National Trust Footprint
We run a range of courses in partnership with the National Trust from the inspiring Footprint and its beautiful woodland camp nestled in the peaceful surroundings of the St Catherine's Wood just outside Windermere.
The Footprint was the first building in Cumbria to be constructed with straw bale walls. It has used car tyre foundations; local timber frames, floors and walkways; an oak shake roof; clay and lime plasters; highly efficient glazing and sheep’s wool insulation.
The woodland camp sits in beautiful mature woodland with rustic stump seats and canopies in case of rain. This is the base for the bushcraft courses, natural connections, school sessions and overnight camps.
See the National Trust website for more information about the Footprint.
Directions
Postcode LA23 1NH
By Train: Get the train to Windermere Station and then take a lovely 25 minute walk up through the woods to get to the Footprint. You can download the very lovely sketch map designed by Debbie Riviere.
By Car from Kendal:
Leave Kendal on A591 Ambleside Windermere road
Pass through Ings and the filling station on left.
On reaching Windermere (and the train station) do not turn left into town but continue towards Ambleside, Grasmere on A591.
Pass St Mary’s Church on LHS.
On reaching mini roundabout, turn RIGHT on to A592 to Ullswater and Patterdale, Kirkstone Pass.
Follow road for 200 metres. At the end of a long beech hedge on RHS there are some iron railings and a pair of stone pillars. You’ll see a silver NT Omega sign, turn RIGHT over the cattle grid onto track.
Follow track up the field and bear to the right across another a cattle grid.
By Car from Keswick:
Pass south through Ambleside on A591.
You will pass various large hotels on either side of road for few miles. After White Cross Bay caravan park on RHS, there is a sharp left hand bend and you will pass a petrol station on RHS. This is Troutbeck Bridge. Continue up the hill past the Sun Inn to a mini roundabout.
TURN LEFT at the mini roundabout signed A592 Ullswater, Patterdale, Kirkstone Pass.
Follow road for 200 metres. At the end of a long beech hedge on RHS there are some iron railings and a pair of stone pillars. You’ll see a silver NT Omega sign, turn RIGHT over the cattle grid onto track.
Follow track up the field and bear to the right across another a cattle grid.
