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I took some time off for a full-day hike in the hills and to catch up with my sister and brother in the Lake District. It almost didn’t happen due to the constant rain all week leading up to the weekend. Fortunately, the sun came out over the weekend, making it unexpectedly hot. We decided on Lingmoor Fell as it was a new trail for us and a convenient midpoint to meet up. It took us both about 2 hours to get there, but it was definitely worth the journey. 😊
Total Distance: 8 Miles
Steps: ~25,000 Steps
Highest Point: 1539 Feet
Total Realistic Time: ~5 Hours
Lingmoor Fell is a fell in the English Lake District, situated eight kilometres (five miles) west of Ambleside. The fell reaches a height of 469 m (1,540 ft) and divides the valleys of Great Langdale and Little Langdale. The fell’s name originates from the Old Norse word lyng meaning “heather covered”. The actual summit of the fell is named as Brown How on Ordnance Survey maps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingmoor_Fell
Car parking cost £8.50 for all-day parking or was free for National Trust Members. Payment by phone is an option, but the signal in the area isn’t reliable, so it’s wise to bring cash as well. The parking area isn’t very large, so arriving early increases your chances of finding a spot. There are toilets available at a nearby public house or National Trust toilets, though the latter require payment.
We met up at the car park around 9:30 am, and luckily, it was still fairly quiet, so finding a space wasn’t an issue. There are also free parking areas nearby along the side of the road if the main car park gets crowded 🙂
This is the route we decided on, mostly following paths that offered beautiful views of the hills and distant mountains.
This was the route we ended up doing, as we hit a snag around the Side Pike area. It was only a minor detour. Things don’t always go according to plan, but that adds to the adventure and challenge. We somehow lost track of the path and found ourselves wandering around Side Pike. This led us to a steep area alongside Side Pike, where the ground was covered in dried hay, making it tricky to walk. After some effort, we managed to navigate through it and safely climbed over a spiked fence to reach a footpath. Phew, that was a bit of a challenge!
The route began just over the bridge from the car park. There was some four by four activity happening nearby where our trail began, and it was slowing us down a bit.
On our way back down towards Elterwater for some well-deserved food.
We settled on The Britannia Inn, conveniently located near the car park. Since the sun was still shining, we opted to eat outside and then treated ourselves to some Luxury Lakes ice cream at Slates, just across from the pub.
Conclusion:
Our first all-day hike of the year with the family was fantastic. The weather couldn’t have been better, and the route was filled with stunning scenery and tranquility. It was a gentle warm-up before we tackle more challenging hikes later in the year. Despite encountering some undergrowth on a steep section of Side Pike and navigating over a spiked fence, we all had a great time—just part of the adventure! 😮💨
GENERAL EQUIPMENT
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro (for taking photos/videos and mapping using OS Maps)
- Comfy walking shoes (most important)
- Flask with Hot/Cold drink (a good cuppa is always welcome)
- ibuprofen (helping hand if you have any aches and pains)
- Food and snacks (fuel to keep you going)
- Thin scarf and Gloves (scarf shielding my neck from the scorching sun and gloves for scrambling)