Route: Lanthwaite Hill
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 4th April 2025
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, Francine and Christian
Distance: 3.0 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: Sunny, windy on the top
Brackenthwaite Hows, otherwise known as Lanthwaite Hill, is situated near the head of Lorton Vale. This is one of my favourite places which we visit several times a year and we wanted to share this walk with our French friends Francine and Christian who were staying with us this week
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 which runs for much of the length of the valley. The path to Beck House lies on the left and is easily missed. Look out for a gate in the wall. We left the valley path here and descended through a field to an area before Liza Beck, which is normally very boggy. Thanks to several days of glorious weather and no rain the ground was drier than usual. We crossed the beck via a footbridge and immediately after that crossed the Buttermere road. After passing by Pickett Howe we started the easy climb up the slopes of Brackenthwaite Hows, following a faint path not shown on the OS maps. Bluebells grow here in profusion in May and the display rivals its famous neighbour, Rannerdale
We continued to follow the line of the ridge before arriving at the top of Brackenthwaite Hows, also known as Lanthwaite Hill. The views were as good as ever, and a large chunk of the western Lake District may be seen from here including Crummock Water, Loweswater and Lorton Vale – follow the link for a panorama
We descended towards Crummock Water and entered Lanthwaite Wood. We then followed a path beside a dry stone wall at the edge of the wood, leaving it via a gate to join a path back to Lanthwaite Green and the end of the 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
Looking towards Mellbreak at the start of the walk from the small car park at Lanthwaite Green
We cross the Buttermere road and head towards Whin Ben, which leads up to Whiteside
Looking back to Mellbreak as Gilly and Francine catch up on each other's news - they have been penfriends (and friends) for over 60 years
We cross the footbridge over Liza Beck
Looking across to the Loweswater Fells
Low Fell as we follow the path below Whiteside which runs along Lorton Vale
We leave the valley path here and pass through a gate to head towards Lanthwaite Hill
Looking back to Whiteside
We cross Liza Beck for the second time
Having crossed the Buttermere road we follow the path above Pickett Howe
We pass through the deer gate and enter onto Lanthwaite Hill, or Brackenthwaite Hows
We follow a faint path up the gentle slopes of the hill
Looking across to Low Fell
We gain the ridge of Brackenthwaite Hows...
Looking down to Lanthwaite Green, where we started the walk
We arrive at the top of Lanthwaite Hill, here looking towards Crummock Water and Mellbreak
Loweswater...
After enjoying the views for a while we descend in the direction of Crummock Water
Lanthwaite Wood and the High Stile Range beyond
We enter Lanthwaite Wood via the deer gate
We follow a path around the edge of the wood...
We leave the wood and follow the path back to Lanthwaite Green Farm
We arrive back at the Buttermere road at the end of the walk
