Parking
Start at Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park off the B5289 near Scale Hill, grid reference NY149215. It is the correct access for this walk, with pay-and-display parking and limited spaces.
Overview
About Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water Walk
A full circular loop of 4.0 miles (6.4 km), starting and finishing at the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park at grid reference NY149215. The quoted 4.0 miles includes the optional out-and-back spur up to the Brackenthwaite Hows viewing station, so leaving out the spur makes the outing shorter. Allow about 2 hours 30 minutes. Terrain is mostly flat with two moderate climbs.
Why go
- Big Crummock Water and Grasmoor views
- Quiet woodland and lakeshore mix
Heads up
- Rough or wet paths and steep steps
- Short section beside the B5289
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation100–194 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water Walk, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Lanthwaite Wood: Shore and Hilltop Views0:00 / 1:01
“You're drawing near Lanthwaite Wood, where a walk through the trees brings you out beside Crummock Water.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Loweswater: Mellbreak and Scale Force
- Loweswater: Holme Wood and Lakeshore
- Thackthwaite: Low Fell and Fellbarrow
- Waterend: Burnbank Fell and the Terrace
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Lanthwaite Wood and Crummock Water Walk
How the walk unfoldsLeave the car park through a wooden gate and follow the forest road, staying on the main track…
- Leave the car park through a wooden gate and follow the forest road, staying on the main track as it descends through Lanthwaite Wood toward Crummock Water.
- Reach the lake and the boathouse, then continue on paths through High Wood and along the lakeshore.
- Pass an old disused kiln, evidence of early industry in the valley.
- Continue via Lanthwaite Green and connected paths, with one climb across Lanthwaite Common.
- Take the recognised spur up onto Brackenthwaite Hows for the viewing station, then return and close the loop.
Scenery and payoffThe walk mixes woodland, open common, lakeshore and mountain views.
The walk mixes woodland, open common, lakeshore and mountain views. Looking across Crummock Water you get the Buttermere fells and the dramatic rocky buttress of Grasmoor End. Brackenthwaite Hows, also known as Lanthwaite Hill, is the high point of the outing for views, giving a broad outlook over the lake and surrounding fells. Clear weather makes a real difference to those mountain views, and the Hows viewpoint is the natural place to linger with a camera.
Difficulty and footingRated 4 out of 10. Most of it is easy walking, but expect:
Rated 4 out of 10. Most of it is easy walking, but expect:
- Rough or wet paths, with rocky and muddy surfaces in places.
- Two climbs, one across Lanthwaite Common and one onto Brackenthwaite Hows.
- Steep steps on the descent from Brackenthwaite Hows.
- Gates, bridges and some narrow or rough sections.
- A short section along the B5289.
Dogs and parkingDogs are allowed and the route is dog friendly.
Dogs are allowed and the route is dog friendly. Keep dogs under close control around gates, fields, the lakeshore and other visitors. Parking is at the named National Trust car park off the B5289 near Scale Hill; it is pay-and-display with limited spaces.
The honest drawbackFooting is the weak point: rough, wet and muddy stretches, two climbs and the steep steps down…
Footing is the weak point: rough, wet and muddy stretches, two climbs and the steep steps down from the Hows make this less polished than a smooth lakeside stroll, and there is a short spell beside the B5289. For an easier, more popular lakeside circuit, the full Buttermere loop is the better pick. Choose this one for the quieter feel, the stronger view toward Grasmoor and the optional viewpoint climb.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
