Orrest Head

Orrest Head is widely remembered as Alfred Wainwright's first Lake District climb. A Victorian kissing gate and nearby inscriptions also record Arthur Henry Heywood's gift of the woods and summit for public enjoyment. The result is a rare viewpoint that combines a strong landscape with a little local story underfoot.

Clear, settled weather gives the best chance of seeing the distant fells. Early morning or late afternoon usually brings gentler light across the lake and fewer people than the middle of a fine day, while the summit can be busy on sunny weekends. Bring a layer and water, and use care on wet rock after rain.

The usual approach starts beside Windermere railway station and is about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) round trip, with roughly 120 m of ascent to the 238 m summit. Allow about an hour for the climb and a good pause at the top. The route begins on tarmac, then passes through Elleray Wood before opening onto the fell. The first incline is the steepest, reaching about 1:4, and rocky or uneven ground becomes more noticeable near the summit.

Follow the blue signs for the accessible route. It uses tarmac and gravel and avoids the steps found on some of the red-graded paths, making it suitable for some wheelchairs, pushchairs and class 2 or 3 mobility scooters. That does not make it flat or effortless: the opening gradient and rougher upper surfaces still need to match the ability of the person and equipment. Public toilets are in Windermere village, with parking in the village and at Broad Street rather than at the summit itself.