Route: Darling Fell and Low Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 17th August 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.2 miles
Ascent: 1,500 feet
Weather: Sun and blue skies, hot
Two cars were needed for this linear walk, so Gilly and I drove to Thackthwaite and I left my car in the small parking space just outside the village. We then drove to Loweswater, where Gilly dropped me off at the start of the walk opposite the lane leading to Askill
I walked up the lane and joined the track known as the old Mosser Road. After a short distance I left the track and passed through a gate onto open fellside, taking a pathless course for a while before joining up with the path to the top of Darling Fell
The views from here are almost as good as those from Low Fell, which was my next destination. This involves a steep down and up, and a lot of huffing and puffing in today’s hot weather. The view from the southern end of Low Fell was as superlative as ever – this is perhaps my favourite spot in the Lake District
I then followed the Low Fell ridge north and descended back to Thackthwaite, enjoying some more lovely views as I did so. It was a wonderful couple of hours
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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Low Fell seen across Lorton Vale
A few minutes later, the start of the walk as I look up to Darling Fell from the parking space near Loweswater
Loweswater Fells as I walk up the track towards Askill
Loweswater and Holme Wood
Enjoying some shade
The track to Askill
Just before Askill I branch off up this grassy path
View back to Loweswater from the second gate
…and again from slightly higher up
Holme Wood
The old Mosser Road
On open fellside now, and looking back towards Scotland (barely visible right of picture) and the Solway Firth
I ascend Darling Fell following the line of the fence
The effort is well worthwhile - the views beyond this stile are superlative
Loweswater and Holme Wood
View from the top of Darling Fell - Crummock Water, Buttermere and a splendid array of fells
Having gained the height of Darling Fell I now have to surrender much of it, only to climb back up again to Low Fell
Heather and Holme Wood
View from the southern top of Low Fell, but there’s an even better view a little further along at the end of the ridge…
“A view of classical beauty, an inspired and inspiring vision of loveliness…a scene of lakes and mountains arranged to perfection” (Alfred Wainwright)
From the same spot, Mellbreak and Hen Comb, with lonely Mosedale in between the two…
…and now Loweswater and Carling Knott
Zooming in on Mosedale
It’s hard to turn away from views like these, but it was time to return and I follow the undulating ridge of Low Fell heading north
The purple tinge of heather on the flanks of Whiteside and Grasmoor
Looking across the other side of the ridge, contrasting scenery with the Solway Firth and Scottish hills in the far distance
I follow the ups and downs towards Watching Crag
Sweet Lorton Vale
Looking back to that view again…
Fellbarrow ahead, but I drop down from the ridge here descend into the valley
The grassy path zigzags down the fellside
Broadmoor Hill
I pass by the redundant old gate
As I round the corner, more views open up - Lorton Dodd and Ladyside Pike on the far side of Lorton Vale
Zooming in on Dodd
Crummock Water and the High Stile Range
As I walk down towards Thackthwaite there are lovely views across the fields to my right
Whiteside
Great Gable in the background towering above Rannerdale Knotts in the foreground
Back in Thackthwaite
Looking across Lorton Vale from the parking space at the end of a heavenly walk
Later that day, we drove to the West Cumbrian coast to catch the sun setting over the Irish Sea…
…and the moon rising over the lakeland fells
