Thorneythwaite Farm Picnic and Waterfall Walk

Overview

About Thorneythwaite Farm Picnic and Waterfall Walk

Why go

A compact farm-to-fell landscape with real variety
Waterfall picnic payoff beneath Coombe Crag
Good chance to see traditional hill-farm details

Heads up

The short route still finishes with a steep, rough climb
Unprotected drops make the waterfall area a poor place to rush

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation108–244 m

TrailheadThorneythwaite Farm Picnic and Waterfall Walk54.51377, -3.16693

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Use the Seatoller National Trust car park, grid reference NY245137. The walk begins from the car park by heading down the road toward Seathwaite, not from Thorneythwaite Farm itself. The car park has toilets; do not rely on it for drinking water.

Best time to go

This is an easy but uneven walk, with a steep final climb that makes it unsuitable for wheelchairs, buggies and anyone wanting a fully surfaced path. Expect a mixture of tarmac, grass, gravel and rough track, plus several gates. The waterfall section is the part to slow down for: wet ground and loose, rough footing are plausible after rain, and the open fell offers little shelter. Spring brings the most obvious meadow and blossom interest; morning or late-day light is best for the walls, trees and surrounding hills.

Safety

The final climb is steep and the waterfall has unprotected drops. Keep children and dogs close at the viewpoint, stay away from the edge, and expect slippery grass, gravel or rock after rain. Several gates and livestock fields make careful wayfinding part of the walk.

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

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Thorneythwaite Farm Picnic and Waterfall 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

Seatoller: Castle Crag or Waterfall Walk

0:00 / 1:19

“Up ahead is Seatoller, where you can leave the car for a walk through Borrowdale to Castle Crag. My pick here is the five-mile Castle Crag loop from the National Trust car park, taking around three and a half hours.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Thorneythwaite Farm Picnic and Waterfall Walk

The routeThis is a 2.3-mile (3.

This is a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) out-and-back from Seatoller car park to a waterfall beneath Coombe Crag. Allow about 1 hour 10 minutes at a normal sightseeing pace. The outward leg follows roads, field paths, a footbridge, a farm lane and a rough track before climbing onto the open fell. At the waterfall, retrace the same route to the car park.

What you will seeThe appeal is the change of scene rather than a single big viewpoint.

The appeal is the change of scene rather than a single big viewpoint. You cross hay meadows and field edges, pass through the working hill-farm landscape around Thorneythwaite, then leave the walls behind for open fell. Look for restored wood pasture, old apple trees, dry-stone walls and Herdwick sheep. The waterfall arrives as a quiet picnic payoff below the dark bulk of Coombe Crag, but the best sitting and photography spots are close to steep ground.

Access and dogsStart at the Seatoller car park and follow the road down toward Seathwaite before taking the…

Start at the Seatoller car park and follow the road down toward Seathwaite before taking the signed footpath. The route is on public footpaths and farm access lanes, so keep gates closed and give livestock room. Dogs are welcome on leads. Toilets are available at the car park, but bring drinking water because there is no potable supply there.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

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 map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.