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Walks from Ambleside

28 routes and 9 fells within about 5 km of Ambleside, nearest first. 11 walks start within 1 km of the town, among them Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave (10.38 km) and Ambleside to Rydal, with Refreshments and Stepping Stones (6.21 km). Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Ambleside guide for parking, buses and where to stay.

Starting in Ambleside

11 routes start within 1 km of the centre of Ambleside in a straight line, nearer Ambleside than any other town or village.

Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.

• Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave →Start 0 km away10.38 km~394 m~2½–3¾ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays) · Bus: 555 at the startThe classic Ambleside circuit of Loughrigg Fell — up through Rothay Park and over Todd Crag past Lily Tarn, across the undulating top to the summit trig point, then down to Loughrigg Terrace above Grasmere and back along the fell's flank via Rydal Cave. Low in height, big in views, and the best-value 10 km in the central Lakes.
• Ambleside to Rydal, with Refreshments and Stepping Stones →Start 0.1 km away6.21 km~78 m~1¼–2 hEasy: distance, steepness, terrain and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked in partOut and back · Park: Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays) · Bus: 555 at the startAn out-and-back of about 6.2 km from Ambleside to Rydal along Under Loughrigg Road, the lane on the far side of the River Rothay from the main road. Cross Miller Bridge, pass the stepping stones over the river without crossing them, cross at Pelter Bridge into Rydal, where Rydal Hall’s Old School Room Tea Shop is mapped just off the line, and come back along the lane. Almost all surfaced lane and bridleway, with about 80 m of climbing.
• Stock Ghyll Force →Start 0.1 km away1.92 km~89 m~½–¾ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked April 2026Park: Ambleside, King Street (paid) · Bus: 555, 810 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden CentreA short woodland loop from the middle of Ambleside to the 70-foot Stock Ghyll Force in its steep-sided gorge — at its thundering best after rain, and easily tacked on to a town visit.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 12%.
• The Royal Oak Pub Walk (Ambleside) →Start 0.2 km away5.94 km~68 m~1¼–1¾ hEasy: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposure🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Ambleside, Rydal Road (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startAn easy, near-level amble from the heart of Ambleside out along the River Rothay and back — parkland, riverbank and quiet lanes beneath the wooded flanks of Loughrigg, with barely 70 m of climbing across 6 km. A gentle leg-stretch to bookend lunch at the Royal Oak.
• Loughrigg Terrace & Rydal Water →Start 0.2 km away10.71 km~288 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Moderate: distance and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked in partPark: Ambleside, Rydal Road (paid) · Bus: 555, 1.6 km walk from Ambleside, at Scandale BridgeA terrace walk from Ambleside over Loughrigg's southern slopes to the famous Loughrigg Terrace view down Grasmere, then past Rydal Cave and back under Loughrigg. Easy-moderate, with a little climbing and some rougher ground.
• Long Hike to Fairfield from Ambleside →Start 0.4 km away22.39 km~1425 m~6¾–9¼ hSevere effort Severe: distanceWalked April 2023Park: Ambleside, Lake Road (paid) · Bus: 555, 340 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden CentreA big horseshoe day from Ambleside — 1,425 m of ascent in 22.4 km, opening with a relentless 739 m pull onto Red Screes. Fairfield's flat summit plateau is notoriously hard to navigate in cloud, and the day ends on the jarring stone steps down Nab Scar.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 32% over 250 m. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Ambleside over Miller Bridge →Start 0.5 km away3.16 km~162 m~¾–1¼ hEasy: distance, steepness and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked April 2023One-way: finishes at Pine Rigg · Start: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555, 350 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden CentreA short one-way walk of about 3.2 km from the centre of Ambleside, across the River Rothay at Miller Bridge and up the bridleway towards Loughrigg, finishing near Pine Rigg. Town pavements, then a surfaced lane and a compacted bridleway, with about 160 m of climbing. Lee walked it with family and a pram in April 2023.
• Ambleside to Wray Castle →Start 0.5 km away6.54 km~189 m~1½–2¼ hEasy: distance, steepness and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked April 2023One-way: finishes at Wray Castle · Start: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555, 360 m walk from Ambleside, at Hayes Garden CentreA one-way walk of about 6.5 km from the centre of Ambleside to Wray Castle above the north-west shore of Windermere: over the Bronwen Nixon footbridge, through Clappersgate and across Brathay Bridge, then by cycle path, compacted bridleway and a quiet lane over Low Wray Bridge. Lee walked it with family and a pram in April 2023.
• Sour Howes, Sallows, Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick and Troutbeck Tongue in the sun! →Start 0.5 km away27.56 km~1424 m~7¾–10½ hSevere effort Severe: distanceWalked April 2025Park: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe longest day in this group — 27.6 km and 1,424 m over six tops of the Kentmere and Troutbeck skyline, with a steepest sustained descent of about 30%. Severe for length, hard for terrain and exposure; about 7¾–10½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest descent, about 33% over 250 m. Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Wansfell Pike and Baystones →Start 0.6 km away11.92 km~560 m~3¼–4½ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked June 2023Park: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe pair above Ambleside — 11.9 km and 560 m, stages averaging about 12% with a 33% pull over 250 m onto Wansfell Pike, and easy for both navigation and exposure. A straightforward half-day at about 3¼–4½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 31%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Ambleside to the Old Post Office Tea Room, Troutbeck (over Wansfell) →Start 0.6 km away9.89 km~547 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Ambleside, Low Fold (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA proper half-day loop with a reward built in: drop into pretty Troutbeck for tea and cake at the Old Post Office Tea Room, then climb over Wansfell Pike for a huge view down Windermere and back down to Ambleside. Around 550 m of up and down.

