Loughrigg Fell & Silver How - Wednesday 20 November 2024
Route
Ambleside - Rothay Park - Lily Tarn - Todd Crag - Ivy Crag - Loughrigg - Intake Wood - Red Bank - High Close - Dow Bank - Spedding Crag - Silver How - Allan Bank - Grasmere - A591
Parking
There are many places to park in Grasmere, mostly Pay & Display. Free parking is to be had in a few lay-bys on the A591. For today's linear walk we parked in the large lay-by south of The Travellers Rest pub at Grid Reference NY 33742 08609. The nearest postcode is LA22 9RG.
From Grasmere we caught the 555 bus to Ambleside.
Mileage
8.3 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths with some road walking on quiet lanes. Conditions underfoot were generally good however there were some icy patches to be aware of.
Weather
Beautifully clear day of sunshine but extremely cold
Time Taken
5hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
2526ft (770m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Ambleside - Rothay Park - Lily Tarn - Todd Crag - Ivy Crag - Loughrigg - Intake Wood - Red Bank - High Close - Dow Bank - Spedding Crag - Silver How - Allan Bank - Grasmere - A591
Parking
There are many places to park in Grasmere, mostly Pay & Display. Free parking is to be had in a few lay-bys on the A591. For today's linear walk we parked in the large lay-by south of The Travellers Rest pub at Grid Reference NY 33742 08609. The nearest postcode is LA22 9RG.
From Grasmere we caught the 555 bus to Ambleside.
Mileage
8.3 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths with some road walking on quiet lanes. Conditions underfoot were generally good however there were some icy patches to be aware of.
Weather
Beautifully clear day of sunshine but extremely cold
Time Taken
5hrs 30mins
Total Ascent
2526ft (770m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL7 - The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Walkers
Dave & Angie
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GPX File
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Route Map
Today was a linear walk therefore we parked in Grasmere and caught the bus to Ambleside. We started the walk from Ambleside Bus Station in Kelsick Road.
From the Bus Station we headed through Ambleside via the A593 turning off to the left past White Platts Recreation Ground
The route to Rothay Park passes St Mary's Parish Church
Rothay Park
The stone circle and obelisk known as "Turning Point" in Rothay Park. The project was created by local young people working in conjunction with local artists in order to mark the Millennium. The sculpture was unveiled in July 2000 and a time capsule was buried here.
The route crosses the River Rothay via Miller Bridge
After crossing the bridge the route turns right along the road known as Under Loughrigg between Rothay Bridge to the south and Pelter Bridge to the north. After a few yards the route leaves the road to the left along a bridleway.
Low Pike to the left with Red Screes centre as we start to gain height
Wansfell Pike from the bridleway with Baystones over to the left
Reaching the cottages at Brow Head Farm, a stone stile on the left leads through a small patch of woodland on to Miller Brow
Ambleside from Miller Brow with Froswick & Ill Bell to the distant left and Wansfell to the right
The Fairfield Horseshoe
Nearing Lily Tarn, Loughrigg Fell is now in view to the centre left
Lily Tarn with Todd Crag beyond - this is a beautiful spot and is reached with very little effort
Another view of Lily Tarn
It should be noted that the terrain from Lily Tarn to the summit of Loughrigg Fell contains a myriad of paths that head in many different directions. In reduced visibility the area can be an extremely confusing place therefore the ability to navigate is paramount.
It should be noted that the terrain from Lily Tarn to the summit of Loughrigg Fell contains a myriad of paths that head in many different directions. In reduced visibility the area can be an extremely confusing place therefore the ability to navigate is paramount.
Loughrigg Fell from Todd Crag - we had diverted to the top of the outcrop from the wall below. We would now retrace our steps back to the wall and handrail it to beneath Ivy Crag which is ahead to the centre left.
The Coniston Fells from Todd Crag with Crinkle Crags over to the right. The body of water to the left is the River Brathay.
My shadow on Todd Crag looking to Loughrigg Fell, the Fairfield Horseshoe & Red Screes
After crossing the bridleway between Tarn Foot & the River Rothay the route arrives at a cairn where there is a choice of paths. The upper path seen here is the better of the two simply for the views - the path heads through an easy to climb rock gateway.
Windermere from the upper path
Looking back to Angie making her way over to Ivy Crag with Red Screes beyond
Another cracking view from Ivy Crag to our outward route with Windermere beyond
Ivy Crag
To reach the summit means diverting a few yards from the main route - however it is worth it
To reach the summit means diverting a few yards from the main route - however it is worth it
Leaving Ivy Crag we walked back to the main route and then made another diversion to a viewpoint cairn just off path. It is worth it for the aerial view down to Loughrigg Tarn.
The vista from the viewpoint cairn (Click Play to view)
The viewpoint cairn - the main path is over to the left however the cairn itself would be to your left as you approached it.
Back on the route now as we approach the summit of Loughrigg Fell
The ascent to the summit of Loughrigg Fell is on a gradual incline
The final approach to the summit of Loughrigg Fell passes through a small col marked by a cairn
Looking to Great Langdale from the summit of Loughrigg Fell. The body of water to the left is Elterwater.
