Walk around Semerwater - 4 miles

Overview of Walk

This walk requires a 10 minute car journey at the start and end.

A 4 mile circular walk around Semerwater which will take about 2 hours.

A few hills (but not too bad) as the route does not cling to the lakeside all the way.

Outbound Car Journey

Towards Hawes and over the river.
Turn left at the T-Junction and after about half a mile turn right to Burtersett.
Through Burtersett, onto Countersett and turn right to Marsett (the lake will be on your left).
Park the car at Marsett.

Leave Marsett via the track which doubles back to the left from the road you entered Marsett by. You will have the “river” immediately on your left.
Follow this track, it will bend to the right. As you approach the second gate you will see the footbridge to your right.
Over the bridge, walk on the track a little and you will see another footbridge on your left.
Over the bridge and then keep close to the wall on you right; after a hundred yards or so you will come to a stile
Through the stile and across the field; the next stile is to the right of the barn.
From this point it is largely straight on until you come to the road. You will keep to the right of the lake, just follow the path and stiles. Don’t be tempted to walk on the lakeside as there is no way through. You will pass to the right of the derelict Stalling Busk Church and graveyard.
Once you reach the road, turn left and follow the road, passing the shoreline car park and over the bridge.
After the bridge and just before the road starts to climb steeply, follow the footpath sign (to Marsett Lane) on your left.
Keeping go mainly straight on past the many reassuring footpath signs.
After about half a mile the stile will take you onto Marsett Lane.
Follow this tarmac road for about half a mile to Marsett and your car.

Return Car Journey

Back down Marsett Lane and turn sharp left at Countersett towards Burtersett.
Through Burtersett and turn left at the T-Junction towards Hawes.
As you approach Hawes go the left of the No Entry signs turn IMMEDIATE right towards Sedbusk.
Over the river and turn right at the T-junction.
Next left to Sedbusk.

N.B. If you have identified any corrections or improvements to these directions please amend as appropriate.

See over page for the “Ballad of Semerwater”

Deep asleep, deep asleep,

Deep asleep it lies,

The still lake of Semerwater

Under the still skies

And many a fathom

Many a fathom

Many a fathom below,

In a king’s tower and a queen’s bower

The fishes come and go

Once there stood by Semerwater

A mickle town and tall;

King’s tower and queen’s bower

And the wakeman on the wall.

Came a beggar halt and sore:

“I faint for lack of bread!”

King’s tower and queen’s bower

Cast him forth unfed

He knocke’d at the door of eller’s cot,

The eller’s cot in the dale.

They gave him of their oatcake,

They gave him of their ale.

He cursed aloud that city proud,

He cursed it in its pride;

He has cursed it into Semerwater

There to Bide

King’s tower and queen’s bower,

And a mickle town and tall;

By glimmer of scale and gleam of fin

Folk have seen them all.

King tower and queen’s bower,

And weed and reed in the gloom;

And a lost city in Semerwater,

Deep asleep till Doom.

Sir William Watson