Route: Loweswater
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 19th January 2018
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.9 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
Weather: Dull and cloudy with hail at first, brightening later
This is one of my favourite walks, and one which I repeat several times a year. I could never grow weary of it. The scenery is incredibly varied, and the route passes along and through meadows, a deserted valley, fellside, open moorland, fields, ancient woodland and lakeshore. Along the way there are views of some of lakeland’s finest fells looking one way and the Irish Sea, the Solway Firth and Scotland looking the other
I parked as usual in the small National Trust car park at Maggie’s Bridge. A heavy hailstorm made me pause before setting off and I entertained thoughts about abandoning the walk. After a few minutes the storm abated and I decided to press on, leaving the car park via the track to High Nook Farm. At the head of the valley I joined the path which rises up and then snakes around the flanks of Carling Knott, giving superb views over Lorton Vale and Crummock Water. Whiteside and Grasmoor are also well seen from here
The path continues above Holme Wood and towards Fangs Brow. At the half way point of the walk I walked through the fields to Iredale Place to commence the return leg to Loweswater. This took me through Holme Wood which is well managed by the National Trust and then back through fields to the start. This section of the walk coincided with some brighter skies and good light, and I was glad to have persevered after the initial doubts
The walk was as enjoyable as ever and I hope to be treading these paths again soon
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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The start of today's walk as I leave the small car park at Maggie's Bridge
The track to High Nook Farm
It's hailing
The bridge before the farm was destroyed in recent floods and this path was closed - a temporary bridge has now been constructed
Beyond the farm, looking back over sweet Lorton Vale
A bleak scene as I reach the head of the valley and turn right along the flanks of Carling Knott
Bonnie knows this walk well, and wonders where the footbridge has gone. It too has been washed away in the floods, but fording High Nook Beck is not difficult
Whiteside and Grasmoor
Looking up...
...and looking down
The foot of Mellbreak and Crummock Water beyond
I reach the edge of Holme Wood, with a fine view to Whiteside, Grasmoor and Mellbreak
Looking back along the path - I saw 4 other walkers on the round today, and these were 2 of them
Path above Holme Wood - the hills of Scotland are visible in the distance
Loweswater below
The welcome sight of some blue sky
Bonnie
My favourite bench, overlooking Loweswater and Crummock Water
The path snakes its way around the foot of Burnbank Fell
A view back along the path
Fell ponies
Zooming in on the Solway Firth and the hills of Scotland, some 30 miles distant
The far point of the walk as I follow this path in the direction of the Loweswater fells
I walk past Iredale Place towards Jenkinson Place
Grasmoor above Loweswater...
I follow a line of ancient hawthorn trees
I turn left just before Hudson Place
Heading towards Loweswater
I turn right here and walk past Hudson Place
The heavenly path along the shore of Loweswater
Bonnie climbs the ladder in the wall at the entrance to Holme Wood
Holme Wood - a magical place...
There's a choice of paths, one by the lakeshore and another through the middle of the wood - they are equally good
I cross Holme Beck
Holme Beck
The bothy, available to rent from the National Trust
Loweswater
I continue along the path through Holme Wood
Darling Fell seen from the edge of the wood
Head of Loweswater, looking towards Whiteside
Whiteside again
High Thrushbank across the lake
A view back along the track
Grasmoor
Maggie's Bridge car park is just around the corner - and here ends of one of the best walks in the district
