Walks from Elterwater
The walks you can reach from Elterwater — the routes that start within about 5 km, and the Wainwright and Outlying fells within the same radius, ranked nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Elterwater guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
Walking routes near Elterwater
- Elterwater riverside loop 0.6 km away4.3 km~91 m~1 h🏞️ Easy & familyA short, near-level loop from Elterwater village along the River Brathay — easy, pretty and quick, with the Langdale Pikes ahead and plenty of water for a hot dog. A gentle leg-stretch or a lazy family afternoon.
- Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell 0.6 km away9.8 km~382 m~2.6 hModerate🏞️ Easy & familyA 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, endlessly varied, and grand for dogs.
- Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater 0.6 km away11.5 km~487 m~3.1 hModerateThe 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 0.6 km away7.6 km~164 m~1.8 h🏞️ Easy & familyA 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.
- Slater Bridge & Cathedral Cave 1.3 km away2.2 km~92 m~0.6 h🏞️ Easy & familyA short, characterful loop from Little Langdale over the slate Slater Bridge and up to the cavernous Cathedral Cave, a relic of the old quarries. Uneven, rocky quarry ground in places — and a torch helps inside the cave.
- Blea Tarn (Little Langdale) 3 km away2.7 km~34 m~0.6 h🏞️ Easy & familyA short, lovely loop around little Blea Tarn, with the classic view of the Langdale Pikes mirrored in the water — one of the most photographed scenes in the Lakes for very little effort.
- West of Grasmere 3.3 km away15.4 km~806 m~4.4 hSix tops on the rough ground west of Grasmere — Tarn Crag, Codale Head, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg and Swinescar Pike — in 15.4 km with 806 m of climbing. Hard for length and steepness; about 4.4 hours.
- Grasmere to Easdale Tarn 3.3 km away9.5 km~237 m~2.3 h🏞️ Easy & familyOne of Lakeland’s loveliest short valley walks — from Grasmere village up the green trough of Easdale to its hidden tarn, ringed by crags with Sourmilk Gill tumbling down beside the path. Gentle underfoot with just enough climb to feel earned, and a firm favourite with dogs.
- Grasmere lake circuit 3.3 km away5.7 km~95 m~1.3 h🏞️ Easy & familyA 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 4 miles, almost no climbing.
- Helm Crag & Far Easedale 3.3 km away15.9 km~850 m~4.6 hThe full skyline of Far Easedale from Grasmere — Helm Crag's rocky top first, then Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Steel Fell around the rim of the valley. A long day at 15.9 km, and the head of Easedale can be vague in cloud.
- Castle How & Lang How - Birketts 3.3 km away10.9 km~445 m~2.9 hLang How, Swinescar Pike and Castle How on the knolly ground above Grasmere — 10.9 km and 445 m, nothing steeper than about 10% on average, but rated hard to navigate among the hummocks. Just under three hours.
- Stone Arthur from Grasmere 3.3 km away6.8 km~516 m~2.2 hThe steep little top above Grasmere, out and back in 6.8 km with 516 m of climbing. Easy for length, navigation and exposure — it is the gradient that makes it, rated hard. About 2.2 hours.
- Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn Crag 3.3 km away20.8 km~910 m~5.7 hThe 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.
- Langdale Horseshoe 3.8 km away20.2 km~1497 m~6.5 hSevereThe full Langdale Horseshoe — fifteen tops, 1,500 m of ascent and one of the hardest days in the Lakes that involves no rope. The Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, the whole Crinkle Crags ridge and Pike of Blisco in a single round. It is long, rough, and the Crinkles will try to lead you down the wrong side. Do not start it late.
- Langdale Pikes Round 3.8 km away12.3 km~830 m~3.9 hModerateA grand round of the Langdale Pikes and the fells behind them. From Great Langdale it climbs past Stickle Tarn to take in Pavey Ark (by the walkers' line, not Jack's Rake), Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle and Loft Crag, then loops over Thunacar Knott, High Raise and Sergeant Man before dropping back to the valley. It's a simpler line than my previous version, which added Blea Rigg — boggy on the approach from Sergeant Man. Handily, there are toilets at the car park at the end.
- Rydal Water & Rydal Caves 4.2 km away6.5 km~216 m~1.7 h🏞️ Easy & familyA gentle 4-mile circuit of Rydal Water, taking in the old slate cavern of Rydal Cave above the southern shore and returning along the wooded Coffin Route. Low-level and scenic, with one short rougher stretch near the cave.
