Lowland Lakeland - Loughrigg Fell and Grasmere
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Part one of an occasional series of the more interesting and scenic Lakeland walks without going up massive mountains, this walk takes in Loughrigg Fell, the lovely village of Grasmere, Wordsworth's cottage and another surprise spectacular little view at Rydal.
This walk would be particularly good if you've never done any hillwalking but fancy giving it a go but perhaps find a full-on mountain walk a bit much. Loughrigg Fell is a great smaller Wainwright (just 335m high) but still has spectacular views from the top* and a rugged, mountain feel. We'll take our time on the way up and down if needs be, and if the full walk is too much it's possible to shorten it to about 6 miles by taking the bus back from Grasmere to Ambleside if you wish - but hopefully after coffee and cake you'll have the energy to do the return part as well as it hides a couple of impressive secrets.
You're also welcome if you'd run up Scafell Pike before breakfast and just fancy something a bit easier for once! :) (Or anything in between).
We will take in the following highlights:
Loughrigg Fell - a fairly strenuous climb and steepish descent but stunning views pretty much all the way - Wainwright himself said the following in his third book, "The Central Fells":
“…no ascent is more repaying for the small labour involved in visiting its many cairns, for Loughrigg has delightful grassy paths, a series of pleasant surprises along the traverse of the summits, several charming vistas and magnificent views, fine contrasts of velvety turf, rich bracken and grey rock, a string of little tarns like pearls in a necklace, and a wealth of stately trees on the flanks…. this fell has a wealth of interests and delights, and for many people who now find pleasure in walking over the greater mountains it served as an introduction and an inspiration. Everybody likes Loughrigg.”
Grasmere - a charming little (fairly touristy) Lakeland village with a selection of cafes, shops, pubs etc including the amazing Grasmere Gingerbread Shop which you can't miss out on if you've not had any before! We'll spend a decent amount of time here for refreshments and a wander round.
Dove Cottage - Wordsworth's home and museum from which he "wandered lonely as a cloud" (as it goes). More information here: https://wordsworth.org.uk/ - we likely won't have time to look round the museum as part of the walk but if you're planning a couple of days in the Lakes around this walk you might want to pop in on another day and explore!
Grasmere and Rydal Water - you'll have great views of both of these lakes as we take the lower path back towards Ambleside.
Rydal Hall - a grand old hall with impressive gardens which is now a Church-run hostel and campsite for youth groups. Worth stopping off here for a short wander round the gardens (free, but dogs need to be on a lead). More information here: https://www.rydalhall.org/.
"The Grot" - an oddly named little place (it comes from "grotto") in the grounds of Rydal Hall with a rather impressive view...I'll leave the rest as a little surprise!
After all that we can have a pint or a coffee in Ambleside if people wish before heading off, hopefully with great memories of one of the most beautiful lowland walks I know of in the Lakes.
* Though obviously I can't guarantee it won't be cloudy :)
Weather conditions
We may need to change the walk or postpone it in the event of very severe weather. I will let you know as soon as I can if this looks likely.
Don't waste that space!
Please only book if you know you can make it. If your plans change please free up the space for someone else.
Is it dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome but please note and abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h). Parts of this walk are quite steep/awkward so be sure your dog is OK with that. Please also remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so please be mindful of other members.
New Members
Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions then feel free to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".
Image / photo credits: All leader's own images - with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse
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What to bring
Water: Bring at least two litres
Medicines: If you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: Typically 20-40 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely.
Boots: Waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking/walking. The route is steep and awkward in places so trainers (other than proper fell/trail running or approach shoes with boot-like soles) aren't suitable for this walk, and if you do wear those be prepared for wet feet!
Socks: Proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters.
Layered clothing: Lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece).
Trousers: Ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK.
Waterproof jacket and trousers: Essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry.
Hat and gloves: It could be chilly particularly on top so always pack these just in case!
Walking poles: People have mixed views on these, but I find them very useful on steep descents, and there is one on this walk. Up to you - you should be able to pick them up cheaply in Ambleside if you would like to try them. I tend to use one to keep a hand free but plenty of people swear by two!
Snacks: Bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of.
Lunch: Bring a packed lunch.
Food & drink
Make sure you bring at least 2l of water and you may also want a flask with a hot drink if it's cold.
You can either bring a packed lunch or there are shops in Ambleside to buy something before the walk if you prefer. There are also pubs, cafes and a couple of shops in Grasmere, but where we have lunch will depend on how long it takes to ascend Loughrigg Fell so it's possible we may not reach Grasmere until a bit late for lunch so bringing something is a good idea.