A moderate route in North Western Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Start/Finish: Maggie's Bridge Car Park, Loweswater (NY 134 210) — very limited parking
Terrain: Road, lakeside road, track past disused quarry, steep fell climb, ridge path, Darling Fell summit, fence descent into col, steep climb, Bield (Wainwright top), Low Fell true summit, path, Watching Crag, Sourfoot Fell, Smithy Fell, Fellbarrow summit, southwest descent over Mosser Fell through sheepfolds, track, Grange Lane, Waterend, path to Hudson Place, lakeside path along Loweswater, Holme Wood, Corpse Road, Watergate Farm, drive return
A thoroughly enjoyable circuit of the quiet fells above Loweswater — two Wainwrights in a part of the Lake District that sees far fewer walkers than it deserves, with the compensation of having the magnificent lake views largely to yourself. The climb to Darling Fell is steep but brief, and the ridge north through Low Fell's two tops is among the best short ridge walks in the western Lakes, with Crummock Water and Buttermere laid out below in a view that Wainwright chose to designate his summit for good reason. The low cloud kept the higher Lakeland giants hidden for the day but in a walk of this character that barely matters — the lakes below are the show, and they are spectacular. Fellbarrow completes both Wainwrights before the long southwest descent over Mosser Fell leads to the return via Grange Lane, Waterend and the Corpse Road through Holme Wood — a beautifully atmospheric conclusion along the southern shore of Loweswater that brings the whole walk full circle with considerable style.