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, 594 m)

   Climb of about 594 m over 7.8 km (around 8% average).

   Setting off from Ambleside, leave the town and take the quiet tracks through Skelghyll Woods, climbing past Jenkin Crag and on by the Hundreds Road and Robin Lane to the village of Troutbeck. From the village, go down Greengate to the main road and over Church Bridge, and take the stony, walled Garburn Road uphill. After about 1.2 km, leave it over a stile on the right and climb east-north-east up the steep grassy slopes to the summit of Sour Howes.

   Waypoints

   Ambleside, Skelghyll Woods, Jenkin Crag, Troutbeck village, Church Bridge, Garburn Road, Sour Howes summit.

   Decision point

   The tracks from Ambleside to Troutbeck are well-waymarked. The Garburn Road itself is a clear, walled track; leave it at the stile on the right after about 1.2 km.

   Easy to get wrong

   A 7.8 km approach leg. Starting from Ambleside rather than Troutbeck adds about 5.5 km before the fell walking begins. The Garburn Road is a stony, steady pull, about 10% for 1.2 km; the grassy climb from it to Sour Howes is steep, about 235 m in 1.2 km and 20-30% for most of it, 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 to Ambleside.

   

2. 2

   Sour Howes → Sallows (1.7 km, 79 m)

   Climb of about 79 m over 1.7 km (around 5% 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 north-east bearing toward the high ground ahead.

   Easy to get wrong

   Straightforward walking with little ascent, though the grassy hollows here often hold water and are boggy after rain.

   If you need to get off

   Drop north-west back to the Garburn Pass track to descend quickly into the Troutbeck valley.

   

3. 3

   Sallows → Yoke (3.1 km, 269 m)

   Descent of about 70 m, then a climb of about 269 m, over 3.1 km.

   Descend north 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 up Yoke is obvious.

   Easy to get wrong

   From the pass it is about 255 m of climbing over 2.5 km, gentle at first and 15-20% higher up. The path is eroded in places and exposed to the weather coming across the ridge. Yoke's Kentmere face drops steeply in the crags of Rainsborrow Crag, with Star Crag and Rainsborrow Tarn perched on the edge.

   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, 105 m)

   Descent of about 49 m, then a climb of about 105 m, over 1.1 km.

   Follow the ridge north, dropping about 50 m to a hause before the steep, stony climb of about 100 m to the cairn-topped summit of Ill Bell.

   Waypoints

   Yoke, Ill Bell hause, Ill Bell summit cairns.

   Decision point

   Ill Bell's conical profile and its three summit cairns are clear targets.

   Easy to get wrong

   The ridge narrows here, with steep views down into Kentmere on the right. Star Crag and the crags beyond it fall away on that side for most of the way to Ill Bell, as close as about 10 m to the path; keep to the path in mist. The climb to Ill Bell is steep, up to about 25%, and rocky.

   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, 87 m)

   Descent of about 125 m, then a climb of about 87 m, over 1.0 km.

   Descend steeply north-west from Ill Bell, bearing round to the north, to the col, then climb the grassy and rocky ridge ahead to the summit of Froswick.

   Waypoints

   Ill Bell descent, Froswick summit.

   Decision point

   The ridge line is obvious and acts as a continuous handrail.

   Easy to get wrong

   The descent from Ill Bell, about 125 m and 20-40% in places, requires care on loose rock, followed by a climb of about 85 m, up to about 30%, up the spine of Froswick. The exposure to the wind remains very high across this stretch. Crags fall away on the right (east) of the path, as close as about 10 m, for the first 0.6 km below Ill Bell and again on Froswick's top; keep to the path in mist.

   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, 81 m)

   Descent of about 426 m, then a climb of about 81 m, over 3.5 km.

   From Froswick, descend steeply north-west to the col, then turn left (west, then south-south-west) down Scot Rake to Hagg Gill in the Troutbeck valley. Keep on south-south-west, with the gill on your left, onto the northern end of Troutbeck Tongue and along its grassy back to the summit.

   Waypoints

   Froswick summit, the col north of Froswick, Scot Rake descent, Hagg Gill, Troutbeck Tongue summit.

   Decision point

   Getting off Froswick safely is the crux. Once in the valley, Troutbeck Tongue sits in the middle of the valley, 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 usual 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 climb onto the Tongue is gentle: about 75 m over 1.6 km.

   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)

   Descent of about 294 m, with about 209 m of climbing, over 9.4 km.

   Descend the southern nose of Troutbeck Tongue to the valley floor. Follow the path past Troutbeck Park farm and over Hagg Bridge, then Ing Lane down the valley and over Trout Beck, and Truss Lane up to the main road at the top of Troutbeck village. Cross it and follow the lanes through the village to Robin Lane. From there, retrace your woodland route via Skelghyll Woods back to Ambleside.

   Waypoints

   Troutbeck Tongue southern nose, Troutbeck Park farm, Hagg Bridge, Truss Lane, 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 waymarked.

   Easy to get wrong

   A 9.4 km walk out. The descent off the Tongue is steep and grassy, about 20% for 0.7 km and over 30% near the bottom. The valley walk is largely flat; most of the 209 m of climbing comes after it, up Truss Lane to the main road and about 85 m from Troutbeck up Robin Lane to the Hundreds Road.

   If you need to get off

   You are on the valley floor network and entirely off the high fells. A bus may run from Troutbeck on the A592 if the final 5 km walk to Ambleside is too much; check the stop, the direction and the last bus before you set out.