Sour Howes, Sallows, Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick and Troutbeck Tongue in the sun!

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Sour Howes (7.8 km, 593 m)

   Climb of about 593 m over 7.8 km (around 8% average).

   Setting off from Ambleside, leave the town and take the quiet tracks through Skelghyll Woods, contouring around Jenkin Crag and along Robin Lane towards the village of Troutbeck. From the village, pick up the stony track of the Garburn Pass, steadily ascending before breaking off the main pass to head south and tackle the grassy slopes to the summit of Sour Howes

   Waypoints

   Ambleside, Skelghyll Woods, Troutbeck village, Garburn Pass track, Sour Howes summit

   Decision point

   The tracks from Ambleside to Troutbeck are well-waymarked. The Garburn Pass itself is a massive, unmistakable walled track leading up to the fells

   Easy to get wrong

   A massive 7.8 km approach leg. Starting from Ambleside rather than the usual church car park adds serious distance before the real fell walking even begins. The climb up Garburn Pass is a stony, steady pull, but the final grassy ascent to Sour Howes is a bit of a slog and often wet

   If you need to get off

   Before reaching the Garburn Pass, you can simply turn around in Troutbeck and use the road or low-level paths to return safely to Ambleside

   

2. 2

   Sour Howes → Sallows (1.7 km, 76 m)

   Climb of about 76 m over 1.7 km (around 4% average).

   From Sour Howes, head north and then north-east over the undulating, grassy moorland, dipping into a shallow depression before the gentle ascent to the summit of Sallows

   Waypoints

   Sour Howes, moorland depression, Sallows summit

   Decision point

   There are faint paths crossing the grass; keep a general northern bearing toward the obvious high ground ahead

   Easy to get wrong

   Very straightforward walking with minimal ascent, though the grassy depressions here are notorious for holding water and being boggy after rain

   If you need to get off

   Drop west back to the Garburn Pass track to safely and quickly descend into the Troutbeck valley

   

3. 3

   Sallows → Yoke (3.1 km, 267 m)

   Climb of about 267 m over 3.1 km (around 9% average).

   Descend north-west from Sallows to rejoin the top of the Garburn Pass. From the pass, turn north and begin the long, steepening climb up the wide southern ridge toward Yoke

   Waypoints

   Sallows, Garburn Pass, Yoke summit

   Decision point

   Once you cross the Garburn Pass, the path heading straight up Yoke is obvious and heavily trafficked

   Easy to get wrong

   Rejoining the main ridge means the gradient ramps back up to 9%. The path is heavily eroded in places and fully exposed to the elements coming across the ridge

   If you need to get off

   Turn left (west) down the Garburn Pass to descend back into Troutbeck

   

4. 4

   Yoke → Ill Bell (1.1 km, 96 m)

   Climb of about 96 m over 1.1 km (around 9% average).

   Follow the ridge north, dropping into a dramatic rocky hause before tackling the steep, stony climb to the distinctive, cairn-studded summit of Ill Bell

   Waypoints

   Yoke, Ill Bell hause, Ill Bell summit cairns

   Decision point

   Ill Bell's conical profile and its three prominent summit cairns are unmistakable visual targets

   Easy to get wrong

   The ridge narrows significantly here, offering spectacular, plunging views into Kentmere on the right. The climb to Ill Bell is steep and rocky, requiring a bit of extra effort

   If you need to get off

   Retreat to the Garburn Pass; dropping directly into the steep valleys from this high ridge is not recommended

5. 5

   Ill Bell → Froswick (1.0 km, 75 m)

   Climb of about 75 m over 1.0 km (around 8% average).

   Descend steeply from Ill Bell to the next deep col, then climb the opposing grassy and rocky ridge to the summit of Froswick

   Waypoints

   Ill Bell descent, Froswick summit

   Decision point

   The ridge line is obvious and acts as a continuous, dramatic handrail

   Easy to get wrong

   The descent from Ill Bell requires care on loose rock, followed by another sharp 8% climb up the spine of Froswick. The exposure to the wind remains incredibly high across this stretch

   If you need to get off

   Continue pushing forward or retreat; this is a highly committed section of the main ridge

   

6. 6

   Froswick → Troutbeck Tongue (3.5 km, 80 m)

   Climb of about 80 m over 3.5 km (around 2% average).

   From Froswick, descend steeply westward off the main ridge via Scot Rake, dropping down into the Troutbeck valley. Cross the valley floor before taking the sharp, steep grassy pull straight up the northern nose to the summit of Troutbeck Tongue

   Waypoints

   Froswick summit, Scot Rake descent, Hagg Gill, Troutbeck Tongue summit

   Decision point

   Getting off Froswick safely is the crux. Once in the valley, Troutbeck Tongue sits directly in the center, flanked by Hagg Gill and Trout Beck, making it visually obvious

   Easy to get wrong

   I remember coming down from Froswick as particularly challenging. Initially, I thought the safest route was to the left of the cairn, but actually, it's to the right. There are some big steps down and difficult conditions on this steep descent. Once in the valley, the sudden climb up the Tongue is a sharp shock to the system

   If you need to get off

   Once off Froswick and in the valley, you can skip the climb up Troutbeck Tongue and simply walk the valley track south toward the village

   

7. Troutbeck Tongue → Finish (9.4 km, 209 m)

   Climb of about 209 m over 9.4 km (around 2% average).

   Descend the southern nose of Troutbeck Tongue to the valley floor. Pick up the wide tracks passing Troutbeck Park farm, follow the long valley road back into Troutbeck village, and finally retrace your woodland route via Robin Lane and Skelghyll Woods back to Ambleside

   Waypoints

   Troutbeck Tongue southern nose, Troutbeck Park farm, Troutbeck village, Skelghyll Woods, Ambleside finish

   Decision point

   The tracks through the Troutbeck valley and the return route via Skelghyll Woods are well-established and heavily waymarked

   Easy to get wrong

   A grueling 9.4 km walk out. The descent off the Tongue is steep and grassy. The subsequent valley walk is largely flat but feels endless at the end of the day, and the 209 m of ascent is stealthily distributed across the rolling paths all the way back to Ambleside

   If you need to get off

   You are on the valley floor network and entirely off the high fells. Buses also run from Troutbeck on the A592 if the final 5 km walk to Ambleside is too much