Birketts North of Loweswater
Start Lay-by west of Darling Fell, Loweswater
Getting here Parking: Darling Fell, west (layby), 0.1 km from the start (straight line). Bus: the 77 stops at Lanthwaite Green Farm (opp); from there it is 4.8 km and 222 m of ascent to this start. And the same back: about 20.2 km in all, with the walk. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. Parking & buses ↓
Hardest part Hard steepness: Steepest sustained climb about 31% around the 1.9 km mark. Hard terrain: Rough or partly pathless ground — indistinct path in places. Hard – estimated from the map, not checked on the ground Hard navigation: Care needed in cloud — ~18% featureless high ground, 20 path junctions near the line. Hard – estimated from the map, not checked on the ground
Before you choose
- OpenStreetMap maps the edge of Raven Crag within about 6 m of the line for about 100 m north of Low Fell’s top, near 3.9 km.
- This line crosses Crabtree Beck (about 2.85 km) and Mosser Beck (about 8.25 km) where OpenStreetMap marks fords, and Whittern Gill (about 8.85 km); none has been checked on the ground. River crossings in spate: Crossing water in spate.
Conditions on this route
We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 2 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.
See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Route map
1 Darling Fell2 Loweswater Fell (Low Fell South Top)3 Low Fell4 Sourfoot Fell5 Smithy Fell6 Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell7 Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell
Easy 86%Moderate 10%Hard 3%Severe
Heights on this chart and its high point are read from the track itself (a terrain model sampled along the line, or a GPS recording), so a top can differ from its listed height, usually reading lower.
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).
The elevation profile is under the map; the stage notes follow.
The walk, stage by stage
- 1
Lay-by west of Darling Fell, Loweswater → Darling Fell (2.5 km, 298 m)
We have written these directions from the map, not on foot. From the lay-by, walk west-north-west along the lane for about 0.4 km to the lane end for Askill Farm, and turn up the public bridleway, surfaced at first, north-north-east past Miresdyke. Go through a gate at about 1.1 km and follow the unsurfaced lane beyond it south-east for about half a kilometre. Leave the lane by a stile at about 1.65 km and climb east-south-east up Darling Fell: this is the steepest climbing of the walk, about 31% sustained near 1.9 km. Cross a stile in a fence at about 2.3 km and carry on to Darling Fell's top at about 2.5 km.
WaypointsThe lay-by, the lane end for Askill Farm, the public bridleway, the gate at about 1.1 km, the stile off the lane, Darling Fell's summit (392 m).
If you need to get offThe map shows the line on the lane to about 0.4 km, then on the bridleway and the unsurfaced lane and up Darling Fell; no mapped path reaches a road sooner than going back, so the way off is back the way you came, never more than about 2.1 km; not walked for this guide.
- 2
Darling Fell → Loweswater Fell (Low Fell South Top) (0.8 km, 111 m)
Drop east, steeply at first, to cross Crabtree Beck at about 2.85 km, where OpenStreetMap marks a ford. Climb east-south-east from the beck to Low Fell's south top at about 3.3 km. For a few metres near 3.2 km the line runs up to 25 m from the nearest mapped path.
WaypointsDarling Fell's summit, the ford on Crabtree Beck, Low Fell's south top (417 m).
Easy to get wrongThe way down to Crabtree Beck is the steepest descent of the walk, about 30% near 2.6 km.
If you need to get offThe map shows no usable way off between Darling Fell and Low Fell's south top: the mapped paths down from Crabtree Beck pass mapped crag and quarry. So the way off is back over Darling Fell the way you came, never more than about 2.9 km; not walked for this guide.
- 3
Loweswater Fell (Low Fell South Top) → Low Fell (0.4 km, 24 m)
Cross a stile in a fence at about 3.4 km and take the public footpath north-north-east to Low Fell's top at about 3.6 km, the highest point of the walk.
WaypointsThe south top, the stile, Low Fell's summit (423 m).
If you need to get offThe map shows no way off between Low Fell's south top and Low Fell shorter than going back the way you came or on to about 4.4 km. There, by the kissing gate, a public footpath leads about 2 km east-north-east, down about 300 m, to the lane at Thackthwaite; never more than about 3 km; not walked for this guide.
- 4
Low Fell → Sourfoot Fell (1.0 km, 37 m)
Carry on north along the public footpath, over a stile at about 4.0 km and through a kissing gate at about 4.4 km. From the gate the path turns north-west and then west-north-west to Sourfoot Fell's top at about 4.6 km.
