The route starts at Stonethwaite at the southern end of the Borrowdale valley, parking is limited in the village but more is available on the roadside towards the school, alternatively there is a pay and display car park a short distance away in Seatoller.

Follow the lane to Stonethwaite Church, beyond the church a path leads from the houses to cross fields to the roadside near Burthwaite Bridge, follow the road to the left for a short while until Strands Bridge, here a footpath leads to the left down a lane towards Thorneythwaite Farm continuing past the farm following the alley to Seathwaite Farm.

From Seathwaite Farm a good tracks leads south on a well made track to Stockley Bridge, cross the bridge to the wall turning left, along the wall, this is the Grains Gill Path. Follow this path crossing a wooden footbridge above rapids and follow the path alongside Ruddy Gill as it climbs to meet the Sty Head to Esk Hause path below the massive cliffs of Great End.

As you meet this path, just beyond a steep ravine is crossed turn left and climb until a junction in the path is met, turn right here onto a newly resurfaced path as it climbs directly to Esk Hause, a pass between Borrowdale and Eskdale to the south.

A good path climbs from the hause up the steep rocky path to the summit of Esk Pike before descending again towards Ore Gap, look out for the interesting rock in this area, as the name suggests the rock here contains iron ore and has slight magnetic properties.

The path continues, climbing again from ore gap climbing onto the northern shoulder of Bowfell where it turns towards the south and climbs to the wonderful rocky summit.

Retrace your steps to Ore Gap, this time descending to the north on a good path descending to Angle Tarn where a large path is met, this is the Esk Hause to Langdale path, turn right (east) and follow it for a short while as it climbs past the tarn to the shoulder above Rossett Gill, turn left from here following the ridge north the short distance to the summit of Rossett Pike.

A path continues north from Rossett Pike, traversing above Rossett Crag and Black Crag, a path leads above Black Crag and Mansey Pike, skirting Langdale Combe to meet the path at Stake Pass.

Turn left (north) on a good path, gentle at first before descending steeply alongside the impressive Stake Beck to the Langstrath Valley.

Cross the footbridge on Stake Beck and descend to a second footbridge crossing Langstrath Beck to meet a track following the beck north until a gate is met, a short detour from the path to the beck is worthwhile here to Langstrath Pot.

From the gate follow the track north , eventually becoming walled on both sides and entering woods, as the lane turns to the left a small path continues ahead, following the beck and crossing the fields back to Stonethwaite.