Route: Lanthwaite Hill
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 2nd April 2026
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, Lucy, Jody, Phoebe and Bobby
Distance: 2.5 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Sunny
It’s become a family tradition to visit Lanthwaite Hill at Easter. This is a wonderful walk which, in the space of less than three miles, encompasses the very best of lakeland – a short but steep rocky climb, a superlative view from the top of the hill, a woodland stroll and a return via the shore of my favourite lake, Crummock Water
We 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, we turned left up a narrow path through Lanthwaite Wood. At a junction we turned left again to continue uphill, climbing a couple of steep rocky staircases along the way
After leaving the woods via a deer gate we were soon at the top of Lanthwaite Hill, admiring the views over Lorton Vale, Loweswater and Crummock Water. After taking a few family photos we 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, where we lingered for a while at the stony beach by the boathouse
We followed the path above Crummock Water to the foot of the lake and then took the wide track back through Lanthwaite Wood to the Scale Hill car park to end another wonderful visit to this place
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
After leaving the Scale Hill car park we climb up through Lanthwaite Wood
There are a few short rocky sections along the way
We leave Lanthwaite Wood via the deer gate and enter onto Lanthwaite Hill, or Brackenthwaite Hows
We climb up the ridge, initially towards Whiteside
Lorton Vale on our left
Looking back to the Loweswater Fells...
Crummock Water and Mellbreak from Lanthwaite Hill
Lanthwaite Green at the foot of Grasmoor
Jody and Bobby admire the view over Crummock Water
Loweswater from Lanthwaite Hill
One for the family album - Phoebe, Lucy, Bobby and Jody
Mellbreak and Crummock Water
The start of the descent, initially in the direction of Loweswater
The path turns towards Crummock Water
We re-enter Lanthwaite Wood and follow a path around its perimeter...
Looking across to Grasmoor
We descend to Crummock Water beside a beck
We arrive at the boathouse on the east shore of Crummock Water
Mellbreak on the far shore of Crummock Water
A stand of pine trees below Mellbreak
We follow a path above the lake
We follow Phoebe and Lucy back to the start of a wonderful family walk
