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Due to meet up with my brother once restrictions are lifted and he'd like to go for a walk up a hill in the lakes.
BUT... He is a lazy / tardy sod and is bound to turn up late after driving up from Liverpool. So i need to be able to get up into some nice hills but fairly quickly (due to the fading light at this time of year) so nothing longer than 4 hrs. Looked at walks from Sadgill or Kentmere but parking will be horrendous as space is very limited and so many folks seem to be out an about at the moment.
We will be coming up from the south on the M6
What ya got?
Helm Crag from Grasmere is a good short ish walk with a cracking summit/views. Steep in places though.
If he's really lazy/late then a short walk might be a good idea:
- Hampsfell from Grange is a cracking little hill with amazing views
- Gummer's How is another nice little walk.
If he's not late then how about The Howgills t'other side of the M6?
There are some great walks to be done up the other Borrowdale parking on A685 near Borrowbridge
Good call from Grum.
Meet him in the Lancrigg hotel (Easedale road) for coffee and then nip up Helm crag. If he's not shagged then return via far Easedale.
Helm Crag isnt a bad idea. Have done that 3 or 4 times in the past already and its a lovely little hill. Id discounted stuff like that as it was so far into the lakes but according to google its only 9 mins longer a drive than kentmere.
I’d be very surprised if Grasmere only took you an extra 9 mins. You’d need to get through Windermere and Ambleside. How about Swindale near Shap? Only been climbing there but there were plenty of walkers setting off when last I was there.
3 Shires Head then up Pike O'Bliscoe.
Loughrigg terrace and caves?
Howgills.
Loughrigg, then extend over Silver How if time allows.
Up Latrigg from Keswick is only a few hours.
Its a pleasant stroll, not too steep and theres lovely views from the top, looking out over Skiddaw and over Derwen****er to Cat Bells
Was gonna suggest that too, but park at the top car park, then at least if the lazy sod doesn't wanna walk far, you'll still get the lovely views across Derwent to Cat bells and the western fells.
Tell him if he walks a decent amount you'll take him for a cow pie.
but park at the top car park
There's no way there will be any spaces there when he rolls up past 10am.
I'd probably plump for one of the outlying fells in the South Lakes with great views into the Lakes rather than taking hours to get into the centre and gambling on getting into one of the honeypot car parks. You 'might' manage to get parked at Scales or Threlkeld to head up Blencathra, which is a brilliant walk and doesn't take long (don't bother with Sharp Edge at this time of year).
Good point.
I’d probably plump for one of the outlying fells in the South Lakes with great views into the Lakes rather than taking hours to get into the centre and gambling on getting into one of the honeypot car parks
This is sort of where my head is too. Any suggestions?
At Kentmere there is usually a field you can park in. It's on the left immediately before you go up the hill into Kentmere. On the map it's identified as Low Bridge. There might be an honesty box on the gate or somewhere. Not certain if it's open in the winter tho.
Barrow is the best hill in the Lake District, take a look. 🙂
Thanks BA Nana. That would be ideal. Now just need to make sure its open though :-/
If you Google it there's a number to phone to find out on kentmere.org or something like that. Apparently they are only allowed to open it a certain number of days and won't if its sodden
Found it. Nice one!
For access from the South, I'd probably opt for either Gummer's How (SE side of Lake Windermere), as suggested above, or do a loop above (SE of) Troutbeck to Kentmere (Garburn area).
However, for the latter, I'd try to park near Dubbs reservoir (on the Ings to Troutbeck Road) rather than Kentmere. First Google search threw me this - which fits the bill.
Depending upon how late and lazy your brother is, you could always string a walk around the outside of Windermere and Bowness taking in the small series of fells: Brantfell, School Knott and Orrest Head. Good views to the west over the Lakes and other than Orrest Head, there are not too many people around. Moreover, you could always bail-out on a whim and go for a pint/coffee.
I like gummers how as it's pretty quiet and you can sneak in a beer at the masons arms after.
For s lakes easy walk, easy car access I would do arnside Knott and the circular walk round the estuary to far arnside. You hardly see anyone and the views are as good as the lakes.
Ditto grange to cartmel as above. My go to walk is coniston as a starter as there are loads of options depending on cloud, fitness etc.
For s lakes easy walk, easy car access I would do arnside Knott and the circular walk round the estuary to far arnside. You hardly see anyone and the views are as good as the lakes.
This occurred to me too. Thought it probably wasn't 'hilly' enough.
Blawith Knott and Beacon Fell/Tarn? Some lovely little tops up there, reasonably easy access.
Scout Scar? Very handy for driving and good views north towards the bigger fells
@Blackflag - You could save a lot of driving and do a walk further south.
A circuit of Barbon Low Fell from Barbon is a lovely half-day walk with varying landscapes and the lure of a pint in Barbon at the end of the route. Or coffee and cake at the Churchmouse Cafe
https://www.penninewalker.net/18th-november-2012---barbon-low-fell.html