Route: Crummock Water and Lanthwaite Hill
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 30th August 2026
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.7 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Cloudy with sunny spells
Today’s walk features Lanthwaite Hill and Crummock Water, both of which have appeared on these pages many times, but not in this combination, which was a first for me and turned out to be a delight every step of the way
I parked in the National Trust car park at Scale Hill. Instead of following the obvious path through Lanthwaite Wood, I branched off up a narrow path which leads steeply uphill. At a junction I took another left turn to continue up Lanthwaite Hill. It’s a steep rocky climb, but a short one, and I was soon at the top of the hill admiring the wonderful views over Crummock Water, Loweswater and Lorton Vale. From here I descended back into Lanthwaite Wood. There are various intersecting paths along the way, but no chance of going astray if you follow one simple rule – keep the dry stone wall on your left. This will bring you down to the stony beach and the boathouse on the eastern shore of Crummock Water
From here I followed the path to the foot of the lake, crossing the two bridges over the infant River Cocker. Beyond the weir I continued along the lakeshore path, passing by the Pump House. After walking along a stony beach I headed gently uphill towards the foot of Mellbreak before turning right to walk through Highpark and Lowpark. Beyond these two small settlements I followed the quiet country lanes back to the Loweswater road to complete a wonderful short circuit
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Entrance to Lanthwaite Wood from the Scale Hill car park. Instead of following the path ahead I turn left uphill
A steep and sometimes rocky path soon leads to the top of Lanthwaite Hill
Whiteside on my left as I head up the ridge
Sweet Lorton Vale
Mellbreak looms ahead as I approach the top of the hill
Crummock Water from Lanthwaite Hill
Loweswater - the lake itself is just out of sight
Looking down to the remains of a twelfth-century Pele tower, shown on the OS map as 'Peel'. I'll be walking around the Peel (right of picture) in due course
I re-enter Lanthwaite Wood via the deer gate
I follow the course of a dry stone wall around the edge of Lanthwaite Wood
The path begins to descend towards Crummock Water
On reaching the boathouse I turn right
I follow this path along the lakeshore
I arrive at the foot of Crummock Water, looking across the Mellbreak and the High Stile Range
I cross the bridge, one of two, over the River Cocker as it flows out of the lake
Looking over the weir at the foot of Crummock Water
I continue along the shore of the lake
Grasmoor
Mellbreak, a major feature of this walk
The leaning pine tree
I follow a delighful path towards the foot of Mellbreak...
I head down to another stony beach
View along Crummock Water, with Rannerdale Knotts on the left
It's possible to turn right at this bench, but I carry on around the lakeshore for a short distance
Just beyond the end of this beach I turn right and climb gently uphill...
I walk below the lower slopes of Mellbreak
A final view back along Crummock Water before I head inland
Another favourite place in the distance - Low Fell
I fork right here into the hamlet of Highpark
I cross Park Bridge and follow the quiet lane towards Muncaster House
Whiteside on the right as I continue along the lane
Low Fell again
Looking back across Scale Hill Bridge at the end of a wonderful walk around the foot of Crummock Water
