Route: Lanthwaite Hill
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 29th December 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 2.8 miles
Weather: Mixture of sun and cloud, good light
The weather forecast today was for ‘thick cloud’ and in view of this we hadn’t made any plans for a walk, but as the morning went on there were some promising signs in the sky so we decided on a short local walk. Most of the local car parks were full thanks to our late start and an influx of visitors over the New Year period, but we managed to find a space at Lanthwaite Green
With no route in mind at this stage we set off towards Crummock Water and as we did so a route gradually formed in our minds. We decided to visit Lanthwaite Hill which has one of the best views in the district in proportion to the effort involved in getting there. After an easy climb through Lanthwaite Wood we were soon at the summit and as luck would have it there was some dramatic light, giving glorious views in all directions
We then descended to Pickett Howe and after crossing the Buttermere road we climbed up to the elevated Lorton Vale path, one of our favourites, and followed this back to the start
Despite the beauty of the surroundings, and the fact that this is peak season in the Lake District, we only saw a handful of people along the way
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 before we set off this morning
Mellbreak north top from the car park by Lanthwaite Green Farm
…and looking the other way as a couple of walkers head towards Whin Benn leading up to Whiteside
Dramatic skies over Rannerdale Knotts
Tindle Crag
We follow the path towards Lanthwaite Wood
Looking back to the foot of Grasmoor…
…and to Whiteside
Lanthwaite at the foot of Grasmoor
We follow the path around the edge of Lanthwaite Wood…
We pass through this deer gate onto Lanthwaite Hill
Looking west to Loweswater and Carling Knott
Rannerdale Knotts
Gilly admires the view from the top of Lanthwaite Hill…
…Gasgale Gill and Grasmoor - and the starting place of our walk…
…Sweet Lorton Vale…
…Rannerdale Knotts and Crummock Water…
Rannerdale Knotts again
We descend the ridge in the direction of Low Fell
Just before the deer gate we turn sharp right to follow a faint path down the hillside
Looking back along the path, with Whiteside in the background
We descend to the dry stone wll below, with views of Lorton Vale ahead…
On the floor of the valley now, we follow the path beside the wall
Thousands of trees have been planted in this area, and parts of it are unattractive - but that will soon pass
Fellbarrow
Whiteside
Pickett Howe
Just beyond Pickett Howe we cross the Buttermere road and follow the path on the other side
We then cross the footbridge over Liza Beck
We head uphill to join the path along the foot of Whiteside, which follows the dry stone wall
Herdy
The path runs above the wall in the direction of Grasmoor
Looking back…
…and forward
Mellbreak seen as we approach Lanthwaite Green
The footbridge over Gasgale Gill
Gasgale Gill
After crossing the gill it’s a short stroll back to the start
Back home, it seems as though the red squirrel has hardly moved