More walking routes within about 5 km

• Fairfield Horseshoe →Start 1.9 km away16.92 km~1009 m~5–6¾ hHard effort Hard: distance, steepness, navigation and exposureWalked April 2023Park: Pelter Bridge, Rydal (paid) · Bus: 555, 2.3 km walk from Rydal, at White Moss CommonOne of the classic Lakeland rounds and a fine first big horseshoe. From the car park at Rydal it's a steady climb, hard rather than moderate on the pull out of Rydal (about 30% at its steepest), with only a minor amount of scrambling — my kids, then 7 and 10, managed it, though they found it a long day. You can easily start from Ambleside instead: stock up at the shops on the way out and finish at the Royal Oak for a well-earned pint. The full round takes in eight Wainwrights, nine tops with Heron Pike’s north top (a Birkett), with Fairfield's broad summit the high point and Windermere laid out behind you on the descent.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 30%; the steepest descent, about 30% over 250 m. Exposure: graded by Lee on the ground.
• Rydal Water & Rydal Caves →Start 1.9 km away6.46 km~216 m~1½–2¼ hModerate: steepness and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked May 2023Park: Pelter Bridge, Rydal (paid) · Bus: 555, 2.3 km walk from Rydal, at White Moss CommonA 6.46 km loop round Rydal Water from Pelter Bridge, with a short there-and-back to Rydal Cave above the south shore and the Coffin Route home under Nab Scar. Low-level, with one short rougher stretch near the cave. The 555 stops beside the loop at White Moss Common, and the route map and GPX are further down.
• Wray Castle & the Windermere west shore →Start 3.5 km away9.58 km~114 m~2–3 hModerate effort Moderate: distance🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Wray Castle (NT, paid) · Bus: 505, 1.6 km walk from Low Wray, at Wray Castle Road EndA roughly 6-mile circular taking in the mock-Gothic Wray Castle and the western shore of Windermere. A varied, low-level day — flat underfoot but a fair distance.Measured from the GPX track: the distance.
• Troutbeck Tongue from Troutbeck →Start 3.9 km away10.52 km~519 m~2¾–4 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: unnamed layby north-west of Sour Howes · Bus: 508 at the start
• Capple Howe & Sallows →Start 4 km away8.68 km~490 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Church Bridge, Troutbeck (limited) (free) · Bus: 508 at the startSour Howes, Capple Howe and Sallows above Troutbeck — three modest tops in 8.7 km with 490 m of climbing and one stage averaging 16%. Rated hard to navigate; about 2½–3½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 26%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Grasmere to Easdale Tarn →Start 4.6 km away9.52 km~237 m~2¼–3¼ hModerate effort Moderate: distance, steepness, terrain and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked June 2024Out and back · Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA valley walk from Grasmere village up Easdale to its tarn, ringed by crags: 9.5 km and 237 m, with no summits. The path climbs beside Sourmilk Gill, and the becks rise fast in spate, so take care at the crossings. The ground round the tarn is boggy and rougher; elsewhere it is good paths and lanes, muddy in places. If you bring a dog, keep it close near sheep.Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.
• Grasmere lake circuit →Start 4.6 km away5.67 km~95 m~1¼–1¾ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA gentle circuit of Grasmere lake from the village — easy field paths along the eastern shore and undulating woodland on the west, with the fells reflected in the water and Wordsworth's Grasmere all around. About 3½ miles, almost no climbing.
• Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn Crag →Start 4.6 km away20.82 km~950 m~5¾–7¾ hHard effort Severe: distanceWalked June 2024Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe full Far Easedale horseshoe from Grasmere, and a longer, wetter day than Helm Crag alone suggests. The true summit — the Howitzer — needs an exposed scramble, and beyond Gibson Knott the ground turns to peat hags and bog that stay wet in all seasons, with Brownrigg Moss the hardest crossing of the day.Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Castle How & Lang How - Birketts →Start 4.6 km away10.91 km~490 m~3–4 hModerate effort Hard: steepness and navigationWalked in partPark: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startLang How, Swinescar Pike and Castle How on the knolly ground above Grasmere — 10.9 km and 490 m, stages averaging about 10% with a 33% descent over 250 m, and rated hard to navigate among the hummocks. Just about 3–4 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 33% over 250 m. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Silver How from Grasmere →Start 4.6 km away5.06 km~311 m~1½–2¼ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA loop of about 5.1 km from the middle of Grasmere with about 310 m of climbing: out through the village and up public footpaths onto Silver How, then down the steep Grasmere side of the fell and back into the village along Red Bank Road.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 28%.
• Helm Crag & Far Easedale →Start 4.6 km away15.93 km~870 m~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessWalked January 2025Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startFrom Grasmere along the ridge above Far Easedale — Helm Crag's rocky top first, then Gibson Knott and Calf Crag — and round the head of Greenburn to Steel Fell. A long day at 15.9 km, and the head of Easedale can be vague in cloud.Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Stone Arthur from Grasmere →Start 4.6 km away6.82 km~528 m~2¼–3 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked July 2023Out and back · Park: Stock Lane Car & Coach Park (LDNPA, paid) · Bus: 555 at the startThe steep little top above Grasmere, out and back in 6.8 km with 528 m of climbing. Easy for length, navigation and exposure — it is the gradient that makes it, rated hard. About 2¼–3 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 27%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Elterwater riverside loop →Start 4.8 km away4.25 km~91 m~1–1½ hModerate: terrain🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA short loop from Elterwater village, partly beside Great Langdale Beck — easy, pretty and quick, with the Langdale Pikes ahead. A gentle leg-stretch or a lazy family afternoon.
• Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater →Start 4.8 km away11.51 km~489 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Moderate: distance, steepness, terrain, navigation and exposurePlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startThe best low fell in Langdale, and the one that shows you the valley properly. Lingmoor sits between Great and Little Langdale, so the Pikes rear up across the dale in front of you the whole way along the ridge. Side Pike at the far end throws in a famous rock squeeze. Half the effort of the big Langdale rounds and arguably a better view of them.
• Elterwater & Skelwith Force →Start 4.8 km away7.6 km~164 m~1¾–2½ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA riverside walk from pretty Elterwater past Skelwith Force to the reedy shores of Elter Water, with the Langdale Pikes filling the skyline — gentle, varied and largely level.
• Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell →Start 4.8 km away9.75 km~382 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: Elterwater (NT, paid) · Bus: 516 at the startA big little walk: the classic loop taking in reed-fringed Loughrigg Tarn and the knobbly top of Loughrigg Fell, with one of the finest low-level views in the Lakes — Windermere, Grasmere and the Langdale Pikes all at once. Under 400 m of climb but one short, steep descent of about 46% over 250 m, endlessly varied, and grand for dogs.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 46% over 250 m.
• West of Grasmere →Start 4.9 km away15.44 km~863 m~4½–6¼ hHard effort Hard: distanceWalked March 2025Park: Red Bank Road, Grasmere (W&F, paid) · Bus: 555, 320 m walk from Grasmere, opposite Heaton Cooper StudioSix tops on the rough ground west of Grasmere — Tarn Crag, Codale Head, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg, Swinescar Pike and Silver How — in 15.4 km with 863 m of climbing. Hard for length, moderate for steepness; about 4½–6¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 24%. Terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.

