Loughrigg Fell

Loughrigg Fell sits right in the middle of the Lake District's most famous scenery. It's a small hill — just 335m — but its central position gives it views that rival fells twice its height. From the summit you can see Windermere, Grasmere, Rydal Water, the Langdale Pikes, Fairfield, and the Coniston fells. It's one of the finest viewpoints in the Lakes for the effort involved.

The walk from Ambleside is straightforward. Well-made paths wind up through woodland and open fellside, with the gradient never becoming severe. There are multiple routes to the top, so you can make a satisfying circular. The classic approach from Rydal via Loughrigg Terrace is particularly good — the terrace path above Grasmere is one of the great walks in its own right.

Wainwright dedicated more pages to Loughrigg than many larger fells, praising its "delightful paths" and the quality of its views. It's perfect for a half-day walk, an introduction to fell walking, or a quick leg-stretch when the weather's too uncertain for the high fells.

Loughrigg is a year-round walk. Spring is lovely with bluebells in the woodland sections and fresh green on the fells. Autumn brings colour to the trees around Rydal and Grasmere. Winter is fine in most conditions — the low altitude means snow is rare, though paths can be icy.

Summer weekends are busy, especially around Loughrigg Terrace. The paths cope well with the traffic, but early starts are more peaceful. This is one of the best Lake District walks for a grey day when the high fells are in cloud — Loughrigg is low enough to stay below the cloudbase most of the time.