Route: Crummock Water
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 21st November 2025
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, Phil and Denise
Distance: 3.0 miles
Ascent: 100 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny, snow on the ground, icy paths
Today was my birthday and, by way of celebration, I planned a walk which would include two of my favourite places – Crummock Water and the Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater. We parked in the National Trust car park and followed the obvious path through Lanthwaite Wood to the foot of the lake. A dusting of snow on the fells enhanced the beauty of the surroundings. We turned right and crossed the two footbridges where the River Cocker starts its journey to Cockermouth, and there joins the River Derwent. The weir and associated infrastructure are the subject of controversy at the moment as a result of plans by United Utilities to lower the lake level and carry out extensive works. See Friends of Crummock to understand what the debate is about
Beyond the weir we continued along the lakeshore path, passing by the Pump House. There were lovely views across to Whiteside and Grasmoor as we went along. After walking along a stony beach we headed gently uphill towards the foot of Mellbreak before turning right to walk through Highpark and Lowpark. Beyond these two small settlements we followed the lane to Loweswater for refreshments at the Kirkstile Inn. We’d intended that this would be a coffee break, but the icy paths had made our progress quite slow and by the time we arrived it was time for lunch, which was no hardship
The weather had deteriorated by the time we set off again. We had intended to follow the path to Muncaster House, but we decided to take the shorter way back by walking along the road – an easy 10 minute stroll
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
From the car park at Scale Hill we follow the track through Lanthwaite Wood
We arrive at the foot of Crummock Water
We cross over two footbridges where the lake drains into the River Cocker
The weir at the foot of Crummock Water
We follow the path along the west shore of the lake
Looking across to the boathouse on the other shore
Grasmoor
We pass by a stand of pine trees at the foot of Mellbreak
Looking back to Whiteside and Grasmoor
We continue along the lakeshore in the direction of Rannerdale Knotts
Grasmoor and High Wood
The path turns towards Mellbreak
Great Gable in the distance
We descend to a stony beach below Mellbreak
Zooming in on Haystacks and Great Gable
We walk along the stony beach
Looking back to Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike
Looking along Crummock Water towards Rannerdale Knotts
We pass through the gate and aim for a vague path uphill
Denise and Gilly admire the view to the head of Crummock Water...
A view back as we climb gently uphill away from the lake
Low Fell and Lorton Vale
We follow a track to Highpark, initially in the direction of Mellbreak
Highpark ahead and Low Fell beyond
Grasmoor from Highpark
Thanks to a regular follower of this site for informing me that the halo in the sky is a "mock-sun (or sun-dog). Mock suns are part of a 22deg halo and appear at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. The full halo was not visible on this occasion due to the very fragmented nature of the cirrus cloud"
Beyond Highpark and Lowpark we follow the lane and cross Park Bridge
Looking across to Whiteside and Grasmoor
Cirrus clouds over Carling Knott
A quicker way back to the start may be taken here by turning towards Grasmoor, but we turned left instead for reasons which will soon become apparent
St Bartholomew's Church, Loweswater...
...and its neighbour, the Kirkstile Inn
Suitably refreshed, we head back to the start along the Loweswater road. This can be avoided by taking the path to Muncaster House but it had clouded over by now, so we took the shorter option
