Loughrigg Fell

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Summited May 2023

Home › Fells › Loughrigg Fell

335 mWainwright — Central Fells

Loughrigg 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.

Summit conditions on Loughrigg Fell

On the summit on Tuesday 27 October: 13° to 7°C, gusts to 50 mph, 5.9 mm of rain forecast over the whole day, midnight to midnight.

Against our lines, Tuesday 27 October: wind, cold and cloud from the Met Office UKV 2 km model (daylight hours, as in the verdict above); rain from the summit line’s forecast (the whole day). A tile is large when this top is past its line.

Wind on the top

Past the line

43 mph, our estimate for the open top in the worst daylight hour

The Met Office 2 km model’s gust of 41 mph times our exposure factor of 1.05. The summit line above gives Open-Meteo’s highest gust for the whole day, 50 mph, before any exposure factor.

The line Our line: 25 mph, where our wind Scale begins its 25–35 band: “balance affected; buffeting on exposed ground”. MWIS (opens in new tab) describes what wind does to a walker across a range rather than at a line: from about 20–25 mph it starts to affect your balance.

Estimated: it is not calibrated against summit readings, and the two forecasts can disagree by more than a band.

Cloud on the top

Past the line

19 out of 100, the clear-top reading

Averaged over the daylight hours, from the forecast’s humidity and low cloud.

The line Our line: a clear-top reading under 20 out of 100, where our scorer says “summit likely clagged in”. There is no outside threshold to cite; it is our estimate. What cloud does to finding the way: navigating in cloud.

Not an observation: cloud lifts and drops within the hour.

Also checked cold: feels like 5 °C, no ice or snow forecast; rain: 5.9 mm in the day, under our 6 mm line. Under a line is not the same as fine: it means only that these figures are under the lines we use.

Not in these tiles Lightning, river levels, snow or ice already lying, and the ground under your feet. A tile cannot see them, so an empty space here never means they are absent.

Snow figures with a second opinion: Powered by Met Office data

Full 7-day summit forecast ↓

Wainwrights are scored for walking conditions each morning from the Met Office’s UK forecast model, read for each summit through Open-Meteo; the forecast figures are Open-Meteo’s, worked out for the summit’s height. How we check →

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab)

Routes up Loughrigg Fell

Choose the way up before the car park: these two routes start from two places, and the last two rows give the parking and bus at each route’s own start. Full maps further down.

Compared	Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell	Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave
Starts from	Elterwater (NT, paid)	Ambleside
Distance and climb	9.75 km, 382 m of climb	10.38 km, 394 m of climb
Time, fast to steady	~2½–3½ h	~2½–3¾ h
Scrambling	Not mentioned in the route’s notes	Not mentioned in the route’s notes
Exposure	Easy	Easy
Navigation	Moderate	Easy
Steepest stretch	Descent of about 35% at 5.0 km (Severe)	Descent of about 28% at 5.0 km (Hard)
After the summit	No further tops	No further tops
Walked or planned	Planned: drawn, not yet walked	Walked in part; km 0.0–0.4, km 1.2–2.8 from the map
Car park at the start	Elterwater (NT, paid)	Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays)
Bus to the start	516 at the start	555 at the start

Times run from fast to steady pace (Naismith’s rule). Scrambling quotes each route’s own notes; “not mentioned” means they do not say, not that the ground has none. Each route’s page has its map, stages and GPX.

Distance, climb and the steepest stretch are measured from each route’s GPX track; the other grades are set on the ground, judged from the map or estimated from OpenStreetMap, and each route page says which. How we check →

How hard is Loughrigg Fell, really?

Short version: no, Loughrigg is not a hard walk — but it is not the pushover its height suggests either. At 335 m it is one of the lowest Wainwrights, there is no scrambling and no exposure worth the name, and most people are up and back in about 2 hours from Ambleside or White Moss. As a first Wainwright it is a good one.

