Crummock Water walk - Lanthwaite Hill

Route: Crummock Water

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 12th October 2023

Walkers: Andrew

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

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 narrow 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 and Grasmoor

The path descends to the eastern shore of Crummock Water. The lake will undergo radical changes in the years to come. It is currently a reservoir but United Utilities plan to change it back to a natural lake and to remove the concrete infrastructure at its foot. This is to be welcomed in my opinion, though there will be a considerable period of disruption. Click here to read more about this. After turning away from Crummock Water I followed the wide track leading through Lanthwaite Wood (an alternative route follows the bank of the River Cocker). This brought me back to the car park 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

Red squirrel in the garden on the morning of the walk

Later that day, the entrance into Lanthwaite Wood from the National Trust car park at Scale Hill. Instead of following the obvious path, I turn left uphill after passing through the gate