Fully Appreciating Loughrigg Fell – Lake District Walks
February 7, 2021
We’ve recently been exploring Loughrigg Fell in more detail.  We had been up Loughrigg a couple of times before, but on reading Wainwright’s very generous 16 pages on this one fell, it seemed like a good excuse for several wanders to fully appreciate all she has to offer.  From our wanderings we now feel more intimately acquainted with Loughrigg and definitely have some favourite routes.
Loughrigg Fell - Know before you go
Loughrigg Fell (pronounced Luff-rigg) is 1101 feet (336 metres) and the top is two miles long, the highest point indicated by the placement of a trig point. Wainwright cites six different ascents up Loughrigg….we had only ever been up two different ways; time to get the boots back on, the cameras charged and the sense of adventure firing.
A love of Loughrigg Fell
Loughrigg is a great mix’n’match walking fell, giving so many options for up, down and around that I think we could walk it for months and not do the same route twice. The landscape is varied and photo opportunities are in abundance.  Our walks are sometimes of a slower pace (due to said photographic opportunities) and organic, changing as we walk depending on what appeals at the time; and sometimes fast and adrenaline fuelled at the end of a day, arriving at the top rosy cheeked, breathing deeply and with a smile bigger than the view surrounding us.
We now have a good selection of walks that we feel really highlight all that Loughrigg Fell has to offer, and walks that we’ll be repeating often:
Circular from Clappersgate
This is our newest route and our new favourite with many a diversion. Â We meander up across the mass of Loughrigg fell and once the peak has been attained take a sharp exit on the west flank for a steep but well stepped path down to Skelwith Bridge. Â What to look out for on route:
- Todd Crag – easily missed and according to Wainwright not in the place highlighted on the OS map (it’s east of Lily Tarn). Â Great views out to Windermere and Ambleside and only a slight diversion.
- Lily tarn – stunning at sunset and a very calm spot to sit and enjoy the views.
- Loughrigg tarn – there are great views of the tarn on the climb down and then a walk along the water’s edge once off the fell.
Ascent from Grasmere
This is our “quick” up and down for a bit of fresh air at the end of the day. Â The walk starts and ends at Grasmere with a walk along the lake edge – always stunning.
The view of Grasmere as you come down to The Terrace is always a pleasure and worthy of a stop.
Circular from Ambleside
This is a great route up to Loughrigg as it takes you across a lot of the fell. Â We took a brief diversion to Ivy Crag for views over Lake Windermere and views of the fell itself (and what looks like The lake District version of ‘The Great Wall’). Â This route also took us past several unnamed tarns – recommended for great reflection photos.
A Circumnavigation of Loughrigg Fell
Who says you need to go to the top to truly appreciate a fell. Â On a particularly low cloud day, we decided to find “The Big Cave” near Rydal Water and then continue our walk to go around the base of the fell. Â Although our start had us initially going up to Todd Crag, we then undulated around the rest of the fell. Â Points of interest and worthy deviations add to this leisurely stroll:
- Loughrigg quarries and caves above Rydal water.
- Rhododendrons in abundance on the path down to Fox Gill. Â We plan on returning in May for full bloom photographs.
- A walk along the length of Louthrigg Tarn. Â A lower path can be taken through the fields to get up close to the tarn.
The Summit of Loughrigg Fell
I can’t say I’ve ever been to the top when it isn’t windy and I’ve only been up there once when no-one else was there. Â I’ll let the photos do the talking:
Roll on end of lock down ,can’t wait to visit Cumbria again xxx