Graystones, Broom Fell and Lord's Seat

This is a closed circular loop of 6.6 miles (10.7 km) with about 520 m of ascent, and you return to the same small car park you left. Allow roughly 4 hours, or 3.5 to 4.5 depending on pace and how long you linger on the tops. From the Scawgill parking spot on the Whinlatter Pass road, opposite Darling How, the walk climbs hard and directly to Graystones, crosses the dip of Widow Hause to Broom Fell, continues along the ridge to Lord's Seat, then drops through the forest past Ullister Hill and finishes on forestry tracks back to the start.

The reward is space. These are quieter North Western Fells, and the ridge between Graystones and Lord's Seat is grassy, rolling and open, with views across to the Skiddaw massif, Grisedale Pike, and out toward the Solway on clear days. Broom Fell has a big, well built summit cairn worth walking right up to, while Lord's Seat is marked by little more than a worn fence-post remnant. Lower down the character changes to conifer woodland and the company of Aiken Beck.

Call it 6 out of 10, moderate to hard for its length. There is no scrambling, but three things make it work for its distance: the opening climb is steep and grassy with few switchbacks, the ridge undulates and holds boggy ground in places, and the descent runs on gravelled forest paths and tracks that can be loose underfoot. Expect stiles, gates and fields with cattle. Boots with grip beat trail shoes here, especially on wet grass.

Low, angled light does the most for the ridge, picking out the rolling ground and the long view to Skiddaw. Heather and rough fell grass dominate the tops, giving way to conifer plantation and streamside woodland on the return, which is where the walk gets its texture rather than its panoramas.

Start from the small Scawgill car park on the west side of Whinlatter Pass, in the patch before the forestry gate opposite Darling How. It is also known as the Spout Force car park and has around 25 spaces, so it fills; if it is full, come back another time rather than blocking the gate, the road or farm access. Dogs are welcome under the general forest code, but keep them on a lead or under close control around livestock, wildlife and the stiles, of which there are several.

Spout Force sits just off the lower path and makes a short optional out-and-back detour; it is not included in the 6.6 mile figure. If a waterfall is all you want, the short walk to it on its own is the better use of an hour. If you want more fell, the longer circuit taking in Barf with Lord's Seat is a harder day with extra ridge and steeper ground.