- Fairfield Horseshoe 4.2 km away16.9 km~925 m~4.9 hModerateOne of the classic Lakeland rounds and a fine first big horseshoe. From the car park at Rydal it's a steady, moderate climb 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 tops, with Fairfield's broad summit the high point and Windermere laid out behind you on the descent.
- Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End and more 4.3 km away17.7 km~1176 m~5.5 hA five-summit traverse of the high central ground, taking in Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell. The 1,176 m of ascent is spread over 17.7 km so no stage averages more than about 10%, but exposure is rated hard and the rock underfoot barely lets up. Around 5.5 hours.
- Esk Pike and Great End 4.4 km away17.7 km~1099 m~5.4 hEsk Pike and Great End, the two big tops at the head of Eskdale, reached by a 17.7 km round with 1,099 m of climbing. Nothing on it averages steeper than about 11%: the difficulty is the scale rather than any one pull, and both navigation and exposure are rated only moderate. Allow around 5.4 hours.
- The Old Dungeon Ghyll Pub Walk (Great Langdale) 4.4 km away6.6 km~106 m~1.5 h🏞️ Easy & familyAn easy, near-level loop of the Great Langdale valley floor from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, walked entirely beneath the Langdale Pikes — Pike o' Stickle and Harrison Stickle rearing up on one side, Bowfell and the Band on the other. Barely a hundred metres of up-and-down across 6.6 km, so it's a proper leg-stretch with all of the drama and almost none of the grind — and it begins and ends at the pub.
- Tarn Hows circuit 4.7 km away2.9 km~61 m~0.7 h🏞️ Easy & familyA gentle, near-level circuit of one of the Lake District's prettiest tarns, ringed by pines with the Coniston and Langdale fells beyond. Easy underfoot and genuinely pushchair-friendly, with National Trust parking, toilets and a seasonal refreshment van.
- Holme Fell and Black Fell 4.7 km away13.7 km~604 m~3.8 hTwo low wooded tops between Coniston and Tarn Hows, and a fine half-day when the high fells are under cloud — nothing above 315 m, though 50 path junctions near the line mean it pays to keep track of which one you are on.
- The Royal Oak Pub Walk (Ambleside) 4.9 km away5.9 km~68 m~1.3 h🏞️ Easy & familyAn 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 5 km away10.7 km~288 m~2.6 h🏞️ Easy & familyA lake-and-terrace classic linking Grasmere and Rydal Water, taking in Rydal Cave, the old Coffin Route and the famous Loughrigg Terrace view down Grasmere. Easy-moderate, with a little climbing and some rougher ground.
- Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave 5 km away10.4 km~392 m~2.7 hThe 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.
Fells within about 5 km
- Loughrigg Fell 2.3 km away335 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 28Summit 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.
- Lingmoor Fell (Brown How) 2.3 km away470 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Summit likely clagged inLingmoor Fell at 469m (1,539ft) is a heathery ridge between Great Langdale and Little Langdale, its summit giving one of the finest aerial views of Great Langdale available from any low fell.
- Silver How 2.4 km away394 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 21Summit likely clagged inSilver How at 395m (1,296ft) is a delightful, rocky little summit above Grasmere and Chapel Stile, its summit giving one of the finest views of Grasmere and the surrounding fells from any low-level viewpoint in the district.
- Black Fell 3 km away323 m~2 h🚌 BusMarginal · 35Firm 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.
- Holme Fell 3.8 km away316 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 33Summit likely clagged inHolme Fell at 317m (1,040ft) is a delightful, craggy little summit above Yewdale near Coniston, its rocky outcrops of Uskdale Gap and Ivy Crag providing surprisingly varied and interesting walking for such a modest height.
- Nab Scar 4.2 km away450 m~2 h🚌 BusSave it · 27Summit likely clagged inNab Scar at 450m (1,476ft) is the steep, rocky escarpment directly above Rydal Water, its craggy face one of the most recognisable profiles in the southern Lake District.
- Blea Rigg 4.3 km away542 m~2.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 17Too windy for the topsBlea Rigg at 541m (1,775ft) is a craggy, complex ridge above Easedale and Langdale, giving excellent views down into Great Langdale from its rocky summit.
- Wetherlam 4.9 km away763 m~3.5 h🚌 BusSave it · 20Too windy for the topsWetherlam at 762m (2,500ft) is the eastern buttress of the Coniston Fells, a broad, craggy summit that Wainwright described as giving some of the best views of the Helvellyn range of any southern fell.
0 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 12 September — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go.
Map
● routes · ● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the route start points and the fells within about 5 km. Each marker links to its page; the same routes and fells are listed below.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Elterwater — ‘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.