Latterbarrow from Hawkshead

This is a circular loop of 4.6 miles / 7.4 km, starting and finishing in Hawkshead village, not an out-and-back. Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours, with roughly 203 m of ascent to a summit around 244 m. Moderate overall: the distance is small, but the fellside climb is short, steep and rough, and the forest return needs attention.

The payoff is concentrated: an isolated summit that gives far more view than its modest height suggests, which is why it is worth sitting down up there rather than turning straight around.

• From the village, head toward the Sawrey and Windermere road, cross the bridge and follow the minor road through Colthouse toward Wray.
• Leave the road at the signed Latterbarrow footpath, follow the track, cross a beck and climb the stone-pitched path to the open top and its tall beacon.
• Descend away from Hawkshead, cross a step stile, and pick up the wider plantation path to a forestry road.
• Finish on bridleway and track back to the road above Colthouse, then Loanthwaite Lane and the village.

Early and late sections are road, lane and track, which is easy walking. The climb itself is the rough part, with stone-pitched steps that are uneven underfoot, and the summit plateau is bumpy rather than smooth. Boots are the sensible choice.

The real difficulty is the plantation return. The forest tracks east of the summit look very similar to each other, and a wrong turn is easy. Keep a map or GPS to hand and check junctions rather than following the widest option by instinct.

From the top the outlook splits two ways: east and north-east over Windermere toward Ambleside and the Fairfield Horseshoe, and west toward the Coniston fells, Crinkle Crags and the Langdale Pikes, with the south-western Lakes beyond. Whichever half of the day you climb, one of those directions will be into the light, so decide which panorama matters most to you and plan the visit around it.

Start from Hawkshead Car Park on Main Street (LA22 0NT), which has around 183 spaces, including coach and accessible bays, with public toilets adjacent. The route uses public footpaths, bridleways and access land.

Dogs may come along, but they must be kept under close control and in sight, and on a lead around livestock.