Route: Low Fell
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 24th September 2025
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 1,500 feet
Weather: Sunny
Low Fell is one of my favourite places and the fell which I chose for my 1,000th Wainwright. ascent in May 2018. Today’s walk would make it my 50th visit – it’s a place I could never tire of
We parked as usual in one of the few roadside spaces outside the small settlement of Thackthwaite on the west side of Lorton Vale. We walked into the village and turned right at a signpost next to Thackthwaite Farm and followed a rocky lane uphill. This leads out onto the fields and from here the obvious route follows a line of old oak trees up to the intake wall. There are lovely retrospective views from here.
On reaching the intake wall we turned right to follow a grassy path which curves around the fellside into a small raised valley, where the views are lost – this is a rather dreary section in truth, but it’s soon over and before long we arrived on the ridge line, heading south with ever improving views along the way. We followed the path along the undulating ridge to the north top, marked by a small cairn. Anyone turning back here would be missing the whole point of the walk. In order to see why I rate this fell so highly, it’s necessary to carry on to the south top, about 10 minutes further along the ridge. There’s a cairn just below the south top, at the very end of the ridge, and from here it’s possible to enjoy one of the finest views in lakeland. 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’. Follow the link to see a motion timelapse…
It was a wonderful scene and and we spent 40 minutes or so gazing at the surroundings. What’s more, we had the place to ourselves
For a longer route, which also takes in Darling Fell and Loweswater click here and for a steep direct route descent click here
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
Welcome to Thackthwaite, whose residents are plagued by speeding red squirrels
Having turned right at Thackthwaite Farm we follow a rocky lane uphill, followed by a line of stately oak trees
Mellbreak on our left
Looking back to sylvan Lorton Vale
We follow a grassy path uphill, initially in the direction of Fellbarrow
Looking back to Lorton Dodd, an extension of a ridge leading down from Whiteside
High Lorton and Low Lorton
Another retrospective view, this time to Crummock Water and the High Stile Range
We continue uphill towards Fellbarrow, gradually curving around to the left
Lorton Vale again
We climb up a raised valley, where the gradient is eased by zig zags in the path
We gain the long ridge leading to Low Fell
Lovely views from the ridge - Lorton Vale on our left...
...Crummock Water ahead, and a taste of things to come
We continue along the undulating ridge towards the north summit of Low Fell
Lorton Vale again
The north top of Low Fell, marked by a small cairn
The Irish Sea to the west
More ups and downs as we continue towards the south top of Low Fell
South top of Low Fell, looking over Loweswater
We continue to a lower cairn at the very end of the ridge. We've spent many happy times at this spot gazing at the wondrous view over Crummock Water and the western fells...
We look across to Loweswater and the Irish Sea before reluctantly turning our backs on the views
We retrace our steps, enjoying more views along the way. It had been a glorious walk
Later that day, the Milky Way seen from Lorton Vale...
The following day, a red squirrel
