Sunday 24th December 2017
Loughrigg Fell
Meet time: 9.45am
Start time: 10am
Start point: Tourist Information Centre in Ambleside, LA22 9BS, NY376045
Car parking: There is a variety of parking in and around Ambleside. Free parking can be found as you enter Ambleside from the south, go through the traffic lights at Waterhead and there is a free parking bay 200m further along on the right hand side. Free parking can also be found on Under Loughrigg Road (LA22 9LJ). Alternatively there are several pay and display car parks through Ambleside centre.
Description: From the Tourist Information Centre we walk down to the church and through Rothay Park crossing the river onto Under Loughrigg Rd. We have an easy first km walking north along the road. We turn left before the bridge crosses the river following the riad, which turns into a track and then a footpath at Rydal Water. A short steep section takes us up to Rydal Caves from where we follow Loughrigg Terrace. With Grasmere lake on our right we turn left to follow a steep stepped footpath to the top of Loughrigg (335m)*.
From the top we head in a southerly direction across the fell. We will cross the main footpath to continue across the fell to Lily Tarn and the amazing views down across the northern end of Windermere. From here we will turn left taking a short, sometimes steep, footpath down to a lane which joins Under Loughrigg Road, and then back across the river to Rothay Park and on to Ambleside.
*if the weather is bad our route may change at this point! The alternative route continues along Loughrigg Terrace to Red Bank where we will turn left and follow the road for a few hundred metres before turning left onto a farmers track to Loughrigg Tarn. From here we cross a stile, through a field and turn left onto the main footpath that crosses the lower part of Loughrigg Fell.
Distance: Approx 12km/7.4 miles
Ascent: Approx 335m
Time: 4 – 5 hours
Grade: Leisurely
Please contact Julie on number removed by 6pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk. It is advisable to carry a headtorch and plenty of warm clothing at this time of year.
The leader reserves the right to cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.