A moderate route in Central fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Pelter Bridge car park, Rydal (NY 364 059). Get there early — spaces go quickly, particularly at weekends and on fine days.
Terrain: Path, Rough Intake, open fell, summit plateau, trig point, southeast descent, steep zig-zag, path, wild walking, marshy ground, woodland edge, return path Notable features: Pelter Bridge, Rough Intake, Loughrigg Fell (335m — Wainwright), Loughrigg Tarn, Ivy Crag, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Windermere, wild walking section, 1 Wainwright IMPORTANT — MOUNTAIN SAFETY: Despite its modest height, Loughrigg Fell is a surprisingly complex fell with multiple paths, tarns and crags. The wild walkingsection near NY 360 047 crosses pathless and marshy ground — good navigation skills and GPS are recommended for this section. Full fell kit is advised. Check the weather forecast carefully before setting out.
A thoroughly enjoyable short circular on one of the Lake District's most characterful and rewarding smaller fells, taking a quieter approach from Pelter Bridge that lets you enjoy Loughrigg at its best. The ascent via Rough Intake and the winding paths of the southern and western flanks builds the anticipation well before the summit delivers its famous panorama — Windermere to the south, Rydal Water and Grasmere below, the Langdale Pikes to the northwest, and the great Fairfield ridge arching away to the northeast. Ivy Crag makes a fine subsidiary viewpoint on the descent, with Rydal Water laid out directly below, and the steep zig-zag descent from the crag keeps the legs working right to the valley. The short wild walking section back towards the car is a minor adventure in its own right — marshy, pathless, and requiring a degree of navigation — before the path over Rough Intake on the return gives a pleasantly fresh perspective. A brilliant little fell that punches well above its 335m weight class.