Circular tour of Loughrigg Fell
Approx 6 miles
Time 2 - 3 hrs. App.
Height … Ranging from lake level to 600 ft

About one and a half miles outside Ambleside on the A591 road to Keswick, lies the small hamlet of Rydal ... blink and you will miss it. Just before the village is a bridge over the river Rothay on your left. Cross the bridge and turn imediately right. Free parking can be found 50yds further on.

Walk back towards the bridge but do not cross it, instead head to your right and follow the lane. You will pass a set of stepping stones over the river on your left, and several cottages on your right. Keep going for approx another mile till you reach a footpath on your right (just before a small stone footbridge that leads on to Rothay Park.) Cross the cattle grid and head up the steep lane.

This eventually turns in to a stoney track. Views of loughrigg Fell can be seen over to the far right. Continue on until the track decends to a stream and a small pond. Here the track splits. One path leads over the fell and the other drops down to take the circular path around it. Take the lower path.

Follow this path under "Ivy crag" to your right. Continue through a gate and in to some pine woods. Follow the path down through the woods until you come to some farm buildings. Turn sharp right through a gate and follow this lane. Soon you will see the beautiful Loughrigg Tarn with views of the Langdale Pikes in the background.

There is a stile in the fence on your left, cross the field, climb the wall over the steps to meet up with a road. At the road turn right and follow for about a further half mile, passing "The Oaks" B&B on your left. Eventually this road meets a junction with the Grasmere/Elterwater road. Take the path through the gate on your right marked "Deer Bolts Wood" and follow it thriough the woods going through another gate. The path again splits "Right" goes back over the fell. We want the path to the left. There are seats on this path to admire the stunning views over Grasmere, Helm Crag and Heron pike.

Follow the path down to the shore of Rydal. Continue along the shoreline and eventually the path rises and splits near a gate through a wall. Right takes you on a short detour up to some man made slate caves high above Rydal, left takes you through the gate and leads past a few cottages eventually bringing you out at the car park. At the time of writing this car park was free but just check to make sure that is still the case. From here a short drive back in to Ambleside and evening meal can be had at Zeffirellis ,my favourite restaurant in the whole of Lakeland .... one you really should try.

Please take care ....

While every effort is made to ensure the walks listed on these pages are accurate, the responsibility lies with you the visitor.

Remember, weather in the lake district can change at very short notice. Take plenty of layered clothing, waterproofs and extra food and drink. Ensure someone at home knows your planned route for the day.