Elter Water and Loughrigg Tarn

A lovely walk to see Elter Water and Loughrigg Tarn. This can be a popular walk during the summer months especially until the waypoint (5).
Good navigation is needed between waypoints (5) and (8) as the path is not visible especially in summer with all the vegetation.
This is a dog friendly route.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.34 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 94 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 93 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 141 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 47 m

Description

Start: Small car park just outside Elter Water, Ambleside (LA22 9NP). Grid ref. NY 329 050

(S/E) Exit the car park and walk on the road (South) towards the center of Elter Water Village. Pass the Britannia Inn pub on your right and continue straight towards the bridge. Before the bridge and at the car park cross the road to take the Cumbria Way footpath on the left of the bridge.

(1) Continue straight on the Cumbria Way path until the end of Elter Water and the path comes closer to the main road.

(2) Continue straight on the path between the river and the road. There are beautiful views of the Skelwith Force waterfall from the path. Continue straight on the path until it becomes a road and arrive at Skelwith bridge. At the bridge take left (do not cross it) on the A593 road and continue until reaching an intersection of roads.

(3) Continue straight on Foulstep road (road going up between the bus stop and a house) until reaching the intersection with Ellers Brow road. Take right (East) then after a couple of meters take left on the path going to a farm.

(4) Bypass the farm and take the path on the left going towards Loughrigg Tarn. Walk along the shore of Loughrigg Tarn to walk around it and reach a road.

(5) At the road, take left.

(6) Then after a couple of meters turn right on the path indicating Skelwith bridge. Pass Loughrigg fold farm and stay on this path (South) until reaching a gate in front of you.

(7) At the gate turn right (Do not cross the gate) and walk straight going down with a dry stone wall on your left hand side. (You can detour by Neaum Crag to observe the view.)Good navigation will be needed here to go down to the road as the path is not visible. Go straight down (West) to reach a road and gap in the wall.

(8) Cross the wall, then the road and take the path in front going into the forest. Continue straight on this path until joining another path. Take right on that path and walk back to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 72 m - Car park outside Elter Water village
  2. 1 : km 0.39 - alt. 63 m - Turn left to take the Cumbria Way
  3. 2 : km 2.54 - alt. 71 m - Straight between river and road
  4. 3 : km 2.99 - alt. 51 m - Road going up between bus stop and house
  5. 4 : km 3.72 - alt. 102 m - Take left on the path by the house
  6. 5 : km 4.67 - alt. 106 m - Stile with dog gate
  7. 6 : km 4.82 - alt. 114 m - Right to Skelwith bridge
  8. 7 : km 5.14 - alt. 139 m - Don't pass gate. Path right before wall
  9. 8 : km 5.49 - alt. 86 m - Cross the road, then path straight into the forest
  10. S/E : km 7.34 - alt. 71 m - Car park outside Elter Water village

Practical information

Start: Small car park just outside Elter Water, Ambleside (LA22 9NP). Grid ref. NY 329 050

Car park: Several car parks outside Elter water village Ambleside (LA22 9NP). Also National Trust car park in the village. Fees apply to all the car park.

Toilets: By the National Trust car park

Note: Good navigation is needed between (5) and (8) as the path is not visible especially in summer with all the vegetation.

Pushchair friendly: Yes until (3)

Dog friendly: Yes however there are some sheeps in the fields.

Find more walks on Our Lake District Escapades website

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

In the nearby area

Possible to swim in Loughrigg Tarn
Skelwith Force waterfall

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