Route: Brackenthwaite Hows
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 21st May 2022
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.0 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: Sunny patches at first, gradually deteriorating with light rain at the end
Brackenthwaite Hows, otherwise known as Lanthwaite Hill, is one of my favourite places in the Lake District. This place 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 stars of the show today would be the bluebells, which grow in profusion on the flanks of the hill, and in Lanthwaite Wood
As on the last occasion here I parked in one of the free spaces by Lanthwaite Green Farm. I crossed the Buttermere road and headed towards Whin Ben, a ridge which leads up to Whiteside. After crossing the footbridge over Liza Beck I followed the delightful path above Lorton Vale. I kept a sharp lookout for Beck House on my left and when I drew level with it I left the valley path and passed through a gate. The path descended to Liza Beck, which I crossed for the second time and immediately after that I crossed the Buttermere road. I passed by Pickett Howe and started the easy climb up the slopes of Brackenthwaite Hows, following a faint path not shown on the OS maps. The bluebells soon came into view – a wonderful sight – and I walked through huge swathes of them as I continued along the path
I was soon on the top of the hill admiring the wonderful views in all directions – Crummock Water and the western fells ahead, Loweswater on my right, Lorton Vale stretching out behind me and Whiteside and Grasmoor on the left. Sadly the light had worsened by now and rain clouds were approaching
I descended towards Crummock Water and entered Lanthwaite Wood via a deer gate. I then followed a path beside a dry stone wall at the edge of the wood. Near the edge of the wood I followed a path out of it back to Lanthwaite Green and the end of a wonderful short 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 back over Lanthwaite Green to the start of the walk, with Crummock Water and Mellbreak beyond
I cross the footbridge over Liza Beck and follow a path which runs along the foot of Whiteside
The path heads north along Lorton Vale, with a dry stone wall on the left
Looking back to Mellbreak and the Loweswater fells
Lorton Vale
Another view back to Mellbreak
Looking across to my destination, Brackenthwaite Hows mid picture. A hint of blue on the hillside, and it looks as though the bluebells are still in flower
I leave the valley path here and follow another path beside the dry stone wall leading across the valley
Just before the Buttermere road and Beck House, I cross Liza Beck again
Having crossed the road, I pass by Pickett Howe. Instead of following the path by the wall, I turn uphill
A faint path leads up through the bluebells
Low Fell on the far side of the valley
More bluebells as I make my way up the ridge
Looking across to the path below Whiteside which I'd followed earlier
Low Fell again
Looking back along Lorton Vale
Mellbreak as I approach the top of Brackenthwaite Hows, also known as Lanthwaite Hill
Crummock Water
Rannerdale Knotts
Loweswater on my right as I start the descent from the hill
I follow the path down into Lanthwaite Wood, with Crummock Water beyond
The path skirts the edge of Lanthwaite Wood...
More bluebells in Lanthwaite Wood
I leave the wood via a gate and follow a path back to Lanthwaite Green
Whiteside ahead, and the end of the walk is just around the corner