The sting is the top, not the climb. Loughrigg’s summit area is a maze of little knolls, boggy hollows and criss-crossing paths, and it genuinely disorientates people in low cloud — there are several false tops, and the many junctions make it easy to start down the wrong path and end up in the wrong valley. This is a fell where people get turned around far more often than they get hurt. Expect wet feet, too: we rate it 0.6 for bogginess, high for a fell this size. On a clear day the navigation matters much less; the bog does not. In mist, take a bearing off the top like you would on anything bigger.

The full round — the classic circuit from Ambleside over Todd Crag and Lily Tarn, across the summit and back past Rydal Cave — is 10.4 km with 394 m of ascent, so roughly 2½–3¾ hours of walking rather than the 2 hours of the there-and-back. That route is walked in part by Lee May 2023.

One thing worth knowing about Rydal Cave, since most circuits pass it: it is a disused slate quarry cavern, not a natural cave. Blocks occasionally fall from the ceiling, the stepping stones at the entrance get slippery, and the floor floods after rain. Fine to look into, worth not lingering under. And yes — Loughrigg Fell is a Wainwright, in the Central Fells.

How we check →

Conditions and 7-day summit forecast

Modelled for the 335 m summit (Open-Meteo). Check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

Full 7-day forecast

Tue 27 Oct

13° / 7°

50 mph

5.9 mm (100%)

Wed 28 Oct

12° / 8°

30 mph

13.2 mm (100%)

Thu 29 Oct

10° / 9°

28 mph

0.6 mm (33%)

Fri 30 Oct

10° / 8°

29 mph

0.0 mm (23%)

Sat 31 Oct

12° / 3°

12 mph

0.0 mm (18%)

Sun 1 Nov

9° / 3°

13 mph

0.0 mm (10%)

Mon 2 Nov

9° / 3°

17 mph

0.0 mm (0%)

Taken 27 October 2026, 08:13 UTC; the live forecast replaces it when it loads. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab)

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

Parking & buses for Loughrigg Fell

Parking

Route starts first, then the car parks nearest the summit, which are not always a way up.

Elterwater (NT, paid) — at the start of Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell

For Lingmoor Fell, Silver How and lower Langdale. Fees: pay and display (Lake District National Park car-parks directory, checked August 2026). Free for NT members (checked August 2026).

Typically full before 11:00 on fine weekends, Apr-Oct — Lee McCoy, local observation, 9 August 2026.

Directions Something changed here?

If it is full: Elterwater, Mill Row (verge) (0.3 km) a few spaces only; Elterwater, east (free) (0.4 km) a few spaces only; Elterwater Common (free) (0.5 km) a few spaces only; Silverthwaite (Lowther Estates, paid) (1.8 km, 69 m up)

Public toilets (~46 m straight line) Britannia Inn Eltermere Inn

Ambleside, Market Place (4 on-street bays) — 0.1 km from the start of Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave (straight line)

On-street bays at the Market Place and North Road corner, by the Market Cross. Time limit not checked - read the signs. The 'Ambleside to Rydal, with Refreshments and Stepping Stones' route starts 77 m away. Also serves 'Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave'. Fee not verified - check signage on arrival.

Directions Something changed here?

Elterwater, 1.0 km NE (layby) — 1.0 km from summit (straight line)

On the road north-east of Elterwater at Low Wood. The 'Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell' route passes here; its start in Elterwater village is 1.2 km on foot. Free (OSM-tagged). Unpaved surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions Something changed here?

4 more places to park near Loughrigg Fell

Loughrigg Fell (layby) — 1.0 km from summit (straight line)

1.0 km from Loughrigg Fell.

Directions Something changed here?

Loughrigg Fell (verge, west) — 1.1 km from summit (straight line)

On the lane at Tarn Foot, south of Loughrigg Tarn. The 'Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell' route passes about 60 m away; its start in Elterwater village is 2.4 km on foot. The path along the tarn's north shore is 0.7 km on foot.

Directions Something changed here?

Loughrigg Fell (verge, west 2) — 1.2 km from summit (straight line)

On the lane at Tarn Foot, south of Loughrigg Tarn, by the bridge over Mandale Beck. The 'Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell' route passes here; its start in Elterwater village is 2.4 km on foot. The path along the tarn's north shore is 0.7 km on foot.