Fells within about 5 km

• Baystones (Wansfell) →2.8 km away487 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40 · rated on 27 OctoberSummit likely clagged inBaystones at 487m (1,597ft) is the highest point of the Wansfell ridge above Ambleside and its Wainwright summit, giving outstanding views of Windermere and the Central Fells.
• Loughrigg Fell →3 km away335 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusMarginal · 40 · rated on 27 OctoberSummit likely clagged inLoughrigg Fell at 335m (1,099ft) is one of the most beloved and visited fells in the Lake District, a complex heathery mass rising between Ambleside, Grasmere and Elterwater.
• Low Pike →3.4 km away508 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsLow Pike at 508m (1,667ft) is a Wainwright summit in the Eastern Fells, the first top on the Scandale ridge rising above Ambleside towards High Pike and Dove Crag.
• Nab Scar →3.4 km away450 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusMarginal · 54 · rated on 27 OctoberDryNab Scar at 450m (1,476ft) is the steep, rocky escarpment directly above Rydal Water.
• Heron Pike (Rydal) →4.3 km away612 m~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHeron Pike at 612m (2,008ft) is near the southern end of the Fairfield Horseshoe ridge above Rydal, its rocky summit giving excellent views across Windermere and south to Morecambe Bay.
• High Pike (Scandale) →4.3 km away657 m~4¾–6 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsHigh Pike at 657m (2,156ft), above Scandale, is a grassy summit with rocky outcrops at the top, on the ridge above Ambleside north of Low Pike, giving wide views south across Windermere and north to the Fairfield group.
• Black Fell →4.6 km away323 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusDecent · 68 · rated on 27 OctoberDry, firm underfootBlack Fell at 323m (1,060ft) is a small, heathery summit above Tarn Hows, its top giving fine views of this most popular of Lakeland beauty spots.
• Red Screes →4.7 km away779 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsRed Screes at 779m (2,555ft) stands dramatically above the Kirkstone Pass, its steep red scree slopes giving the fell its name and making it one of the most recognisable profiles above the A592.Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Red Screes (13 June 2026); they draw on Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
• Troutbeck Tongue →5 km away364 m~2¾–4 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40 · rated on 27 OctoberSummit likely clagged inTroutbeck Tongue at 364m (1,194ft) is a long, narrow ridge jutting into the Troutbeck valley, its summit giving fine views of the valley and the Ill Bell ridge above.

1 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 27 October — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab).

Distances are straight-line from the centre of Ambleside — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.