You will know the town of Windermere in the Lake District National Park, but have you made the short climb up Orrest Head?
To the north of the town, quite near the railway station, you will see the start of the old Victorian carriageway that has now been reinstated and forms the beginning of the walk to the summit.
The track climbs and never really has a steep gradient, although you are always going up until eventually you break through the tree line and reach a flatter rocky area that forms the summit.
The views are stunning:
The vast majority of the massive mountains that form the Lake District National Park lie to the north and the west, but nestled in between them is, of course, Windermere itself.
Looking south gives you a fantastic idea of the sheer size and scale of Windermere, reaching as far as the eye can see - quite incredible really.
The southern part of The Lakes as you can see is not as mountainous as its northern cousin, but there are still plenty of hills to navigate. The towns of Windermere and Bowness are clear to be seen on the shores of the lake.
As you look out towards the West, you are greeted by a huge range of mountains, some smooth, others less so.
Amongst these mountains are the famous summits of Old Man of Coniston, Scafell Pike, Great Gable, Fairfield, and the Langdale Pikes.
Luckily for the hardy souls that have made it up to the summit, there is a nice viewing platform with an indication of the mountains that you can see - there are (oddly enough) a couple of benches up there too, to sit and enjoy the view.
To be fair, for any seasoned walker or anyone with a modicum of fitness the walk up to the top of Orrest Head is a fairly simple and short one, but you are rewarded with some of the best views of the Lakes you can get.
It's well worth the trip.
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