Route: Crummock Water
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 22nd November 2022
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.1 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
Crummock Water is often overlooked thanks to the proximity of its sister lake, Buttermere. However it’s equally beautiful, far quieter and provides more varied walking opportunities. One of these is the approach via Lanthwaite Hill, also known as Brackenthwaite Hows, 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. This is only a short walk, but in the space of 2 miles manages to cram in a wide variety of scenery, all of it beautiful
We 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, we turned left up a narrow path through Lanthwaite Wood. At a junction we turned left again to continue uphill, climbing a steep rocky staircase along the way
After leaving the woods via a deer gate we were soon at the top of the hill, admiring the superb views over Lorton Vale, Loweswater and Crummock Water. We 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 and Grasmoor
The path descends to the eastern shore of Crummock Water and, when we arrived at the lakeshore, we followed the path to the foot of the lake from where there are more good views towards Mellbreak and Rannerdale Knotts. 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 (the latter is shown on the route map). Today we walked back along the main track to end a walk which never fails to delight
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
Earlier in the week, autumn colours in North Cliffe Wood East Yorkshire
Back west, one of the rocky sections along the short climb up to Lanthwaite Hill
A glimpse of the Loweswater Fells as we gain height
We leave the woodland via this deer gate, with Whiteside looming ahead
We follow the path towards the top of Lanthwaite Hill
Whiteside again
Looking back to Low Fell and Lorton Vale...
...and now to Loweswater - the lake itself is unseen from here
Looking north along Lorton Vale
Loweswater from the top of Lanthwaite Hill
Zooming in on Holme Wood and the 'Loweswater Pheasant' - the wood was planted in the 1950s and was designed by the former Queen’s forester to resemble a pheasant
Lanthwaite Green at the foot of Grasmoor
Mellbreak with its head in the clouds as we descend from the hill
We follow a path which skirts around the edge of Lanthwaite Wood...
Looking across to Grasmoor
We descend to the boathouse on the shore of Crummock Water
The foot of Mellbreak on the far side of the lake
We follow the lakeshore path to the foot of Crummock Water
Pine tree at the foot of Crummock Water
The outflow of Crummock Water, marking the start of the River Cocker
The High Stile Range beyond the head of the lake
Looking across to the boathouse
We follow the main track back to the start, with the River Cocker below on our left...
Path through Lanthwaite Wood as we reach the end of the walk
Later that day, a red squirrel in the garden
A couple of days later, another welcome visitor
