Miles without Stiles is a series of walks on easy surfaces, chosen for people with pushchairs, accompanied wheelchair users and walkers who prefer to take it easy. All of the walks incorporate flat, easy sections, and many have optional sections with rocky ground or increased gradient that may be navigated by walkers and those with off-road pushchairs. Wherever possible, the walks begin and/or end where there are facilities for refreshments.

AT THE northern end of Ullswater, surrounded by some of the biggest mountains in the Lake District, is the picturesque village of Patterdale. The views from here are spectacular and it is perhaps hardly surprising that this is also a popular starting point for some of the most challenging walks in the Lake District - Fairfield, Seat Sandal, Dollywaggon Pike and Helvellyn, the highest mountain in this part of the Lakes, can all be reached from Patterdale.

But it's not just the big mountains that draw people to this part of the Lake District the gentle valley walks also have their attractions Glenridding, Glencoyne, Aira Beck with its impressive Aira Force waterfall are all accessible from the A592 that follows Ullswater's northwest contours.

Grisedale Beck runs through Patterdale and flows into the northern shores of Ullswater. Our walk starts at Grisedale Bridge, opposite the fire and police stations, and heads up the valley towards Grisedale Tarn from which the beck gets its name. The walk takes you past mixed woodland and small conifer plantations and into a beautiful open valley landscape that extends for a couple of miles before rising sharply to Grisedale Tarn and on to Seat Sandal and Fairfield.

The track follows the beck closely and there are plenty of places to stop and rest to take in the fantastic views. The steep sided Grisedale Brow and Bleaberry Crag lie to the north, St Sunday Crag with its Chockstone Gullies are to the south and the dramatic Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Eagle Crag form the head of the valley to the west.

Routes The walk starts at Grisedale Bridge, off the A592, opposite the police and fire station at Patterdale (1). The tarmac lane is level for about 300 metres and then turns right and rises steeply for another 250 metres to Close Cottage (2). From here the lane continues to rise, but less steeply, for a further 500 metres before levelling off (3). Go through the gate and follow the lane you will pass Peppercorn Plantation on your left before walking into the wide, open Grisedale Valley. About 500 metres further, the lane changes from tarmac to unmade rough stone and gravel and becomes a little more difficult to manoeuvre (4). The options are to continue towards Elmhow Plantation (5) or to rest here before heading back again there are plenty of places to picnic along this section.

Overview: Tarmac lane with short steep section leads on to rough unmade road.

Gradient: One steep section of about 250 metres, gentle slopes for a further 500 metres the rest is generally level with only minor gradients.

Distance: 1.5km linear route (3km return).

Time: Allow 2.5 hours round trip.

Map Ref: OS Outdoor Leisure 5 (North Eastern area).

Start Point: Grid Ref: 391162 Parking: Public car park in Glenridding 1km from the bridge (cars do park on the side of the lane by Grisedale Bridge).

Refreshments: Glenridding and Patterdale.

Toilets: Glenridding and Patterdale.

Getting there Public transport: Stagecoach run its 108 service from Penrith to Glenridding and Patterdale. It runs five times a day starting 6.45am from Penrith the last returning bus from Patterdale is at 5.10pm. There is also a 517 service from Ambleside to Patterdale and Glenridding operating in the summer. For further details call Traveline on 0870-608-2608.

For motorists: Grisedale Bridge is on the A592 in Patterdale.