A summit selfie on Loughrigg Fell - sadly somebody is missing from this pic however as always we felt his presence
Zooming in on Langdale from the summit of Loughrigg Fell with the Langdale Pikes in the centre of shot
Looking to Seat Sandal, Dollywaggon Pike, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Heron Pike, Hart Crag, Dove Crag and High Pike from the summit of Loughrigg Fell
The view from the summit of Loughrigg Fell (Click Play to view)
Leaving the summit to the north, at Grid Reference NY 34661 05212 the path splits with the main descent back towards Loughrigg Terrace & Grasmere heading to the right. We would be heading left which would drop us down steeply to the road at Red Bank via the side of Intake Wood.
Looking to Grasmere with the fells of Calf Crag, Ullscarf, Gibson Knott, Helm Crag, Steel Fell & Seat Sandal beyond
Descending to Intake Wood with Lingmoor Fell beyond. The building peeping out of the trees is YHA Langdale.
Near the foot of the descent the path passes through a hand gate
Almost down now as we reach the road which carries traffic between Grasmere & Elterwater
Once the road is reached we turned right and in a few yards reached the entrance to High Close Arboretum. You can do one of two things here - either wander through the gate to the arboretum where there is a nice area to sit and have a break or head up the road on the left.
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Love these old road signs near the arboretum
Once clear of the arboretum we passed the entrance to YHA Langdale
Continuing along the road, approximately 500 yards from the YHA at Grid Reference NY 33578 05297 a path to the right heads up the fell side towards Huntingstile Crag
Looking back to Loughrigg Fell from near Huntingstile Crag
Beyond Huntingstile Crag the route passes a small, unnamed tarn
Chocks away Ginger, the fly boys are about
Managed to grab my phone and shoot a quick vid of the Brylcreme Boys in action (Click Play to view)
Another view of Loughrigg Fell from Huntingstile Crag
The route crosses a grassy depression to head up to Dow Bank - Silver How is over to the right
Up on the ridge line the route passes a large cairn which gives grand views to Grasmere Water, Rydal Water, Loughrigg Fell, Windermere & Elter Water
Looking towards our onward transit from the large cairn as the route crosses lots of humps & bumps
Grasmere Water & Rydal Water from Silver How
Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes, Sergeant Man & Blea Rigg from Silver How
The summit of Silver How looking to Loughrigg Fell
Angie on the summit of Silver How
The panorama looking north from Silver How
The view from Silver How (Click Play to view)
This was a great day to be out
A Silver How summit selfie
Descending from Silver How back to Grasmere - there are two options from the summit. Either carry straight on heading north to enter Grasmere via Allan Bank or turn sharp right dropping down steeply to come in via Kelbarrow - both are good routes.
The route drops into, then climbs out of Wray Gill - take a bit of care here as the descent is steep and over polished rock in places
The route continues to descend gradually to reach a lane at the buildings of Score Crag. Helm Crag is to the left with Dunmail Raise & Seat Sandal centre - to the right are Grisedale Hause, Fairfield & Great Rigg
Not far now back to Grasmere and a welcome hot drink and a slice of cake
Allan Bank - Wordsworth lived here between 1808 & 1811
His tenancy was not without incident. Initially Wordsworth, who was then living less than a mile away in Dove Cottage was outraged by the building of Allan Bank. He called it a "temple of abomination", and that "the house will stare you in the face from every part of the Vale of Grasmere and entirely destroy its character of simplicity and seclusion". He soon had to overcome his objections however, since Dove Cottage was far too small for his growing family, and Allan Bank was the only large house in Grasmere he could rent. However on windy days the various chimneys smoked appallingly. His sister Dorothy called the house "literally not habitable", and complained that "dishes are washed, and no sooner set in the pantry then they are covered with smoke". On one stormy day, she wrote, "we could have no fire but in my Brother's Study – and that chimney smoked so much that we were obliged to go to bed with the baby in the middle of the day to keep it warm, and I, with a candle in my hand, stumbled over a chair, unable to see it". Workmen were periodically brought in to tackle the chimney problem but their many attempts did not produce a full solution. In the midst of these difficulties the Wordsworths entertained Thomas De Quincey on a visit that lasted for three months, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge moved in with the intention of making his permanent home with the Wordsworths, though after two fraught years he left. The Wordsworths finally gave up in 1811 and moved into the old parsonage in the centre of Grasmere.
His tenancy was not without incident. Initially Wordsworth, who was then living less than a mile away in Dove Cottage was outraged by the building of Allan Bank. He called it a "temple of abomination", and that "the house will stare you in the face from every part of the Vale of Grasmere and entirely destroy its character of simplicity and seclusion". He soon had to overcome his objections however, since Dove Cottage was far too small for his growing family, and Allan Bank was the only large house in Grasmere he could rent. However on windy days the various chimneys smoked appallingly. His sister Dorothy called the house "literally not habitable", and complained that "dishes are washed, and no sooner set in the pantry then they are covered with smoke". On one stormy day, she wrote, "we could have no fire but in my Brother's Study – and that chimney smoked so much that we were obliged to go to bed with the baby in the middle of the day to keep it warm, and I, with a candle in my hand, stumbled over a chair, unable to see it". Workmen were periodically brought in to tackle the chimney problem but their many attempts did not produce a full solution. In the midst of these difficulties the Wordsworths entertained Thomas De Quincey on a visit that lasted for three months, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge moved in with the intention of making his permanent home with the Wordsworths, though after two fraught years he left. The Wordsworths finally gave up in 1811 and moved into the old parsonage in the centre of Grasmere.
Back in Grasmere - never been in here before therefore decided to give it a go
Very nice it was too - Carrot Cake for Angie and a slice of Gingerbread Cake for me