Ambleside: the Circuit of Loughrigg Fell

Jim Grindle

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After nearly 15 years of Walkingworld I thought that there could be no new walks from Grasmere, but my pal, Stan, worked this one out. Although there was no part of the walk that I hadn't cycled or walked already, we had never done these sections as one and what a fine walk it turned out to be.

It takes the familiar route along the lane north of Ambleside up to Loughrigg Terrace before dropping down to and along Loughrigg Tarn and a bridleway leading over the shoulder of Loughrigg back to Ambleside.

A great feature of the walk is that you see all the scenery from the Vale of Grasmere followed by views up Langdale to Bowfell and across to the Coniston Fells, plus a view south the length of Windermere. It was all very familiar, a bit like visiting a lot of old friends in one day and is a walk that could be done when the high fells are too rough to visit.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - South East

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mountains, National Trust, Nature Trail, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Waterfall, Wildlife, Woodland

4/17/2022 - Kate Blythe

Beautiful walk with great views all the way. We had a lovely spring morning, which helped but a great route. WM 11 is no longer a stile and tree has gone but you can see a gate instead. If you miss it, which we did, there is a gate further along that you can turn left to reach the next WM. This walk was the standout walk of our three days and well worth the effort. Definitely better coming down the path at the end as it was steep - this way was absolutely the best. Would recommend for sure and very easily reached from ambleside.

9/11/2014 - Robert Hughes

This is a great walk for a day when you just don't want too much ascent. There is good variety and many great views especially over the three lakes/tarn. The directions are clear and easy to follow though WM11 appears to be incorrect placed on the WW map. The stile mentioned in the WM11 description is at the junction of bridleway and footpath about 300m before the point marked. The walk would be equally good done in the clockwise direction and there are plenty of minor variations possible - for example you can avoid the metalled bridleway between WM10 and WM11 almost entirely by following the good footpath marked on the OS map that starts at a fingerpost just before WM10. Finally the walk seems to be no longer than 7 miles rather than the 8.1 miles given.