Route: Latrigg
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 13th May 2021
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.1 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
Latrigg is one of the lower lakeland fells, but punches well above its weight in terms of the views from its summit. These are superior (in my opinion) to those from Skiddaw, which towers up behind it and is nearly 2,000 feet higher. The only problem with Latrigg is that its proximity to Keswick, ease of access, and the beauty of the views can make it a little too busy at times. For that reason we made an early start
We parked as usual on the roadside at Briar Rigg and walked up Spooney Green Lane, crossing the bridge over the busy A66 along the way. After climbing up through Latrigg Woods we joined the zig-zagging path leading to the top of Latrigg. The climbing was easy throughout, and by 9am we were admiring the view from the wonderfully situated bench just below the summit
Beyond the summit we started the gentle descent, following the ridge in an easterly direction, enjoying views of Blencathra ahead of us. At the end of the ridge we joined the new Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Track which was officially opened last December, 5 years after much of the old trail was destroyed by Storm Desmond. A huge amount of work has been carried out here, including 5km of track, new bridges and the reconstruction of a collapsed tunnel. This provided an easy stroll back into Keswick. After walking past the former railway station we joined the Briar Rigg road, and from here it was a short stroll back to the start of a wonderful walk
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)
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The start of today's walk - the roadside parking area is just behind us as we set off along Spooney Green Lane with Latrigg ahead on the right
We cross the footbridge over the busy A66
As we passed by a garden along the the path we spotted two herons, one real and one artificial
We enter Latrigg Woods, home to red squirrels, roe deer and spotted flycatchers
We emerge from Latrigg Woods onto the fellside
Looking across to the north western fells, with a glimpse of Derwent Water mid picture
Looking up to Skiddaw
We keep to the right as the path contours around the fellside
Looking back to the north western fells
The first zig of several zig zags which take the sting out of the ascent
Looking across to Skiddaw...
...and to Bassenthwaite Lake
Keswick and Derwent Water
Zooming in, with Catbells at the forefront of the fells on display
It's a very easy ascent and, as Alfred Wainwright puts it in his Guide to the Lakeland Fells, ‘anybody who cannot manage this short and simple climb is advised to give up the idea of becoming a fellwalker’
Looking back to Skiddaw and its Little Man
Bench below the summit of Latrigg, with its classic view of Keswick, Derwent Water and the north western fells
Zooming in on Keswick and Derwent Water
Looking back to the bench as we arrive at the highest point of the fell
Derwent Water from the summit of Latrigg
Start of the easy descent in the direction of Blease Fell and the Blencathra fells
Looking across the valley to High Rigg, and beyond it there are still a few patches of snow on Helvellyn
We enter onto grassy pastures lower down...
The view to Helvellyn and the eastern fells again
Further along the gentle descent...
We arrive at the lane to Brundholme
Looking across to the north western fells
We arrive at the new Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Track. Huge resources, at a cost of £8 million, have been invested in restoring the old cinder track, which was destroyed by Storm Desmond in December 2015
Information boards along the way describe the story of the track and points of interest along the way
White Moss Bridge, a new structure built by Beaver Bridges to replace the original bridge which was swept away by Storm Desmond
The River Greta, home to otter, salmon and trout, seen from the bridge
Further along the track
We pass through one of the old railway tunnels...
...and through Bobbin Mill Tunnel, restored following storm damage and reopened last year
The River Greta seen from the footbridge at the outskirts of Keswick
Looking the other way, with Latrigg in the background
We pass by the old Keswick Railway Station
Beyond the station, we follow a path beside Briar Rigg which takes us back to the start, here looking across to Skiddaw...
...and to Latrigg
