Route: Crummock Water
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 7th November 2024
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.5 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Sunny with some low cloud
After a long period of dull weather it was a pleasant surprise to see some blue sky at last. We decided to revisit one of our favourite short walks. 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. This walk has featured on my site many times, but 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 views over Lorton Vale to the north and Loweswater to the west. Looking south, the view was quite magical, with low cloud and mist over Crummock Water and the western fells. It was hard to leave such a scene but after drinking our fill we followed the easy path back down into Lanthwaite Wood. From here we kept to the path beside a dry stone wall around the edge of the wood, from which there are 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
From here we followed the wide track leading through Lanthwaite Wood (an alternative route follows the bank of the River Cocker). This brought us 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
We enter Lanthwaite Wood from the National Trust car park and turn left at the sign
Looking back at the start of the climb uphill
We follow a slanting path which leads to a rocky staircase
Mushroom season
We leave Lanthwaite Wood via the deer gate
Whiteside and Grasmoor as we climb up Lanthwaite Hill...
Looking back to Loweswater, the lake itself is unseen from here
Mist in Lorton Vale
Loweswater again
From the top of Lanthwaite Hill, low lying clouds swirling over Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water
Rannerdale Knotts
The clouds part to reveal a clearer view of Crummock Water
A band of low cloud moves across Loweswater...
...and disappears moments later
Crummock Water at the foot of Mellbreak
We descend into Lanthwaite Wood...
There are various criss crossing paths in the wood, but navigation is a simple affair - just keep the dry stone wall on your left...
Mount Grasmoor erupting
Autumn colours in Lanthwaite Wood...
We descend gently to the shore of Crummock Water
Boathouse on the eastern shore of Crummock Water...
The foot of Mellbreak
We follow the track through Lanthwaite Wood back to the start of a short but sweet walk...
Later that morning, a red squirrel in the garden...
