Route: Low Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 24th November 2017
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, James and Nicola
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 1,500 feet
Weather: Sunny at first, then clouded over with some hail
Low Fell is one of my favourite places in the Lake District. I’ve been up here dozens of times (3 dozen to be precise) and never tire of the superlative views
We started from the small layby just outside the village of Thackthwaite. After walking into the village we turned off the lane and followed a stony path, quite overgrown at first but gradually opening out onto fields. We 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 we retraced our steps back to the start in deteriorating weather
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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Before we set off on today's walk James and I visited Buttermere to catch the early morning light - this is the boathouse at the head of the lake

Low Fell seen from the other side of Lorton Vale - our route will take along the length of the ridge