Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Loughrigg Fell (4.7 km, 358 m)

   Climb of about 358 m over 4.7 km (around 8% average).

   Unlike the grueling, direct ascents of the higher eastern fells, this approach to Loughrigg is a long, undulating ramble. Assuming a start from the Ambleside/Rothay Park area, the route winds through lower intake walls, transitioning from gravel tracks to grassy fell paths. The route meanders west toward Loughrigg Tarn before hooking back up toward the summit. The gradient is a gentle 8% average, but the terrain on Loughrigg is famously hummocky—a chaotic series of false summits, rocky knolls, and boggy hollows

   Waypoints

   Rothay Park / Under Loughrigg: The typical low-level starting zone crossing the River Rothay. Loughrigg Tarn (approx. 100m): A classic, near-circular tarn providing a perfect mid-route landmark and a great watering spot for dogs. Loughrigg Fell Summit (335m): Marked by a white OS trig pillar, sitting on the highest of the fell’s many rocky bumps, offering panoramic views of Windermere and the Langdale Pikes

   Decision point

   Visual Handrails: Loughrigg Tarn is unmistakable to the west. On clear days, the prominent skyline of the Langdale Pikes (Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle) acts as a perfect compass for westward movement. Boundary Walls: The drystone intake walls clearly delineate the open fell from the valley pastures below, acting as a reliable boundary to stop you dropping too far off the plateau prematurely

   Easy to get wrong

   Navigation in the Hummocks: Loughrigg is notoriously difficult to navigate in low visibility (clag). The plateau is a maze of intersecting sheep trods and unmapped paths through the knolls. It is very easy to lose your bearing and end up on the wrong side of the fell. Summer Bracken: From June to September, dense bracken obscures the lower paths, making them narrow and occasionally masking uneven ground or hidden rocks. Livestock: The fell is heavily grazed by Herdwick sheep. Dogs must be kept under strict, close control or on a lead, especially during lambing season in the spring. Boggy Hollows: After heavy Lake District rain, the dips between the rocky outcrops become surprisingly deep, saturated bogs

   If you need to get off

   If navigation becomes confusing or the weather turns, the safest and easiest bail option is to drop south-west back towards Loughrigg Tarn, where established gravel paths lead safely out to the minor roads near Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater

2. Loughrigg Fell → Finish (5.0 km, 24 m)

   Descent of about 274 m over 5.0 km.

   From the trig point, the descent begins by threading south-west through the rocky outcrops before dropping steadily towards the northern flank of the fell. The grassy, eroded paths eventually give way to the spectacular elevated balcony of Loughrigg Terrace. From here, the route typically descends via steep, pitched stone steps into the woods near Rydal Water, passing the cavernous Rydal Cave, before flattening out onto the bridleways and tarmac of the Under Loughrigg road to return to the start

   Waypoints

   Loughrigg Terrace: A wide, flat path carved into the steep northern side of the fell, offering iconic views over Grasmere. Rydal Cave: A large, man-made slate cavern with stepping stones across a shallow pool at the entrance. Pelter Bridge / River Rothay: The crossing point that marks the return to flat, valley-bottom walking. Under Loughrigg Road: The quiet, single-track road leading back into Ambleside

   Decision point

   Water Bodies: Grasmere and Rydal Water provide massive, impossible-to-miss visual handrails to the north. As long as the lakes are below you and to your left, you are moving in the correct direction. River Rothay: Once on the valley floor, the River Rothay acts as a definitive linear handrail guiding you directly back to Ambleside

   Easy to get wrong

   Pitched Stone Steps: The descent from Loughrigg Terrace down to the Rydal path features steep, highly polished stone steps. These are slick when wet and require careful footwork, especially with a dog pulling on a lead. High Traffic: Loughrigg Terrace and Rydal Cave are honeypot locations. Expect heavy foot traffic, families, and other dogs here. Steep Drops: The edges of Loughrigg Terrace drop away sharply into the bracken toward Grasmere; keep dogs close to heel

   If you need to get off

   The entire eastern descent serves as a natural funnel. If you take a wrong path off the summit in an easterly or northerly direction, you will invariably hit either the Under Loughrigg road, Loughrigg Terrace, or the shores of Rydal/Grasmere. Any of these will provide a safe, straightforward walk back to civilization without any risk of becoming stranded in high terrain