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A walker takes a rest to look out across Crummock Water on a sunny spring day
Enjoying the view across Crummock Water | © National Trust / Paul Harris
Lake District

Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water walk

This walk passes through the hills and woodlands on the eastern side of Crummock Water. The route is dominated by two sweeping views: the famous vista of the Buttermere fells seen over the lake's far side, and the dramatic rocky buttress of Grasmoor End looming over its northern tip.

Total steps: 11

Total steps: 11

Start point

Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, grid ref: NY149215

Step 1

Leave the car park through the wooden gate. Follow the forest road straight on, ignoring the left-hand fork. Walk through the forest with stolen glimpses of the meandering River Cocker below.

Step 2

Stay on the main track, ignoring the left-hand forks, down to the lake. From the lakeshore, take the narrow ‘trod’ uphill through the trees. Turn right and follow the track as it gently climbs. On the right are views of the lake across to Mellbreak.

A pink sunrise over Crummock water with a cluster of three trees in the foreground
The now peaceful shores of Crummock Water | © National Trust / Richard Martin Scott

Step 3

At the junction, turn right down towards the boathouse – a great spot for a picnic and a paddle. Then follow the path that continues into the wood along the lake edge. Go through a gate and over a ford and a stile. Here the path gets rough under foot.

Step 4

At the end of High Wood, pass through a gate and follow the path ahead. Stay on this path as it hugs the lakeshore, passing through two gates and over three footbridges, until you come to a wall with no gate.

Step 5

On reaching the wall, turn left and walk uphill to arrive at a gate. Don’t go through the gate – instead, turn left and follow the grassy path keeping the boundary wall on your right, heading back the way you came. Keep right at the junction, taking the higher path running adjacent to the wall. This path gives lovely views across Crummock Water.

Step 6

Arrive at the edge of High Wood – a bench makes the spot where artist J.M.W. Turner made his sketches of the valley. Pass through the gate onto the road. Turn left and follow the roadside verge, keeping the wood to you left. Take care as the verge narrows in places.

Step 7

Immediately after Lanthwaite Green, turn left over the stone stile marked by the public footpath finger post. Follow the track as it runs between the boundaries.

Step 8

Where a wall crosses the track, pass through the kissing gate on the left. A slate footpath sign helps guide the way. Walk towards the wood ahead and through another gate. Go through the gate and follow the path that hugs the boundary wall to the next gate.

Step 9

Either turn left onto the main path as it heads downhill back to the car park, or you can do an optional hike to see the viewing station at Brackenthwaite Hows. For Brakenthwaite Hows, at the gate keep straight on keeping the boundary wall on your right – the path narrows and winds uphill through trees to a narrow gate in the boundary wall.

Step 10

Go through the gate out of the wood and keep following the narrow path uphill to a low summit. This is Brackenthwaite Hows. Enjoy the view then retrace your steps.

Step 11

Follow the path downhill, ignoring forks to the left and right, until it re-joins the main forestry road leading back to the car park.

End point

Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, grid ref: NY149215

Trail map

Map of Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water walk, Lake District
Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water walk, Lake District | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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