Directions Something changed here?

Loughrigg Fell, north car park — 1.2 km from summit (straight line)

South-east of Grasmere lake, about 280 m from its shore. The Grasmere village route starts, the 'Grasmere lake circuit' among them, are 1.4 km on foot. Gravel surface (OSM-tagged). Fee not verified — check signage on arrival.

Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate.

Vehicles are left at their owner’s risk: we list places people park and cannot vouch for any of them. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.

Buses

The 555 and 599 stop at Ambleside, at Vicarage Road, a 70 m walk from the start of Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave — a route we rate Hard overall (hardest: steepness). We haven’t published last buses, Sunday or winter service yet, so check the timetable before you rely on getting back.

Stagecoach 555

Kendal – Staveley – Windermere – Ambleside – Rydal – Grasmere – Thirlmere (Wythburn & Swirls) – Keswick

Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside

Year-round, roughly hourly. The backbone bus of the A591 — ideal for Helvellyn (Wythburn/Swirls), Fairfield, the Central fells and anything around Grasmere/Rydal. From Penrith, take the X4/X5 to Keswick and change.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat

Hazards on Loughrigg Fell

Hazard & Incident Information for Loughrigg Fell

Checked by Lee McCoy, 14 June 2026. Draws on published material from Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team. Editorial background, not a live callout feed.

Hazard: Moderate

A low, hugely popular fell ringed by Ambleside, Rydal and Grasmere — gentle and family-friendly, but with a surprising sting: its top is a maze of little knolls, boggy hollows and criss-crossing paths that genuinely disorientates people in low cloud, and on descent it's easy to take the wrong path into the wrong valley. The old quarry cavern of Rydal Cave on its flank adds a rockfall risk. It draws many first-time and casual walkers, so the navigation catch matters. Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.

Maze of knolls, paths & bog (navigation): Despite its modest size, the summit area is a confusing tangle of knolls, boggy puddles and minor paths, and the many junctions on descent are easy to muddle — people end up heading to the wrong town. In low cloud you need map and compass; don't assume a small popular fell can't catch you out.
Rydal Cave (rockfall): Rydal Cave is a disused slate quarry cavern; blocks occasionally fall from the ceiling, the stepping stones at the entrance are slippery, and the floor floods. Admire it without lingering under the roof, and take care on the wet stones.
Small crags & quarry edges on the flanks: Old quarry workings and small crags dot the fell's sides. Keep to the paths rather than cutting across steep or quarried ground, especially with children or in poor light.

Who should attempt this fell: Loughrigg is a lovely, easy fell, but treat its top as a navigation puzzle: carry a map (and compass for cloud), and on the way down pick your path junctions carefully so you reach the right valley. Take care on the slippery stones at Rydal Cave and don't linger under its roof. In winter the bog freezes and the little crags ice — still worth a moment's care on a 'gentle' hill.

What to watch for: Navigation errors and wrong-valley descents from the maze of paths in cloud · Slips on boggy ground and the wet stepping stones at Rydal Cave · Rockfall inside Rydal Cave · Casual walkers underestimating a small but confusing fell

Local Mountain Rescue: Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

Safety: Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Report incorrect information (opens in new tab)

Navigating in cloud

Not graded by the model

Our terrain model finds nothing to grade on this summit, so it gives no cloud grade here — that is not a sign of easy navigation. Read this fell’s hazard notes and the route pages before a day in cloud. Carry map and compass, and know how to use them.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Loughrigg Fell compares with all 214: the Clag Index (experimental).

If you need Mountain Rescue

Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Before you call, have ready: where you are (a grid reference if you can – the OS Locate app shows yours on your phone), what has happened, how many of you there are, and your mobile number.

Then stay where you are until the rescue team contacts you.

If you cannot make a voice call because of a hearing or speech impairment, emergency SMS works only if you have registered first: text “register” to 999.