WaypointsLow Fell's summit, the stile, the kissing gate, Sourfoot Fell's summit (411 m).
Decision pointOpenStreetMap marks the path beyond the kissing gate as hard to see on the ground, from about 4.4 to 4.8 km.
Easy to get wrongOpenStreetMap maps the edge of Raven Crag within about 6 m of the line for about 100 m north of Low Fell's top, near 3.9 km.
If you need to get offThe map shows a public footpath leaving the line at about 4.4 km, by the kissing gate, and leading about 2 km east-north-east, down about 300 m, to the lane at Thackthwaite; it is the way off from this stage, never more than about 2.7 km; not walked for this guide.
- 5
Sourfoot Fell → Smithy Fell (0.5 km, 21 m)
Follow the path north-north-west to Smithy Fell's top at about 5.1 km.
WaypointsSourfoot Fell's summit, Smithy Fell's summit (392 m).
If you need to get offThe map shows no way off between Sourfoot Fell and Smithy Fell except back to the footpath at about 4.4 km, which leads about 2 km east-north-east down to the lane at Thackthwaite, or on to about 5.4 km, where a path leads east-south-east to the same footpath; never more than about 2.4 km; not walked for this guide.
- 6
Smithy Fell → Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell (0.5 km, 49 m)
Carry on north-north-west over stiles at about 5.2 and 5.3 km and up to Fellbarrow's top at about 5.65 km, where the GPX marks a trig pillar.
WaypointsSmithy Fell's summit, the two stiles, Fellbarrow's summit and trig pillar (416 m).
If you need to get offThe map shows a path leaving the line at about 5.4 km and leading east-south-east to the footpath down to the lane at Thackthwaite, about 1.7 km in all, down about 280 m; it is the way off from this stage, never more than about 2.1 km; not walked for this guide.
- 7
Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell → Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell (0.7 km, 25 m)
Head north-north-east from Fellbarrow on a path, over a stile in a wall at about 6.0 km, and on to Hatteringill Head's top at about 6.35 km.
WaypointsFellbarrow's summit, the stile in the wall, Hatteringill Head's summit (385 m).
Easy to get wrongOpenStreetMap maps a small crag edge about 10 m east of the line near 6.2 km.
If you need to get offThe map shows no way off between Fellbarrow and Hatteringill Head shorter than back to the path at about 5.4 km, which leads about 1.7 km east-south-east down to the lane at Thackthwaite: never more than about 2.8 km; not walked for this guide.
Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell → Finish (4.2 km, 89 m)
Turn round at Hatteringill Head's top and go back the way you came, recrossing the wall at about 6.65 km and walking back up the outward path towards Fellbarrow for about 0.4 km. At about 7.05 km, just short of the top, take the path west-south-west down the fellside to cross Mosser Beck at about 8.25 km, where OpenStreetMap marks a ford, and go through a gate just beyond it. Follow the track and then the old unsurfaced lanes south-west and south, across Whittern Gill at about 8.85 km, to rejoin the outward route at about 9.2 km. From there it is the outward route in reverse: the unsurfaced lane, the bridleway down past Miresdyke to the lane at about 10.2 km, and east-south-east along the lane back to the lay-by.
WaypointsHatteringill Head's summit, the wall, the path below Fellbarrow, the ford on Mosser Beck, the gate, the unsurfaced lanes, Whittern Gill, the bridleway, the lay-by (finish).
Decision pointThe first 0.7 km of this stage is the outward path again, back towards Fellbarrow; the turn down the fellside to the west-south-west comes just short of Fellbarrow's top, at about 7.05 km. Lower down, the old lanes lead back to the outward route.
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Planned route · not yet walked
Summits bagged (7)
- 1Darling Fell392 m
- 2Loweswater Fell (Low Fell South Top)417 m
- 3Low Fell423 m
- 4Sourfoot Fell411 m
- 5Smithy Fell392 m
- 6Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell416 m
- 7Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell385 m
In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.
More about this walk
A planned line, drawn from the map; not yet walked. Its heights come from a terrain model, not a GPS recording, because the drawn line carried none. It shares the ridge from Low Fell to Fellbarrow with our walk round Loweswater to Fellbarrow and Low Fell, but starts on the north side of the lake and adds Darling Fell, Low Fell’s south top and Hatteringill Head.
