Route: Lanthwaite Hill
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 30th December 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Cloudy
We’d planned a walk in the south of the district today but when we arrived there the weather was miserable – steady drizzle, thick fog and poor light. We didn’t even bother to get out of the car and drove straight back, having wasted most of the morning. By the time we arrived back home there was only time for a short walk, so we chose one of our favourite local spots – Lanthwaite Hill (shown on the OS map as Brackenthwaite Hows). It’s a superb vantage point and hardly any effort is required to get to the top
What this walk lacks in distance it more than makes up for in the sheer beauty and variety of the terrain
We parked in the National Trust car park near Scale Bridge and instead of heading along the obvious path ahead we turned steeply uphill to climb up through Lanthwaite Wood. There are a couple of short rocky sections to add interest, though they are very easy
The view from the top of Lanthwaite Hill was as beautiful as ever, with Lorton Vale, Loweswater, Crummock Water and the Buttermere fells displayed in all their splendour
We descended through Lanthwaite Wood to the foot of Crummock Water from where there is a view along the length of the lake, and then walked back along the track beside the River Cocker. What a great little walk this is
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
Red squirrel action today - and a splendid pheasant
Start of the short steep climb up Lanthwaite Hill...
Lanthwaite Hill walk
We exit Lanthwaite Wood via this deer gate
Lanthwaite Hill...
The massive flank of Whiteside
Looking back towards Loweswater, with Low Fell on the right
Sweet Lorton Vale
Crummock Water from the top of Lanthwaite Hill
Loweswater
Grasmoor
Mellbreak
Rannerdale Knotts and a snow clad High Stile Range
We descend from the hill and re-enter Lanthwaite Hill via another deer gate
Red Pike
We follow a path which hugs the edge of the wood...
Gasgale Gill, which divides Whiteside and Grasmoor
The path descends towards Crummock Water
Boathouse on the lakeshore
Bonnie performs The Shake
Looking across to Mellbreak as we follow the path along the eastern shore of the lake
View from the foot of Crummock Water
Mellbreak again
We follow the main track through Lanthwaite Wood back to the start
Looking across the River Cocker from the car park at the end of a short but sweet walk
