Route: Brackenthwaite Hows
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 21st November 2024
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, Phil and Denise
Distance: 3.0 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: Sunny, very cold, around -5C
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
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. The ground was frozen solid, so we kept our boots dry today. 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. Blinding low sun made it impossible to take a photo of Crummock Water as we looked south
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 to the end of the walk, a great way to delebrate my birthday
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)
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Early morning, and a fieldfare in the garden...
...and a red squirrel
A short while later, a view of Mellbreak from the car park at Lanthwaite Green
We cross the Buttermere road and head towards Whiteside
Looking back to the start, with Crummock Water making an appearance below Mellbreak
We cross the footbridge over Liza Beck
We follow a path below Whiteside which runs for several miles along Lorton Vale
Looking back to the Loweswater Fells
Our destination, Brackenthwaite Hows and its ridge mid-picture
We follow the path along Lorton Vale, heading north
Brackenthwaite Hows
We leave the valley path and turn left through a gate, heading towards the northern end of Brackenthwaite Hows
At the far end of the field we cross the bridge over Lize Beck, and then cross the Buttermere road
Low Fell in the background as we pass above Pickett Howe
Frozen oak leaves, a reminder that it was a bitterly cold day, despite the sun and blue skies
Looking across to Whiteside as we ascend the gentle slopes of Brackenthwaite Hows
Grasmoor on our left
Low Fell on our right
The top of Brackenthwaite Hows as the path curves round to the right
Views from the top of Brackenthwaite Hows - Lanthwaite Green, where we started the walk...
Loweswater...
Lorton Vale...
Low Fell
We descend from the hill, initially in the direction of Loweswater
We then head towards Crummock Water
We enter Lanthwaite Wood
We follow a path around the edge of Lanthwaite Wood
Grasmoor seen through a gap in the trees
We leave Lanthwaite Wood via a gate and follow a path across this field, giving the cows a wide berth
We arrive back at Lanthwaite Green to end a wonderful short walk
