on your right head down the road past the public toilets and turn left, just prior to the road bridge into the National Trust Car Park. Bear right to the swing gate and follow the clear footpath alongside Great Langdale Beck to reach a lightly wooded area. Continue along the path through the trees to exit the wood through another swing gate alongside Elterwater.

The path continues through meadowland alongside the river to another swing gate adjacent to a large field gate. Continue alongside the River Brathay down to Skelwith Force (viewpoint). At the end of the path continue straight on between the slate quarry buildings to join up with the main Ambleside-Coniston Road at Skelwith Bridge.

Turn right and cross the road bridge, following the road uphill for about 200 yards to a stony track on your right (signposted Public Footpath). Follow this and bear left through a gate onto a stony footpath that ascends through a wooded area to join a farm track.

Bear right, passing some cottages on your right, go through the two swing gates to enter a field. The path makes its way across the pastureland to a large gate in the boundary fence.

Proceed along the gravel track to the farmstead of Park Farm. Continue along with the farm on your right, watching out for the Public Footpath sign and arrow on your right. Go between the outbuildings to a stile 100 yards away then cross a stone stile after 75 yards. The path proceeds between hedgerows to a wooden stile at the far end.

Cross the driveway to a small swing gate and descend the large sloping field to a stile at the edge of a wooded area. The path zigzags steeply downhill and across the centre of a small field to a lane. Turn right for about 100 yards to locate a stile on the left, (signposted Footpath). Cross the stiles and turn right along the fairly distinctive stony path that winds its way through the trees along side the river. After ¼ mile you arrive at the main waterfall.

Continue along the path, parallel to the river. The path eventually bears left away from the river and steeply ascends through the trees. Exit the woods via the large farm gate with a field on the opposite side. Walk along with the wall on your right then turn right through another wooden gate.

Continue towards the farm then turn left up the driveway to join the narrow lane. Turn right and continue along the lane to Stang End Farm. Follow the lane as it bears right between the buildings. Immediately after the farmhouse turn right through a large field gate with a Public Footpath sign.

The path is bordered by stonewalls on both sides, cross the stile then bear right to the small footbridge. Ascend the grassy slope to the road. Turn left for a short distance then next to a cottage turn right up a driveway (signposted as a Public Footpath). With the farm on your left pass through a wooden gate into a field. Continue straight on up the footpath to the top left of the field where you cross a stile in the wall.

After another 60 yards go through a gap in the wall then bear left as the path makes its way across the pastureland to a gate with a broad track on the other side. Turn right along the track, which gradually descends to a gate. Continue straight ahead on the wide stony track to join up with the head of a lane, keep straight on to an inverted Y junction where you turn left back into Elterwater.