Loughrigg Fell from White Moss

Loughrigg Fell sits in the gap between Ambleside, Grasmere and Rydal, low enough and central enough that paths reach it from almost every direction. The most straightforward, generally rated the easy way up, starts from White Moss Common car park, on the A591 between Ambleside and Grasmere. A level path known as Loughrigg Terrace runs above Rydal Water and Grasmere lake through mixed woodland before the route turns and climbs around 210 metres to the summit area.

Fix the Fells, the path repair partnership run by the National Trust, the Lake District National Park, Natural England and Friends of the Lake District, finished a round of stone pitching here to keep walkers on line across the rockier sections. The top is not a single point but a wide, undulating stretch of bracken, rock and short grass, scattered with small tarns that catch the sky on a clear day. It makes a good introduction to fell walking precisely because it lacks the single dramatic ridge or summit of somewhere like Catbells: instead there is space to wander, several possible high points to visit, and views in most directions, out to the Fairfield horseshoe, down to Windermere, and across to the Coniston fells.

Because so many paths converge here, from Ambleside via Miller Bridge, from Skelwith Bridge, and from Grasmere, it is easy to link Loughrigg into a longer day rather than treat it as a there-and-back from White Moss. On its own it suits anyone wanting a short, unintimidating climb with a summit feel. It does not suit anyone who wants one clear path to follow without occasionally checking a map, since the criss-crossing network of paths on top can be confusing in mist.