Lake District

Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water walk

Backpacker sitting on ground looking over lake with trees in foreground and large hills beyond the water — Visitor looking over Crummock Water from Lanthwaite Wood, Lake District | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

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.

Near to

Buttermere Valley

Start point

Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, grid ref: NY149215

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 4 (km: 6.4)

Duration2 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Mostly flat with two moderate climbs. For further information, please see Terrain section.
**Rough paths and a steep flight of steps towards the end of the trail. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Address
Lanthwaite Wood, Loweswater, Cumbria, CA13 0RT
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Whitehaven or Workington stations, 10 miles (16km) from Lanthwaite Wood.
By bus
Honister Rambler (Route 77) stops at Buttermere or Lorton.
Cycling
National Cycle Network route 71 normally reaches Loweswater then turns north, but due to the Lorton bridge collapse it now passes the car park.
Visit the National Cycle Network website
By road
From Cockermouth, take the B5289 south, bearing right after 6 miles for Brackenthwaite. Drive for another mile. The car park is on the left.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, grid ref: NY149215
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
The now peaceful shores of Crummock Water | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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.
Stage 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
Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water walk, Lake District | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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