Route: Brackenthwaite Hows
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 19th January 2020
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mixed cloud and sun, frosty
Brackenthwaite Hows, known locally as Lanthwaite Hill, is one of my favourite places in the Lake District. 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
The hill and surrounding woodland have recently been purchased by the National Trust, which will preserve this place for future generations
I 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, I turned left up a steepish path through Lanthwaite Wood. At a junction I turned left again to continue uphill, climbing a steep rocky staircase along the way
After leaving the woods via a deer gate I was soon at the top of the hill, admiring the superb views over Lorton Vale, Loweswater and Crummock Water. I 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
The path descends to the eastern shore of Crummock Water, and when I arrived at the lakeshore I followed the path to the foot of the lake, from where there were more good views towards Mellbreak and Rannerdale Knotts, though blinding sun made it impossible to take photos in that direction. From this point there are two ways back to the start – a path which follows the bank of the River Cocker, and the wide track leading through Lanthwaite Wood. I opted for the track today, and 5 minutes later was back to the car park to end a short but very sweet 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
Before I set off on the walk, I made a quick detour to the head of Crummock Water and Woodhouse Islands
At the other end of Crummock Water, the start of the walk from the car park at Scale Hill, looking back to the monitoring station by the River Cocker
There are a couple of steep rocky staircases to negotiate on the short climb to the top of Brackenthwaite Hows
I reach the top of Lanthwaite Wood
I exit the wood via this deer gate to enter onto Brackenthwaite Hows
The grassy path heads towards Whiteside
Looking back
Sweet Lorton Vale from the top of the hill
Loweswater - the lake itself is just out of view
Crummock Water - blinding low sunlight made it impossible to take a photo looking along the lake
Lanthwaite Green at the foot of Grasmoor
The Loweswater Pheasant upper centre - Holme Wood was planted by the Marshall family, friends of William Wordsworth, in the shape of a pheasant, the yellowing larch leaves in contrast with the dark green of spruce and fir
I descend the grassy slopes of the hill
Having re-entered Lanthwaite Wood, I follow a path around its edge, with a dry stone wall on my left...
The path descends to the shore of Crummock Water, with Liza Beck on my left
The boathouse on the east shore of Crummock Water
I follow a path towards the nearby foot of the lake...
The foot of Crummock Water, looking towards Mellbreak. The view to the head of the lake is a wonderful one, but the low sun made it impossible to record on camera
Looking back to the lake as I head back to the start via a wide track (there is an alternative path along the bank of the River Cocker)...
Back to the start - the plaque on the monitoring station shows the height of the River Cocker during the 2009 floods
