Lanthwaite Hill

Route: Lanthwaite Hill

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 2nd March 2024

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 2.5 miles

Ascent: 400 feet

Weather: Mostly sunny, light covering of snow

We hadn’t planned a walk today, but overnight snow and early morning sun made it impossible to resist. Chores were postponed to another day as we set off for Lanthwaite Hill, also known as Brackenthwaite Hows. This walk 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. This is only a short walk, but in the space of 2 miles manages to cram in a wide variety of scenery, all of it beautiful

We parked as usual in the National Trust car park at Scale Hill. Instead of taking the obvious track ahead, which leads directly to the north shore of Crummock Water, we turned left up a narrow path through Lanthwaite Wood. At a junction we turned left again to continue uphill, climbing a steep rocky staircase along the way

After leaving the woods via a deer gate we were soon at the top of the hill, admiring the views over Lorton Vale, Loweswater and Crummock Water, which were enhanced by a covering of snow on the surrounding fells. We then followed the easy path back down into Lanthwaite Wood, following a path which hugs the edge of the woods, giving good views across to Lanthwaite Green and Grasmoor

The path descends to the eastern shore of Crummock Water. The lake will undergo radical changes in the years to come. It is currently a reservoir but United Utilities plan to change it back to a natural lake and to remove the concrete infrastructure at its foot. This is to be welcomed in my opinion, though there will be a considerable period of disruption. Click here to read more about this

We followed the wide track leading through Lanthwaite Wood (an alternative route follows the bank of the River Cocker). This brought us back to the car park and the end of a wonderful 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

A promising start to the day as dawn breaks over Lorton Vale

It's worth sharing a few photos of Mellbreak and the surrounding area before we set off on our walk...

I drove further along the valley as the sun gradually rose in the sky...

Crummock Water...

Mellbreak again...

...and its next door neighbour, Hen Comb - a modest fell but looking quite dramatic with a covering of snow

Rannerdale Knotts and the High Stile Range

An hour or so later, the start of today's short walk from the National Trust car park at Scale Hill. Instead of following the obvious track to the right we turn left after the gate and climb uphill