Fellbarrow walk - Low Fell walk - Darling Fell walk

Route: Fellbarrow, Low Fell and Darling Fell

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 14th May 2022

Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, David and Becca

Distance: 6.4 miles

Ascent: 1,600 feet

Weather: Sunny but hazy

The Fellbarrow to Low Fell ridge is a long one and extends along much of the western side of Lorton Vale. Low Fell is a favourite of mine and although I was here quite recently (click here for that walk) I could never tire of the fell and the superlative view from it. We decided to vary the normal route today by including Fellbarrow, which would enable our nephew David to tick off another Wainwright

As this is a linear walk, we parked one car at the western end of Loweswater, where there is plenty of roadside parking. We then drove over in the other car to Low Lorton and parked near the bridge over the River Cocker. We followed the lane out of the village and branched off left to join the old Mosser Road, which is unfit for cars but provides a good springboard onto the slopes of Whin Fell below Fellbarrow. After a short easy climb we forked off left to join a track heading uphill along the early part of the ridge. Below Hatteringill Head we turned right uphill along a path beside a ruined dry stone wall. After climbing a ladder stile we were soon at the summit of Fellbarrow, marked by an OS trig point and a small cairn. The views were very hazy unfortunately

We continued along the undulating ridge towards Low Fell, enjoying the ever improving views of Crummock Water along the way and, after an easy climb, we reached a cairn which marks the north top of Low Fell. Anyone who stops here is missing a treat – to appreciate the beauty of the fell it’s necessary to carry on to a small cairn at the extreme end of the ridge, just below the south top. From here, in the words of Alfred Wainwright, ‘the view is of classical beauty, an inspired and inspiring vision of loveliness…a scene of lakes and mountains arranged to perfection’. Having enjoyed the scene we retraced our steps for a short distance and then made the energy sapping descent and re-ascent to Darling Fell, from where the views are almost as good as those from Low Fell

The descent from Darling Fell to Loweswater was a delight, as we savoured the views of the lake and the anticipation of a pint of Loweswater Gold at the famous Kirkstile Inn

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

The start of the walk from Low Lorton as we cross the bridge over the River Cocker

We follow the lane towards Low Bank Farm

The Old Mosser Road

Having left the road we follow a track at the start of the ridge between Fellbarrow and Low Fell

We'll continue along the track, which can be seen upper right of the picture, then leave it at Hatteringill

Looking across to Lorton and Lorton Vale, with Skiddaw in the distance

Broadmoor Hill

Lorton Vale again

We leave the track to join a faint path beside a ruined dry stone wall

David and Becca just below the summit

OS trig point at the summit of Fellbarrow

We set off along the undulating ridge to Low Fell....

Crummock Water comes into view as we start the climb up Low Fell...

Rannerdale Knotts and Mellbreak at the shores of Crummock Water

Lorton Vale again

North top of Low Fell

A down and an up to the south top follows

Crummock Water again

The south top of Low Fell, but the best view is just beyond it....

The classic view over Crummock Water and much of the western Lake District...

We retrace our steps for a short distance and make the slightly demoralising descent from Low Fell, only to have to climb back up to Darling Fell ahead