Wansfell Pike & Baystones - Tuesday 28 April 2026

Route 

Ambleside - Stockghyll Force - Wansfell Pike - Baystones - The Hundreds - Nanny Lane - Troutbeck - Robin Lane - High Skelghyll - Low Wood

Parking

We caught the 555 bus to Ambleside from Keswick where there is plenty of parking both free/Pay & Display. On completion of the walk we caught the 555 bus back to Keswick from outside the Low Wood Bay Hotel. 

Mileage

7.6 miles

Terrain

Mountain paths, farm tracks and some road walking along quiet lanes  

Weather

Beautiful spring day with excellent visibility

​Time Taken

4hrs 

Total Ascent

2224ft (678m)

Wainwrights

1

Map​

OL7 - The English Lakes - South Eastern Area

Walkers

Dave, Angie & Robbie

GPX Files

​From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.

​Route Map

The Market Cross in Ambleside - the start point for today’s walk

The Market Cross was originally sited around the corner from here outside The Old Courthouse next door to The White Lion. It was more than likely moved when the Old Market Hall & Courthouse were built in the 19th Century. The cubic sandstone that sits on top of the cross is a replacement - the original is housed in the nearby Armitt Library & Museum Centre. 

The cross in its present position near the Post Office & Salutation Hotel. The difference to Ambleside today and when this picture was taken is quite remarkable as can be seen below.

From the Market Cross we headed to the left of The Market Hall on to Stockghyll Lane

Heading up Stockghyll Lane where a sign gives us directions to the first summit of today

As the lane continues to rise, a sign on the left points to a path leading to Stockghyll Waterfalls. Once we had visited the falls we would continue on through the woods and rejoin the lane further up at Kelsick.

The lower reaches of Stockghyll Waterfalls

Nice to see Bluebells out in the woodland

The upper falls

The revolving gate is actually a Victorian Turnstile...............

......... and here it is

Once through the revolving gate we arrived at Kelsick and The Force Cafe

The view to Ambleside & Windermere from the terrace of The Force Cafe. This was our first visit to the cafe and the jury is definitely out on this place - today it was full of the posing “beautiful people” and extremely expensive. Don’t think we will be returning.

At Grid Reference NY 38544 04573 a way mark on the right points the way up the fell side towards Wansfell Pike. As indicated on the sign to the left, there is another cafe at Grove Barn approximately 390 yards (350m) up the lane. The cafe is excellent and has the most gorgeous views from its garden.

The path runs alongside, and crosses several times a small beck as it makes its way up the fell side - by this time Robbie was in full on sniff mode

Looking to the distant Coniston Fells over to the left with amongst others Crinkle Crags & Bowfell over to the right

I can only assume this is an alternative route to the cafe at Grove Barn - next time we are here we may follow it and find out

Reaching a kissing gate Robbie is halted in his tracks and waits for the command “through” - once I have given him enough room to get through that is!

As the path starts to climb the views really do open out

Robbie never strays too far from us and can be seen here looking pleased with himself as he searches us out

A panorama over Ambleside from the ascent to Wansfell Pike

Red Screes dominates the view as we continue to climb

A little further round and the majority of the Fairfield Horseshoe appears over the southern slopes of Red Screes 

At the time of writing Robbie was only just starting to have a full day on the fells and it is abundantly clear he absolutely loves it

The view over Ambleside just got better & better as height was gained

The final approach to the summit of Wansfell Pike

Just before reaching the top a rocky outcrop is reached - this is not the summit, it is a few yards further on behind me through a gate

The fence line is reached and the summit can be seen on the other side of the gate

Robbie on the summit of Wansfell Pike with a fine view of Windermere

The summit of Wansfell Pike - this is not the Wainwright summit, that is at Baystones which is a mile away along the ridge to the north east. I always wonder how many "Wainwright Completers” without their knowledge have thought that this was the top??

Windermere from the summit of Wansfell Pike

Red Screes & Caudale Moor with the Kirkstone Pass in between

Navigating to Baystones is simple enough - just follow the wall for just under a mile

We have taught Robbie to wait at stiles which he does very well

Continuing to follow the wall as we near the summit of Baystones

Froswick, Ill Bell & Yoke from the approach to Baystones

Robbie on the summit of Baystones

Looking back along the ridge to Wansfell Pike

The cairn that marks the summit of Baystones - to the rear are Red Screes, Broad End, Caudale Moor, Thornthwaite Crag & Froswick 

A close up of Robbie on the summit of Baystones

From the summit we walked the 140 yards over to the 487m spot height where Robbie acted out the duty of "summit cairn" (unpaid)

A family selfie up on Baystones

From Baystones summit a path heads to the south to reach Nanny Lane on The Hundreds - this track would take us all the way to Troutbeck

Should you wish to return to Ambleside via Wansfell Pike a gate at Grid Reference NY 403 041 leaves the Nanny Lane track and heads up to the summit. There is also a path to the Hundreds Road which avoids having to go to Troutbeck - this path can be found at Grid Reference NY 401 040.

Continuing along Nanny Lane as we near Troutbeck

Sour Howes over Limefitt & the Garburn Road

Glad to hear it

If you have time for a stop we can highly recommend The Old Post Office Tea Room in Troutbeck - we would be heading up Robin Lane which is to the right 

Heading up Robin Lane

Windermere from Robin Lane

At Grid Reference NY 39777 02396 a fork is reached - the right hand track is the Hundreds Road whilst we would be taking the left hand gate which heads to High Skelghyll

The footbridge over Hol Beck joining the access track to High Skelghyll Farm

Just after the footbridge and before the farm at High Skelghyll, a path leaves the access track to the left and heads in a south westerly direction towards Low Wood

Low Wood Bay Hotel below with Windermere providing the backdrop

At the bottom of the last field a double gate is reached - the left hand gate is for Low Wood residents only therefore the right hand gate should be used 

The path eventually reaches the A591 at Low Wood

We would be crossing the A591 at Low Wood in order to reach the bus stop on the other side - it is a busy road therefore care needs to be taken 

The view over Windermere to Crinkle Crags, Bowfell & the Langdale Pikes

Robbie wasn’t arsed whether it was or it wasn’t - all he wanted was his end of walk treats

She’s a keeper - Angie gets the debrief drinks in from Low Wood whilst we wait for the bus

The moorings at Low Wood Bay

Zooming in on the Langdale Pikes from Low Wood

Never one to miss a kipping opportunity, Rip Van Robbie gets his napper down on the bus back to Keswick

Home