Route: Lanthwaite Hill
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 18th March 2022
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.0 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: Sunny
Lanthwaite Hill, otherwise known as Brackenthwaite Hows, is one of my favourite places in the Lake District. This place has featured on my site many times, but I take the view that no two walks are ever the same – changing seasons and variations in the light and weather make for an infinite number of possibilities – and there’s always something new to be seen
The hill and surrounding woodland have recently been purchased by the National Trust, which will preserve this place for future generations
As on the last occasion here we parked in one of the free spaces by Lanthwaite Green Farm. We crossed the Buttermere road and headed towards Whin Ben, a ridge which leads up to Whiteside. After crossing the footbridge over Liza Beck we followed the delightful path above Lorton Vale. We kept a sharp lookout for Beck House on our left and when we drew level with it we left the valley path and passed through a gate. The path descended to Liza Beck, which we crossed for the second time and immediately after that we crossed the Buttermere road. We passed by Pickett Howe and started the climb up the slopes of Brackenthwaite Hows, following a faint path not shown on the OS maps
We were soon on the top of the hill admiring the wonderful views in all directions – Crummock Water and the western fells ahead, Loweswater on our right, Lorton Vale stretching out behind us and Whiteside and Grasmoor on our left. We descended towards Crummock Water and entered Lanthwaite Wood via a deer gate. We then followed a path beside a dry stone wall at the edge of the wood. Near the edge of the wood we followed a path out of it back to Lanthwaite Green and the end of an enjoyable short walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The view from the car park at Lanthwaite Green, looking across to Mellbreak
After crossing the Buttermere road we follow the sign in the direction of Whin Ben, which leads up to Whiteside
We cross the footbridge over Liza Beck and walk along the foot of Whiteside
Looking back to the start, with Crummock Water making an appearance below Mellbreak
We follow the path by the dry stone wall, with Lorton Vale on our left
Looking across the vale to our target, Lanthwaite Hill, in the middle of the photo below the Loweswater Fells
We leave the valley path here and descend to the Buttermere road, joining a path on the other side
Having crossed the road we pass through the deer gate to enter onto Brackenthwaite Hows
Grasmoor, as we head up the easy slopes
Looking back along Lorton Vale
We follow a faint path towards the ridge...
Looking back to Whiteside
On the ridge now, looking over Loweswater - the lake itself is just out of sight on the right
Views from the top of Lanthwaite Hill - Crummock Water
Lanthwaite Green, where we'd started from
What a view....
The start of the gentle descent into Lanthwaite Wood
Crummock Water
We follow a path around the edge of the wood...
Looking across to Grasmoor
We leave the wood via a gate and follow the path to Lanthwaite Green Farm and the car park on its right
We arrive at the Buttermere road and the end of the walk is just around the corner
