Route: Low Fell and Darling Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 24th November 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.0 miles
Weather: Sun and blue skies
Low Fell has appeared on this site 11 times so far, more than any other lakeland fell. The reason for this is the glorious view from the summit, ‘a scene of lakes and mountains arranged to perfection’ according to Alfred Wainwright
Gilly dropped me off outside Thackthwaite and if all went to plan we’d meet up later at the Kirkstile Inn. I followed the path out of the village leading towards the foot of the fell, stopping several times to admire the views back over Lorton Vale
After a rather dull section on Sourfoot Fell my pulse quickened as I reached the summit ridge, with views over Crummock Water. From this point the views get better and better until at the far end of the ridge – at a point below the southern cairn – the view described by Wainwright is revealed in all its glory. It was a stunning sight
After retracing my steps for a short distance I made the steep down and up to Darling Fell, which also commands good views, and from there I descended to the old Mosser Road which in turns leads down to the Loweswater road
Having met Mrs Andrewswalks along the road we walked back to the famous Kirkstile Inn together, a perfect end to a perfect walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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Before the walk, I made an early morning visit to Crummock Water…
Back home, a red squirrel in the garden
As Gilly drove me to Thackthwaite, we stopped the car to admire the wonderful view from Crummock Water Cottages
The start of the walk as I climb above Thackthwaite
Looking back to the Ladyside Pike ridge and Lorton Dodd on the far side of the valley
I head up the grassy slopes towards the Low Fell ridge
Another view back over Lorton Vale
Zooming in on Redhow Wood and the foot of Whiteside
Western Fells
Sweet Lorton Vale
Crummock Water comes into view as I look back along the path
A snow covered Ladyside Pike leading up to Hopegill Head
High Lorton
The views disappear for a while as I round a corner below Sourfoot Fell
A taste of things to come…
On the Low Fell ridge now, and looking across to Whiteside and Grasmoor
Crummock Water and Rannerdale Knotts
Lorton Vale again…
The north top of Low Fell is ahead
The Solway Firth and Scotland from the north top - but anyone turning back here would be missing the whole point of the walk
Summit cairn on the south top of Low Fell, but it’s best to carry on a little further…
…and this is why, the sublime view of Crummock Water and too many fells to list
Loweswater from the same spot
My destination, the Kirkstile Inn near the top of the picture
After retracing my steps for a short distance I make the steep down and up to Darling Fell
The view from Darling Fell - almost as good as that from Low Fell
Looking back to Low Fell, with Whiteside and Grasmoor in the background
The start of the descent from Darling Fell, heading north at first towards the Solway Firth and Scotland…
I turn sharp left at the depression before Askill Knott
Descending to Loweswater…
Mellbreak and Hen Comb
I join the old Mosser Road which leads down to the Loweswater road
Two familiar faces - the welcome sight of Gilly and Bonnie walking up the road from the nearby Kirkstile Inn
We walk back along the road to Loweswater
Loweswater village hall
The pot of gold at the end of the walk
Later on, a starry night over Lorton Vale
It had been a perfect day from dawn to dusk
