Route: Low Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 16th July 2017
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 1,500 feet
Weather: Mixed sun and clouds
Low Fell is one of my favourite places in the Lake District, recently awarded World Heritage status. I’ve been up here dozens of times and never tire of the superlative views
As usual I started from the small layby just outside the village of Thackthwaite. After walking into the village I turned off the lane and followed a stony path, quite overgrown at first but gradually opening out onto fields. I then joined the drove road above the intake wall, which has lovely views towards Crummock Water, but which gradually disappear as the final push to the summit ridge is made. Once on the ridge the north top is soon gained, but it would be a major omission to turn back here
The views are good from the cairn on the north top, but in order to enjoy the main attraction of the fell it’s necessary to continue further along the ridge to the south top from where, in the words of Alfred Wainwright, ‘the view is of classical beauty, an inspired and inspiring vision of loveliness…a scene of lakes and mountains arranged to perfection’.
AW’s words are no exaggeration and having gained the south top and gazed in awe for a while I retraced my steps back to the start
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
A family celebration the day before the walk - new babies! (Low Fell is in the background)
Next day, a red squirrel in the garden
The start of the walk as I enter the village of Thackthwaite, whose red squirrels need to go on a speed awareness course
I leave the lane here to join a rocky path beside Thackthwaite House
Looking back to Ladyside Pike and Lorton Dodd at the start of the climb
Whiteside, with Hopegill Head beyond
I follow a path uphill beside a line of old oak trees
Looking across the fields to Rannerdale Knotts, Haystacks, Great Gable and more besides
The nursery slopes of Low Fell
Looking back into Lorton Vale
Foot of Whiteside
Lorton
Crummock Water, and a hint of things to come
Looking across sweet Lorton Vale
A junction ahead, with Fellbarrow right and Low Fell left
Looking towards Fellbarrow
After a short section with no views, I approach the start of the ridge to the summit
Bonnie
I follow the path along the undulating ridge
Looking across Lorton Vale to Whiteside and Grasmoor
Another view across the valley
Looking back towards Lorton
Crummock Water
Looking down into the vale
North top of Low Fell ahead
From the north top, a contrast between the scenery looking north to the Solway Firth and Scotland...
...and looking south into lakeland
It would be a bad mistake at this point to tick off the fell as 'climbed', since the best views are to be found further along the ridge - so carry on
Crummock Water and the foot of Mellbreak
Approaching the south top of Low Fell
Beyond the south top lies a cairn with superlative views - here looking into lonely Mosedale...
...Crummock Water and Buttermere...
...Loweswater...
...and the Irish Sea. Having savoured the views for a while I retrace my steps
Descending back into Lorton Vale,,,
...and a final glance back to Low Fell
