Route: Lanthwaite Hill
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 11th September 2024
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2.5 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny, good visibility, windy on the top
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve followed this route. I could probably do it blindfold – which would be pointless as there is beauty to behold every step of the way. It’s a perfect walk if time is limited, as was the case today
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 couple of steep rocky staircases along the way
After leaving the woods via a deer gate I was soon at the top of the hill, admiring the views over Lorton Vale, Loweswater and Crummock Water, shown in good light today following a poor spell of weather. 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. There are numerous criss-crosssing paths through the wood and it would be easy to go astray. Anyone following Andrew’s Walks is in no danger of getting lost if one simple rule is observed – keep the dry stone wall on your left
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
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)
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Entrance to Lanthwaite Wood from the National Trust car park at Scale Hill. Instead of following the obvious track through the wood I turn left after the gate and follow a narrow path uphill
At a junction I ignore another path on the right and continue uphill
A steep rocky section follows but there are no fears
I leave Lanthwaite Hill via this deer gate and enter onto Lanthwaite Hill
Whiteside ahead as I follow the path through the trees
Red Pike above Lanthwaite Wood
I continue up the easy slopes of Lanthwaite Hill
Sweet Lorton Vale
Looking back along the path towards the Loweswater Fells
Crummock Water from the top of Lanthwaite Hill
Lanthwaite Green at the foot of Grasmoor
Great Gable far left, Rannerdale Knotts below and the High Stile Range on the right
Mellbreak
Loweswater
Reluctantly I leave Lanthwaite Hill and descend towards Crummock Water
I enter into Lanthwaite Wood again...
The dry stone wall on my left continues until I reach Crummock Water...
Grasmoor through a gap in the trees
I descend to the shore of Crummock Water
Mellbreak on the far shore of Crummock Water
The boathouse on Crummock Water, where I turn right and follow the obvious path by the lake
View from the stony beach at the foot of Crummock Water
I turn my back on the lake and follow the easy track back to the start