From Mountain Rescue England and Wales’s guidance on calling them out (opens in new tab) (read 26 October 2026).

Map, GPX and nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).

Parking, toilets and buses: Parking & buses ↑.

Birketts within 3 km of Loughrigg Fell

No bonus Birketts within 3 km.

Routes over Loughrigg Fell

Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave

Summits: Loughrigg Fell

Download GPX Walked in part, May 2023 · km 0.0–0.4, km 1.2–2.8 from the map

Picked for its light in: December A winter pick assumes the tops are clear of snow and ice on the day, or that you carry winter kit and know how to use it.

Route guide: Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave →

Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell

Summits: Loughrigg Fell

Bags Loughrigg Fell (335 m) — a summit with a view far bigger than its height suggests.

Download GPX Planned route · not yet walked

Best season: Year-round, best in clear weather for the summit view. Loughrigg’s ground is knobbly and often boggy between the rock.

Warnings: Loughrigg’s maze of little paths is genuinely confusing in mist — carry a map. Boggy hollows between the rocky knolls. Livestock; keep dogs close near sheep.

Route guide: Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell →

Every line here is a guide, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate for yourself and carry a map and compass. How to use this guide.

On the hill: terrain and water on Loughrigg Fell

Water & shelter on the way up

On the Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave route:

Vicarage Road (50 m from the start, straight line) The White Lion Inn (105 m from the start, straight line) Salutation Hotel (108 m from the start, straight line) bus stop (207 m from the start, straight line)

On the Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell route:

bus shelter (6 m off the line) toilets (33 m off the line) The Britannia Inn (37 m from the start, straight line) Elterwater Hostel (85 m from the start, straight line)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors, per route — an absent marker doesn’t mean none.

About Loughrigg Fell

Wainwright included it in his Central Fells guide, noting its intricate summit terrain with multiple tops and countless paths. The views of Windermere, Grasmere, Elterwater and the surrounding fells are outstanding. A good first Lake District walk in clear weather, and a low-level option in winter, when its rock steps can be icy.

Field notes

Like many others, this was one of my first fells in the region with the family. I had completed the Fairfield Horseshoe as a solitary hike, but did this one with the kids and some friends. It's very doable from Ambleside, and at 335 m it won't be challenging for most children. The views south over Loughrigg Tarn and Windermere are also good value.

— Lee McCoy, who walked it on our Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave route in May 2023

My Strava hikes over Loughrigg Fell

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

Hike with Henry (opens in new tab) — 10.7 km · 418 m ascent · 2h 57m moving · 21 May 2023

Data from Strava.

Classifications & hill data

Is Loughrigg Fell a Wainwright?

Loughrigg Fell is a Wainwright. It is also on the Birkett list, the Synge list, the Fellranger list and the Marilyn list.

Selected lists

335 m

Height

1,099 ft

In feet

NY 3469 0514

Grid ref

This is the summit’s grid reference. If you call from anywhere else, give your own position, not this one.

The summit is also a Birkett.

Lists, height and summit position from the Database of British and Irish Hills; the feet are converted from its metres and the grid reference from that position. How we check →

The view from Loughrigg Fell

The 360° skyline from Loughrigg Fell

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys

The skyline as a list, by direction

North: Great Rigg (5 km), Seat Sandal (6 km), Hart Crag (6 km), Fairfield (7 km), Dollywaggon Pike (8 km), High Crag (8 km), Lonscale Fell (23 km), Lonscale Pike (23 km), Jenkin Hill (24 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (24 km), Skiddaw Little Man (24 km), Skiddaw South Top (25 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (25 km), Skiddaw (26 km), Skiddaw North Top (26 km)
North-east: Dove Crag (6 km)
East: Yoke (9 km), Ill Bell (9 km), Froswick (10 km)
South-west: Wetherlam (7 km), Swirl How (9 km), Great Carrs (9 km), Brim Fell (10 km), The Old Man of Coniston (10 km)
West: Harrison Stickle (7 km), Pike of Blisco (8 km), Crinkle Crags (10 km), Crinkle Crags South Top (10 km), Crinkle Crags (10 km), Crinkle Crags (10 km), Shelter Crags (10 km), Crinkle Crags (10 km), Bowfell (10 km), Esk Pike (11 km), Great End (12 km), Scafell (14 km)
North-west: Codale Head (7 km), Sergeant Man (7 km), Thunacar Knott (7 km), Ullscarf (9 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Snowdon (168 km, Wales), Carnedd Llewelyn (156 km, Wales), Moel y Gamelin (160 km, Wales), Moel Famau (144 km, Wales), Moel Eilio (167 km, Wales), Y Garn (162 km, Wales), Cyrn-y-Brain (157 km, Wales), Penycloddiau (139 km, Wales).

