Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell
Key facts
✎️ Bags Loughrigg Fell (335 m) — a summit with a view far bigger than its height suggests.
Difficulty profile
Five independent axes, not one score — all field-checked on the ground here, with nothing left as a desk estimate.
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 and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
- Buggy: Not a pushchair route.
- Knees: No sustained steep descent — kind on the knees.
On the line: 18 gates · 6 kissing gates
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 (opens in new tab) and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-09. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
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.
1 Loughrigg Fell
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).
This walk covers about 9.75 km with around 382 m of ascent, taking in 1 summit. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loughrigg Fell | 4.7 km | 358 m | 1:33–2:03 |
| Finish | 9.8 km | 382 m | 2:35–3:26 |
Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.
The walk, stage by stage
Start → Loughrigg Fell (4.7 km, 358 m)
Climb of about 358 m over 4.7 km (around 8% average).
Loughrigg Fell → Finish (5.0 km, 24 m)
Descent of about 274 m over 5.0 km.
Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.
Summits bagged (1)
- Loughrigg Fell 335 m · Central · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Marilyn
🅿️ Getting there & parking
Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.
💧 Water, shelter & getting away
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.
🚌 Buses
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
⚠️ Safety & conditions
- 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.
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.
Make it easier or harder
Easier and harder options coming soon.
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell
- Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
- Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
- Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
- Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
- Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work →