Route: Lorton Vale
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 30th May 2021
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.1 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Mixed sun and cloud, warm but hazy
Lorton Vale is a chain of valleys stretching from Cockermouth in the north to Buttermere in the south. The middle section, with the villages of High Lorton and Low Lorton at its centre, may lack the drama of the Buttermere area but is full of rural charm and is an ideal place for a quiet walk, especially on a bank holiday such as today
There are several free parking spaces by the phone box at the crossroads in High Lorton. We set off in a clockwise direction so as to have the best views ahead of us as we progressed. We climbed out of the village via Boonbeck and Scales and joined the mid level path which runs along much the valley. The section near High Swinside is beautiful, with wonderful views along and across the valley, although these weren’t shown at their best today thanks to very hazy conditions looking into lakeland
Beyond High Swinside we joined the gated road for a short distance and then rejoined the path, which curves round the foot of Lorton Dodd. After some dithering we managed to ford Hope Beck (walking poles help, but we hadn’t brought them), and then carried on round the foot of Dodd along a path which is juicy at the best of times
It’s hard to leave such an enchanting path, but we had to do so at Miller Place in order to start the return leg. We walked down the outgang from the fellside and followed the quiet lane through Hopebeck. Just beyond Hopebeck we took a path across the fields back into High Lorton. It was two hours well spent in sylvan surroundings
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 pass the Lorton Village Shop, looking across to a row of old cottages in High Lorton
We leave the village road to follow a lane uphill leading to Boonbeck
Start of the footpath to Scales
Swinside ahead
A view along Lorton Vale is on our right
We pass through the small settlement of Scales
Fellbarrow on our right as we follow the elevated path along Lorton Vale
Looking back to Lorton
Path to High Swinside
View along Lorton Vale from High Swinside, with Mellbreak in the haze
Beyond High Swinside Farm, the track takes us in the direction of Lorton Dodd and Whiteside
Lorton Vale
Looking back to Lorton - the hills of Scotland may be seen from here, but it's too hazy today
Fellbarrow on the far side of the valley
We follow the path beside the dry stone wall, which runs along the full length of the valley
Hope Beck presents a small obstacle, but can be forded unless in spate
Another view across the vale
We leave the valley path above Miller Place and descend to the Hopebeck lane
A short section along the lane leading to Lorton
Low Fell on the other side of Lorton Vale
We pass through the small settlement of Hopebeck
A tunnel of hawthorn trees
We leave the lane here to walk through a succession of fields...
Fellbarrow on our left
Kirk Fell ahead
A short section along the lane to Low Swinside
We pass to the right of an old stone barn...
High Lorton ahead
Looking back to the barn
We aim for the stone wall on the edge of the village
"There is a yew tree, pride of Lorton Vale..." - the yew tree immortalised by William Wordsworth has taken a battering from gales in recent years
We cross the bridge over the beck in High Lorton, and the end of the walk is around the corner