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills v18.4 (opens in new tab) (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

Sunrise and sunset on Loughrigg Fell

Loughrigg Fell waits for the sun. Its longest wait of the modelled year falls at midsummer, when the sun is up for 41 minutes before it clears this skyline — first light 05:18 against an almanac sunrise of 04:37. You are standing in shadow while the valley below is already lit. The sun comes up to the north-east from here (53.6°), and the skyline on that bearing stands at 4.2°.

Midsummer. The filled shape is the skyline as seen from the summit; the line is the sun’s path. Where they meet is first light — everything left of that point is the wait.

Times for 2026, in Lakeland clock time (GMT in winter, BST in summer) — and model outputs rather than observations.
	First light	Almanac sunrise	Difference
Midsummer	05:18 BST ±5.0 min	04:37	+41 min
Equinox	06:25 GMT ±5.0 min	06:15	+10 min
Midwinter	08:30 GMT ±5.0 min	08:32	-2 min

The northern horizon stands at about 2.88° from here.

Last light — when the sun leaves Loughrigg Fell

Loughrigg Fell loses the sun early. Its earliest evening of the modelled year falls on 1 February, when last light is 30 minutes before almanac sunset — 16:22 against 16:52. The sun goes down to the south-west from here (235.2°), and the skyline on that bearing stands at 3.32°.

The evening of the same three days. A negative difference means a ridge takes the sun before the valley loses it.
	Last light	Almanac sunset	Difference
Midsummer	21:28 BST ±5.0 min	21:52	-24 min
Equinox	18:05 GMT ±5.0 min	18:26	-21 min
Midwinter	15:28 GMT ±5.0 min	15:49	-21 min

These are daylight figures, not a descent plan: the light goes on fading for a good while after the sun leaves, and going down in it is a decision about your own ground and party, not about this table.

Loughrigg Fell is one of our picked Lake District viewpoints — what you can see from it, when the light is best, and where to park.

What you can see from Loughrigg Fell

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.

49Wainwrights in view+3 marginal

168 kmFurthest sightlineSnowdon (Yr Wyddfa) · possible under favourable refraction

—Sea in viewnone from here

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Wales.

Far horizons

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) WalesSSW · 168 km clear
Ingleborough Yorkshire DalesSE · 51 km clear
Whernside Yorkshire DalesESE · 45 km clear

All 49 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Nab Scar, Silver How, Heron Pike (Rydal), Black Fell, Low Pike, Stone Arthur, Lingmoor Fell (Brown How), High Pike (Scandale), Helm Crag, Great Rigg, Blea Rigg, Holme Fell, Baystones (Wansfell), Gibson Knott, Dove Crag, Tarn Crag (Easedale), Seat Sandal, Hart Crag, Steel Fell (Dead Pike - Steel Fell), Fairfield, Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Calf Crag, Wetherlam, Sergeant Man, Loft Crag, Thunacar Knott, Pike of Stickle, Pike of Blisco, Dollywaggon Pike, Cold Pike, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Ullscarf, Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick, Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Brim Fell, Rossett Pike, Bowfell, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man), Esk Pike, Great End, Scafell, Raven Crag, Lonscale Fell, Skiddaw Little Man, Skiddaw

How the view from Loughrigg Fell compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

How the skyline, light and sightlines are computed

Computed, not photographed. First light is the first minute the sun’s upper limb clears this summit’s own skyline and last light the last minute it is still clear of it, both solved against the 360° horizon profile behind The View from Loughrigg Fell. Almanac sunrise and sunset are the flat-horizon convention. Every time carries a ± band from the 30 m elevation model — it smooths arêtes and cornices, so nothing here claims better than five minutes.

