Ambleside, Loughrigg Fell, Loughrigg Tarn and Skelwith Bridge

Steve and I discovered this lovely walk entirely by chance. We had arrived in Ambleside on a Saturday afternoon at the start of a five-day walking break in the Lake District. We were thrilled to be back—it had been a couple of years since our previous visit—and we were desperate to get out onto the fells immediately. We simply couldn't wait until the following morning, so we decided to fill the four-hour window we had before evening by undertaking a short walk.

I unrolled the map and plotted a quick route from Ambleside to a tarn. This walk was the happy result, and what a delightful little ramble it turned out to be! Starting from our digs near the church, we walked through Rothay Park and crossed the River Rothay via the footbridge. A short stretch of road led us onto a quiet lane heading west toward Brow Head Farm and Miller Brow. A satisfying climb carried us past Deer Hows wood onto the slopes of Loughrigg Fell.

Loughrigg Fell is a charming spot offering fine views back toward Ambleside, which remained visible despite the gloomy afternoon. A network of paths criss-crosses the fell, offering endless scope for exploration, but we maintained our westerly course and descended off the fell near Ivy Crag.

On Loughrigg Fell, we passed a small, charming tarn that happens to be unnamed on Ordnance Survey maps. Amusingly, it had been dubbed 'Shit Lake' on a makeshift sign—likely the handiwork of enterprising youngsters on a school field trip! Had the weather been sunnier, they might have called it 'Nice Lake', and they only needed to wait: as we strolled away, the afternoon sun pierced the clouds and began to warm the air.

Descending from the fell in improving conditions, we followed an enclosed wall path to a gate, crossing two fields northward to reach the shore of Loughrigg Tarn. The setting of Loughrigg Tarn is truly magical. Steve and I instantly relaxed, sitting by the water's edge and letting our cares drift away under the warm sun against an idyllic backdrop.

Looking west across Loughrigg Tarn toward the shimmering Langdale Pikes filled us with eager anticipation for the bigger mountain walks we had planned for the week ahead. We lingered by the tarn for some time before tracking south toward Crag Head and Little Loughrigg, eventually descending into Skelwith Bridge. While there, we decided to visit the local slate center and take the short riverside path to Skelwith Force.

The short walk along the River Brathay footpath was delightful; recent rain had swollen the river, making the prospect of seeing Skelwith Force in full spate very exciting. The waterfall did not disappoint, displaying a voracious white plume as it thundered over the rocky drop. Though compact in size, Skelwith Force is wonderfully dramatic.

Thoroughly satisfied with our impromptu afternoon extension, we walked straight back to Ambleside to whet our appetites for a well-earned evening exploring the local pubs.