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10.38 km · ~392 m ascent · ~2.5–3.5 h · loop · 1 summit

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Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave

10.38 km
Distance
~2.5–3.5 h
Typical time
~392 m
Ascent
1
Summit
Download GPX →Maps & guidebooks

Key facts

Distance 10.38 km
Ascent ~392 m
Descent ~392 m
Time ~2.5–3.5 h
Type Loop
The 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.
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

Difficulty profile

LengthModerate10.38 km round.
SteepnessHardSteepest sustained pull about 32% around the 5.0 km mark.
TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path. desk assessment — not field-verified
NavigationModerateClear line, hard to stray. desk assessment — not field-verified
ExposureNot assessedExposure (drops, scrambling, how bad a slip would be) can’t be judged from gradient data alone, so we don’t guess. A rating appears once the route is editorially assessed or walked.

Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.

Conditions on this route

We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 1 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.

Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →

☀️ Daylight & turnaround

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile
Elevation profile Rises from about 43 m to 316 m over 10.4 km, with the summits marked in order. 316 m 43 m 0 km 10.4 km 1

1 Loughrigg Fell

~392 m
Total ascent
316 m
High point
58 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 10.38 km with around 392 m of ascent, taking in 1 summit. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Gates only
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Tough descent
  • Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
  • Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
  • Knees: A long, steep ~32% drop around the 4.8 km mark — hard on the knees.

On the line: 11 gates · 3 kissing gates · 1 step-over stile

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-19. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
Loughrigg Fell4.4 km305 m1:23–1:51
Finish10.4 km392 m2:44–3:38

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.

The walk, stage by stage

Start → Loughrigg Fell (4.4 km, 305 m)

Climb of about 305 m over 4.4 km (around 7% average).

Loughrigg Fell → Finish (6.0 km, 86 m)

Climb of about 86 m over 6.0 km (around 1% average).

Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.

Summits bagged (1)

  • Loughrigg Fell 335 m · Central · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Marilyn

🅿️ Getting there & parking

Ambleside (various paid) — 0.1 km from the start (straight line)
Town car parks — Fairfield Horseshoe, Wansfell, Loughrigg from the door.
Directions
Pelter Bridge, Rydal (paid) — 1.8 km from the start (straight line)
For Loughrigg and the Rydal side of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
Directions

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

💧 Water, shelter & getting away

🚌 Vicarage Road (50 m)🚌 The White Lion Inn (105 m)🚌 Salutation Hotel (108 m)🚌 map (207 m)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

🚌 Buses

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.
Stagecoach 505 “Coniston Rambler”
Windermere – Ambleside – Skelwith Bridge – Hawkshead – Coniston
Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside
Daily in season (reduced winter service). Best access for the Coniston fells (Old Man, Wetherlam group).
Stagecoach 516 “Langdale Rambler”
Ambleside – Skelwith Bridge – Elterwater – New Dungeon Ghyll – Old Dungeon Ghyll
Catch it from: Ambleside · Windermere (change at Ambleside)
The Langdale bus — Pikes, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco all walkable from the Dungeon Ghyll stops. Seasonal frequency varies; check before relying on the last bus back.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

⚠️ Safety & conditions

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Easier and harder options coming soon.

⬇️ Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

📚 Maps & guidebooks for Ambleside, Todd Crag, Rydal Cave

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