Sightlines from the Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model, which is a surface model: each 30 m cell holds the top of whatever stands there, trees and buildings included, rather than bare ground. Corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

Places to stay near this fell

From Ambleside or Grasmere: 7 places · From Elterwater: 3 places in Grasmere

Frequently asked questions about Loughrigg Fell

What is the easiest route up Loughrigg Fell?

There are short, easy starts from Ambleside, Grasmere, Rydal and White Moss. From Rydal it's about 6.5 km; from Ambleside a popular round goes over the top and along Loughrigg Terrace, with the option of Rydal Cave.

All are on good paths — just note some variants include short, steep rock steps, so keep to the main path if you want the gentlest line.

How long does it take to walk Loughrigg Fell? Answered above: Routes up Loughrigg Fell.

Is Loughrigg Fell good for families and dogs?

Yes — it's a favourite family and dog walk, short and scenic with huge views for modest effort. Most active children and dogs manage it easily.

Two cautions: some route variants have steep rock steps that aren't ideal for very small children or small dogs (keep to the main path), and there are old quarry holes and small crags about, so keep little ones close. Keep dogs on a lead around grazing sheep.

Sources: Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

Is Rydal Cave on Loughrigg worth visiting, and is it safe?

It's a popular, atmospheric stop — a large man-made cavern left by 19th-century slate quarrying, reached by stepping stones across a shallow pool. Worth the short detour for most walkers.

Take care, though: blocks occasionally fall from the roof, so don't linger directly underneath, and the stepping stones and floor are slippery and can flood. Keep children supervised inside.

Is it easy to get lost on Loughrigg Fell?

Surprisingly, yes — for such a small fell, the summit is a maze of knolls, boggy hollows and minor paths, and on descent the many junctions make it easy to head down to the wrong town. This is the main thing to watch.

Carry a map (and a compass for cloud), and pick your path junctions carefully so you come down where you intend. Don't assume a small popular fell can't catch you out in mist.

Sources: Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

What should I wear and take up Loughrigg Fell?

Sturdy trainers or walking shoes with grip are fine for this low fell, with a waterproof and warm layer as the top is breezier than the valley. Take a map (the maze of paths makes one genuinely useful), water and a snack.

Mind the boggy patches and the slippery stepping stones at Rydal Cave, and in winter watch for icy rock steps even on this gentle hill.

Sources: MWIS — Lake District forecast (opens in new tab)

Questions from Google’s “People also ask”. · Last updated 2026-06-14 · Suggest a question or correction (opens in new tab)

Loughrigg Fell

Summit conditions on Loughrigg Fell

Wind on the top

Cloud on the top

Routes up Loughrigg Fell

How hard is Loughrigg Fell, really?

Conditions and 7-day summit forecast

Parking & buses for Loughrigg Fell

Parking

Buses

Hazards on Loughrigg Fell

Hazard & Incident Information for Loughrigg Fell

Navigating in cloud

If you need Mountain Rescue

Map, GPX and nearby Birketts

Birketts within 3 km of Loughrigg Fell

Routes over Loughrigg Fell

On the hill: terrain and water on Loughrigg Fell

Water & shelter on the way up

About Loughrigg Fell

Field notes

My Strava hikes over Loughrigg Fell

Classifications & hill data

Is Loughrigg Fell a Wainwright?

Selected lists

The view from Loughrigg Fell

The 360° skyline from Loughrigg Fell

Sunrise and sunset on Loughrigg Fell

Last light — when the sun leaves Loughrigg Fell

What you can see from Loughrigg Fell

Places to stay near this fell

Frequently asked questions about Loughrigg Fell

Other fells near Loughrigg Fell