Conditions and timing
Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.
When the sun reaches the tops
Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later.
- Low Fell — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:45, about half an hour later. In late September, about 07:30. It waits longest in late March — about half an hour after sunrise. In late December, not until about 08:45.
- Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in late December — about half an hour after sunrise.
How to read these times
The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.
Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.
Getting there and back
Parking
2 more places to park near the start
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.
If the parking is full
There is no real plan B here. Every place we know beside this route serves the same walks and sits close together, so expect them to fill on the same mornings. Worth starting early, or having a different walk in mind before you set off.
- Darling Fell (layby) — joins the loop at about km 0.4 of 10.6: a 30 m walk to the line, and you walk the round from there
- Darling Fell, west (layby) — at the start
We never say whether anywhere has spaces today. Walks to the line are measured along mapped paths (OpenStreetMap), not in a straight line. How we choose these places.
No signal when you get there? RoutePark keeps this list on your phone: choose this walk’s GPX at home, keep it, and it opens offline.
Buses
The 77 stops at Lanthwaite Green Farm (opp). From there it is 4.8 km and 222 m of ascent to this start — a walk in before the walk. And the same back: about 20.2 km in all, with the walk. Seasonal: the 77 does not run all year. 1 November 2026 is its last day. It returns on 22 March 2027. Confirmed with the operator: its last day on 29 August 2026, its return on 16 October 2026. As timetabled from 24 October to 1 November. Towards Keswick (77): 18:03, every day. Checked against the operator’s timetable, 12 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
Toilets and refreshments
No mapped drinking water or shelter on this route — that doesn’t mean there is none, and never drink untreated from a beck. (Facilities data © OpenStreetMap contributors.)
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Planning detail
How each grade on this page is set, and the timings stage by stage.
Difficulty profile
Hard overall — hardest: Steepness, terrain (estimated from the map, not checked on the ground) and navigation (estimated from the map, not checked on the ground); exposure not assessed on the ground
Five independent axes, not one score. None of them was set on the ground: they are computed from the recorded track and the map, which measures the line rather than surveying the ground.
How we grade: each axis is Easy, Moderate, Hard or Severe, and a route between two bands takes the higher one. Length: under 8 km, 8–14 km, 14–20 km, over 20 km. Steepness, the steepest 500 m of the track: under 15%, 15–25%, 25–35%, over 35%. Terrain, navigation and exposure are judged rather than measured, and each note says why. How we grade.
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Darling Fell | 2.5 km | 298 m | 1:00–1:19 |
| 2Loweswater Fell (Low Fell South Top) | 3.3 km | 410 m | 1:20–1:46 |
| 3Low Fell | 3.6 km | 434 m | 1:27–1:56 |
| 4Sourfoot Fell | 4.6 km | 471 m | 1:43–2:17 |
| 5Smithy Fell | 5.1 km | 492 m | 1:50–2:27 |
| 6Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell | 5.7 km | 541 m | 2:02–2:42 |
| 7Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell | 6.4 km | 566 m | 2:13–2:57 |
| Finish | 10.6 km | 655 m | 3:12–4:16 |
A fast–steady range from Naismith’s rule, deliberately on the slow side. Breaks, weather, rough ground and the slowest person in your party all add to it. How we time walks.
Access & barriers
Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route?
- Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
- Knees: A sustained ~30% descent over 250 m around the 2.6 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.
With a dog
Hardest for a dog here: drops and exposed ground (estimated from the map). The steepest stretch is a sustained climb of about 31% around the 1.9 km mark.
- Drops and exposed ground: Not assessed on the ground; the map suggests Hard. 3 mapped crag feature(s) near the line — check the airy sections.
- Stiles and gates: Stiles of unmapped type at 2.3, 3.4, 4.0, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7 and 6.0 km — a dog may need lifting over. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 2026-10-10)
- Rock and scrambling: Ground underfoot: Hard – estimated from the map, not checked on the ground. Rough or partly pathless ground — indistinct path in places.
- Ways off early: None recorded for this route.
- Livestock, shade and water: Not recorded for this route yet. We never call a stream safe for a dog to drink, so carry enough for both of you. The lead rules, and what to do around cattle, are on dogs on the fells.
On the line: 2 gates · 1 kissing gate · 8 stiles (type unmapped)
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 2026-10-10. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (local extract).