Low Light Haw
Key facts
✎️ Park at the small, free Crab Haws car park (what3words ///fault.swordfish.insect), about 0.8 miles north of High Nibthwaite — the entrance is easy to miss, immediately after a field on the right, and the path climbs straight up through the woods from there. High Nibthwaite's own laybys are very limited, so please use Crab Haws and don't block the farm access.
Difficulty profile
Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.
☀️ 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 Low Light Haw
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).
This walk covers about 5.63 km with around 247 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 and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
- Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
- Knees: A sustained ~23% descent around the 3.7 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.
On the line: 1 gate
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).
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Light Haw | 2.7 km | 223 m | 0:54–1:12 |
| Finish | 5.6 km | 247 m | 1:32–2:03 |
Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.
The walk, stage by stage
Start → Low Light Haw (2.7 km, 223 m)
Climb of about 223 m over 2.7 km (around 8% average).
Low Light Haw → Finish (2.9 km, 23 m)
Descent of about 195 m over 2.9 km.
Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.
Summits bagged (1)
- Low Light Haw 250 m · South Lakeland · Outlying Fell
🅿️ Getting there & parking
Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.
💧 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.)
🚌 Buses
No regular bus serves the start — this is one for the car. Nearest hubs: Penrith (X4/X5 & 508), Ambleside and Windermere (555, 505, 516).
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
⚠️ Safety & conditions
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 Low Light Haw
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