Tarn Hows, Black Fell and Holme Fell

You start on the lakeside path around Tarn Hows, then head away through Iron Keld and climb Black Fell to its trig point and cairn. The descent goes by Low Arnside to the busy A593 between Ambleside and Coniston, then on via High Oxen to the Hodge Close quarry parking area. From there the route climbs Holme Fell, with Ivy Crag alongside, before dropping through Uskdale Gap and Harty Guards Wood to Yew Tree Tarn. A short stretch of road near Tom Gill car park puts you on the path up beside Tom Gill and its waterfall, back to Tarn Hows and the car park. The payoff is the contrast: the designed woodland landscape at the start and finish, broad views from Black Fell, then the drama of the quarry and the craggy little tops of Holme Fell and Ivy Crag.

Call it moderate but demanding, about 6 out of 10. Nothing is technical, but the ascent adds up across separate climbs and the ground is rough in places. Expect soft and boggy sections along with steep pitches, particularly on the descents.

Two things deserve real attention. The route crosses the busy Ambleside to Coniston road twice, so take both crossings carefully and keep any group together. At Hodge Close the quarry has unprotected precipitous drops straight into deep water, so stay well back from the edge and keep children and dogs under close control.

Wayfinding needs basic map-reading. The line is vague in places, especially around the fields, at Uskdale Gap and in Harty Guards Wood, so carry a map and keep track of where you are rather than trusting a worn path.

The car park has limited space and gets busy at peak holiday times, so arriving early gives you the best chance of a space. There are toilets and a cafe at the start, which makes it a comfortable base for a long day.

Near the Black Crag section you can see exposed volcanic rock of the Ordovician Lincomb Tarn formation. Red squirrels and pine martens have been reported in the wider area, so it is worth walking quietly through the woodland, though neither is a reliable sighting on this particular loop. Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads, since you can meet livestock along the way.

There is a much shorter circular of roughly 2 miles around Tarn Hows itself, which gives you the water and woodland without the fells, the quarry or the road crossings. It is the sensible fallback if the group has mixed appetite for hills.