The walk commences from outside the Shap's old Market Hall (c. 17th century) then goes north along the main street (A6) as far as the fire station. At this point turn left and walk up the side road for about 50 yards, then turn left again on West Close. On the right-hand side of this cul-de-sac, a footpath sign will be seen pointing to a field gate set back between a bungalow and Wasdale House. Take this path, signposted to Keld, then ascend along, narrow field that shows its distinct gleedal origins. At the end of this you cross another long, ancient field, but this time at its narrowest point. The next field passed through Is much larger, but in this walkers will note the ancient standing stone called the Goggleby Stone. At the foot of the field the path crosses a walled land at right angles, then crosses two more pastures eventually running parallel with Keld Lane. Before the path reaches the small hamlet of Keld, it joins the lane and then follows it down to Keld with its ancient chapel which is now in the care of the National Trust.
At the bottom of the hamlet a track turns off to the left and from here a path leads down to the ford at Keld Dub. Cross the beck and take the footpath which heads north and east past Steps Hall joining another path at GR 560 135. This then goes due south along the 560 grid line, eventually reaching the road leading to Wet Sleddale Reservoir. Take this as it runs on the south side of the river coming from the reservoir, and walk to GR 553 117 where a bridleway is found to lead you round the side of Wet Sleddale Reservoir. At GR 547 112 the bridleway is left and a 'permitted path' is followed to GR 540 110 where a footbridge allows walkers to cross Sleddale Beck with dry feet. On the opposite side of the bridge the permitted path then heads north-north-east to rejoin the deviated path at GR 541 113. Rejoin the public footpath at this point and continue north-west up the hillside past Sleddale Hall to the top of the escarpment at White Crag where you join a bridleway at GR 538 117. Take the bridleway south-west as it follows the edge of the Sleddale escarpment, with Swindale Common over to the right. Presently the bridleway crosses the watershed between Sleddale and Mosedale, before it passes Scam Matthew and descends into the valley beyond. Thereafter the bridleway turns north to reach Mosedale Beck, but on the opposite side it resumes its south-westerly direction and passes Mosedale Cottage which is overlooked by the old quarry workings high up the hillside on the right. As the bridleway continues upwards, you soon find yourself passing over another watershed, this time between Mosedale and Long Sleddale.
Having descended into the upper part of Long Sleddale, you reach GR 478 085 near Wren Gill. At this location you meet the 'Road Used as a Public Path' which comes up Long Sleddale; turn right onto this and follow it up to the point where it becomes a bridleway. You now begin your ascent of Gatesgarth Pass, following the ancient trade route as it climbs the bridleway to the 600 metre contour, here the walk crosses the shoulder of yet another watershed between Adam Seat and Artlecrag Pike. From there it is all down hill, unless you decide to swing across Harter Fell, Nan Beild Pass and Small Water before descending down to Mardale Head. Most walkers, however, will take the bridleway down the side of Gatesgarth Beck to reach the head of Haweswater where a small car park is found at the end of the long road which comes up the reservoir to Mardale Head.
From the car park take the footpath over to the footbridge which crosses Mardale Beck. On crossing the beck, the path goes in a north-easterly direction up the lakeside to reach the wooded promontory or ness known as The Rigg. Views through the forest will reveal the tree-covered island, Wood Howe, which was once a little knoll above the village of Mardale. Today, except in very hot summers, the village lays drowned beneath 50 or 60 feet of water, but it occasionally comes back to life in times of drought and is worth exploring should you walk coincide with such an event. However, for the majority of walkers the only option will be to proceed through the wood and head north-west to Bowderthwaite Bridge. At this point cross Riggindale Beck and proceed north to GR 468 118 where the path forks. Take the left hand fork and head north-east to cross Randale Beck. The path then skirts along the edge of a wooded plantation and runs near Gate Crag before it passes the small bay below Flakenhowe. The path now takes a more northerly course passing Castle Crag (with the ancient fort beyond). After crossing Whelter Beck, and the associated waterfalls, the path curves through Bield and runs north-east below Whelter Knotts and Benty Howe, before crossing the four streams issuing on Laythwaite Crags. After passing over the last of these, Nook Sike, the path continues along the edge of the forest before crossing Puttsgill Sike and Sandhill Sike. Running along the lower slopes of Sandhill Knotts, the path descends to cross Measand Beck just to the east of The Forces (waterfalls). To the east of the path a small bay covers the submerged ruins of Measand Hall which was flooded in the 1930s when the level of Haweswater was raised by Manchester Corporation Waterworks. From Measand the path turns into a cart track and continues along the side of Haweswater, although some distance above the shoreline, crossing a series of tributary streams by way of fords and footbridges. As the path nears the end of the reservoir the track passes an ancient homestead before it draws level with the huge concrete dam. Thereafter you continue along the edge of the wood, presently dropping down into the tiny hamlet of Burnbanks.
Before long you will notice a footpath leading off the road to your right and you now take this track as it leads through the woods. It shortly emerges on the 'new' road to Mardale Head which was constructed on the southern side of Haweswater when the reservoir flooded the old road up through Measand. Cross the road at this point, Naddle Bridge, then go through the stile opposite and cross over Naddle Beck. Having done so, you must now take another 'permitted path' which will lead you past Thornthwaite Force to Park Bridge where you rejoin a public footpath. Taking this footpath east-north-east as it passes Rawhead (GR 529 163) to meet the minor road at GR 532 163. After crossing this road the path turns north-east and descends to join the minor road leading to Rosgill. At the corner of this road take the footpath which heads south past Goodcroft and Fairy Crag to Parish Bridge, the track which heads over the fields to GR 538 158. Here the path turns south for a short while, but then swings due east, crosses a medieval earthworks and curves round through three fields to reach Abbey Bridge.
At this point you may wish to make a short detour to examine the remains of the old Abbey, the symbol used in the badge for the Shap Stroll; otherwise cross the bridge and take the footpath up the hill to the crossroads at GR 555 155. You can now return directly to Shap up the road, or take the more attractive route along the lane which heads south-east to join Keld Lane, passing another of Shap's historic standing stones en-route. Once you reach Keld Lane you must retrace the steps that you took at the outset of your walk, perhaps reflecting, as you dos o, on the magnificent scenery which you have enjoyed during the day.