Lanthwaite Hill

Lanthwaite Hill

Route: Lanthwaite Hill

Area: Western Lake District

Date of walk: 25th February 2020

Walkers: Andrew 

Distance: 2.1 miles

Ascent: 400 feet

Weather: Cloudy, with sunny patches and a couple of hail showers

Lanthwaite Hill, also known as Brackenthwaite Hows, is one of my favourite places in the Lake District. This walk has featured on my site many times, but I take the view that no two walks are ever the same – changing seasons and variations in the light and weather make for an infinite number of possibilities – and there’s always something new to be seen

The hill and surrounding woodland have recently been purchased by the National Trust, which will preserve this place for future generations

I 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, I turned left up a steepish path through Lanthwaite Wood. At a junction I turned left again to continue uphill, climbing a steep rocky staircase along the way. It was good to see a red squirrel scampering around in the woodland

After leaving the woods via a deer gate I was soon at the top of the hill, admiring the superb views over Lorton Vale, Loweswater and Crummock Water. I 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

The path descends to the eastern shore of Crummock Water, and when I arrived at the lakeshore I followed the path to the foot of the lake, from where there were more good views towards Mellbreak and Rannerdale Knotts. From this point there are two ways back to the start – a path which follows the bank of the River Cocker, and the wide track leading through Lanthwaite Wood. The riverside path was not an option today in view of the recent floods, so I followed the main track back to the start of the walk

For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box

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