Loweswater

Loweswater

Western Lake District

Route: Loweswater and Holme Wood

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 18th December 2016

Walkers: Andrew

Distance: 5.7 miles

Weather: Sunny intervals

This is one of our favourite local walks which in the space of 6 miles manages to cram in a huge variety of scenery including farmland, ancient woodland, a lake, a tarn, open moorland, a lonely valley and along the way offers wonderful views over the Solway Plain looking north (including Scotland in clear weather) and to the high lakeland fells looking south

I parked as usual at Maggie’s Bridge where there is space for 8-10 cars and followed the track to High Nook Farm – Wainwright used to stay here when he was researching his Guide to the Western Fells. After passing through the farmyard I carried on to the head of the valley before joining the wonderful terraced path above Holme Wood – the views from here are fabulous

The path reaches a height of over 1,000 feet, higher than one or two lakeland fells, but the climbing is so gentle that it’s hardly noticed. I carried on towards Fangs Brow, on the very edge of the Lake District, before turning back at Iredale Place and following the path past The Place (an ideal retreat for anyone looking to explore this area). I then walked through Holme Wood, and along the shore of Loweswater back to the start

I’ve followed this route on numerous occasions and never tire of it – I hope that the photos which follow will show why this is so…

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

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