From the M6, take Junction 36, signed to Windermere and Kendal and South Lakes. Follow the A590 to the first junction where you have a choice:

Using the Ferry
You can take the A591 signed to Windermere and go along to the Plumgarths roundabout where you take the left-hand road signed ‘‘The Ferry” and Crook. This takes you along a lovely winding road for about 12 minutes and you drop down to the ferry – just follow the signs.

The ferry leaves that side at 10 to the hour, ten past and half past. You pay £2.50 per crossing. It’s fun to arrive this way. In high season, between about 10.30 and 5.30, there may be a long queue.

Once across the ferry, just follow the road towards Hawkshead. Drive through Far Sawrey and into Near Sawrey. You pass the Tower Bank Arms pub on your left, keep going past the Sawrey House Hotel, ignore the first little road on the left and take the next lane on the left, just after Beechmount B&B and a few yards past the telephone box.

The Garth is the house facing you, you drive round the back of it and our drive is just on the right as you go around the bend. Take a deep breath of Lakeland air and start relaxing.

Avoiding the Ferry
Continue along the A590 until you get to Newby Bridge. At the roundabout go straight on, signed to Barrow and Ulverston and after about 500 yards take the right turn, over the narrow bridge at The Swan Hotel and follow the road all the way up the west side of the Lake, through Lakeside, along a lovely, winding, woodland road, following the signs for Hawkshead, all the way up to the bottom of Esthwaite Water.

Look carefully for the little road signed to Sawrey – it’s an acute right turn -(if you pass the Trout Farm you’ve gone too far) and follow this about 500 yards until it divides just near a group of houses. Take the left hand lane up the hill and our drive is on the sharp left hand bend (a bit of a tight turn). Warm welcome and a cup of tea will be waiting.

From Ambleside
If you approach from the Ambleside area, follow the signs out of Ambleside for Langdale and Coniston and at Clappergate take the sharp left turn over the bridge and follow the signs for Hawkshead. Drive through Hawkshead and follow the signs for The Ferry.

You drive along with Esthwaite Water on your right.You wind away from the lake and pass Ees Wyke Hotel on your right, 50 yards after this take the little lane on the right, just before Beechmount B&B.

The Garth is the house facing you, you drive round the back of it and our drive is just on the right as you go around the bend.