Route: Loweswater
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 7th December 2018
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.9 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
Weather: Very windy, some rain and hail, cloudy with a few patches of sun
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, leaving the car park via the track to High Nook Farm. At the head of the valley I forded High Nook Beck, which was trickier than usual thanks to torrential rain earlier in the week
I joined the old coffin road 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 wind was ferocious along this section, and I was glad to have chosen a lower level walk today
The path continues above Holme Wood and towards Fangs Brow. At the half way point of the walk I walked through sodden 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
Despite the beauty of the surroundings I didn’t see another walker during the course of 6 miles until I arrived back at Maggie’s Bridge
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
Torrential rain the day before the walk, and a red squirrel making good use of its bushy tail
Next morning I made a quick trip to Maryport Promenade
Surf's up
30 minutes later, I'm in Loweswater at the start of today's walk - I'll be returning along this track at the end
I cross Maggie's Bridge over Dub Beck
I head towards High Nook Farm below Gavel Fell and Blake Fell
Beyond the farm now, a view back to Darling Fell and Low Fell
Foot of Low Fell
Sweet Lorton Vale
The bridge over Highnook Beck was washed away a couple of years ago and hasn't been replaced. I manage to ford the beck without incident
I'm now on the ancient corpse road, where bodies were taken from Loweswater to the abbey at St Bees for Christian burial
Looking down on my earlier path, with Grasmoor and Mellbreak beyond
Another view down to the path, this time with Red Pike and High Stile in the distance
I reach the edge of Holme Wood as a hail shower sweeps in. High Nook Farm is below
The path contours around the fellside above Holme Wood
Looking back along the path as Crummock Water comes into view
For anyone wishing to cut short the walk, a path descends to the right from here to the shore of Loweswater
Windswept trees at the edge of the wood
Contrasting scenery as I head in the direction of the coast
The feet of Loweswater and Crummock Water (Loweswater is unusual in that it flows towards the fells)
Low Fell, Whiteside and Grasmoor from the wonderfully situated bench
A patch of sunshine on Low Fell
Looking back along the path
On the edge of the Lake District now - the hills of Scotland are just visible in the distance
Another view back
Fangs Brow ahead, but I turn right here to start the return leg
I cross the ladder stile
Mosser Fell
I pass above Iredale Place, now heading back towards Loweswater....
The track passes above Jenkinson Place
Loweswater comes into view...
I descend to the lakeshore path
Holme Wood - I take the path through the middle of the wood, although there is an alternative path to the left
Shelter in the wood, which was erected a couple of years ago by students from West Cumbria Learning Centre, and is surrounded by bird boxes which they built and installed
I continue through Holme Wood, owned and managed by the National Trust
Holme Beck can usually be forded, but not today and so I cross a footbridge to the right
The bothy, available to rent from the National Trust
Beyond the wood now, I follow the track in the direction of Mellbreak
I arrive back at the start of a walk which never fails to please, whatever the weather
