“Everyone likes Loughrigg.”
So said Alfred Wainwright when writing of Loughrigg Fell, one of the most accessible of the 214 fells immortalised in the author’s famous guidebooks. At just 335 metres, Loughrigg Fell is a firm favourite among visitors to Lakeland, with thousands completing the hike to its rocky summit plateau each year.
Whilst summer is the peak tourist season for the Lake District, fells like Loughrigg are at their best in the winter. The crowds are long gone, the bracken has turned a dramatic rusty brown, and you stand a higher chance of catching some dramatic conditions for photography.
I caught the bus into the Lake District on a cold morning at the end of December. Making a beeline for Loughrigg Fell, I struck lucky with the conditions. Despite being battered by rain and wind, this winter walk up Loughrigg Fell brought amazing views, sublime light and one of the best rainbows I’ve ever seen. This post highlights 12 photos from this beautiful walk.
If you’d like to embark on your own adventure on Loughrigg Fell, I have added a rough location pin for each photo.
About Loughrigg Fell
Height: Loughrigg Fell stands at 335 metres (1,099 feet). Despite its humble height, Loughrigg Fell is a Wainwright – one of 214 iconic fells named in Alfred Wainwright’s guidebooks.
Difficulty: Although Loughrigg Fell is one of the smaller Wainwrights (the 4th-smallest, in fact), the steep ascent makes it a moderately challenging walk. The final section from Loughrigg Terrace will certainly get the blood pumping.
Duration: Depending on the conditions, I recommend allowing 3-4 hours for a hike up Loughrigg Fell. This allows for time at the summit to enjoy the brilliant views of the Lake District. In bad weather, you may not want to linger as long!
Start point: There are several variations of the route up Loughrigg Fell, including circular walks from Ambleside and Rydal. I prefer to start at White Moss car park, which gives you the quickest route to Loughrigg Terrace and up to the summit of Loughrigg Fell. There is also a bus stop here in case you are looking for a car-free walk in the Lake District. The 555 bus from Kendal to Keswick is regular and reliable, opening up a vast array of point-to-point walks along its route.
Winter conditions: Loughrigg Fell can occasionally see snowfall during particularly cold spells. However, it is generally snow-free for much of the winter – even when nearby, taller Wainwrights are covered in the white stuff. Nonetheless, the top of Loughrigg Fell is exposed and windswept – it can get very cold up there. Make sure to dress and pack appropriately for the hills.
Beginning the hike with a dramatic walk across Loughrigg Terrace
My winter walk up Loughrigg Fell began with a brisk stroll through gnarly woodland. It was less than an hour since the sun had risen, and I was all alone, save for a startled group of Herdwick sheep who scurried away as soon as they heard my footsteps.
Photo 1: The path along Loughrigg Terrace.
Before long, I passed through a creaky wooden gate and began to track along the narrow path that leads along Loughrigg Terrace. This elevated path marks the western slope of Loughrigg Fell and offers unbeatable views across a small lake to the popular village of Grasmere. Thin layers of bracken, long since dead, flanked the path, rustling slightly in the cold morning wind.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
Photo 2: Looking down at Grasmere
Eventually, I reached a fork in the path. Turning right would lead me through more woodland and, ultimately, to the outskirts of Grasmere.
To my left, the path began a steep climb up to the summit of Loughrigg Fell. Before I started the short ascent, I took one final look back towards Grasmere. By this point, the wind had picked up, creating tiny waves in the lake, which lapped against the shore and whipped up dramatic patterns on the water with each powerful gust.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
Moody views of distant fells from Loughrigg
One of the main reasons for Loughrigg Fell’s enduring popularity among first-timers and Lakeland veterans alike is the sheer variety of views from all corners of this tiny Wainwright. Many of the Lake District’s most popular peaks are visible from Loughrigg, including those of the dramatic Langdale Pikes and the iconic Fairfield Horshoe.
Photo 3: Rain showers on the western fells
As I began the short but steep hike up to the exposed summit of Loughrigg Fell, I looked to my right. In the distance, I could see the western fells engulfed in a deluge.
The rain storm appeared to be isolated to a small patch, battling against the first glimpses of morning sunlight that had started to emerge from behind the clouds.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
Photo 4: The Langdale Pikes seen from Loughrigg Fell
Later on, the driving rain gave way to intermittent sunshine. Despite the break in the wet weather, the sky remained moody and ominous throughout.
The sun never quite broke through, illuminating small patches of the landscape in dramatic, stormy lighting. In the distance, I caught a glimpse of the iconic Langdale Pikes shrouded in shadow, whilst a nearby rocky summit enjoyed a brief moment of illumination.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
Photos 5 and 6: More patches of dramatic lighting
The moody conditions continued as I explored more of Loughrigg Fell. In between horizontal rain and driving winds, there were occasional moments of calm in which to stand and admire the distant views.
Sublime light and driving rain on the summit of Loughrigg Fell
As soon as I reached the summit plateau of Loughrigg Fell, a powerful gust of wind nearly knocked me off my feet. At the same time, the heavy rain which I had spotted on the western fells announced itself with force.
I was thankful for my warm, cosy down jacket and waterproofs as the sky opened up. Despite its relatively small height, Loughrigg Fell can endure the full brunt of the Lake District’s wild weather.
I tried to shelter from the worst of the wind beneath a small rocky outcrop. A little further along, I spotted a few stoic sheep huddled together, seemingly unperturbed by the sudden onslaught of horizontal rain.
With my hood pulled tight for warmth, I buried my hands deep in my pockets and waited for the conditions to improve. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long.
Read next: The beautiful walk up to Angle Tarn from Patterdale near Ullswater.
Photos 7, 8 and 9: a break in the weather
After a few minutes, the wind calmed to a breeze. The sun started to poke through once more. The deluge had moved further down the valley. From my vantage point, the rain appeared like thick layers of fog among the distant trees.
Illuminated by stormy lighting, the valleys below Loughrigg Fell looked sublime. The views more than made up for the brutal conditions a few minutes prior.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took these shots.
Read next: Discovering the best photo spots at Lake Bled.
Photo 10: The distant, glistening waters of Windermere
With the worst of the rain gone, I continued to walk southeast along a rocky path. In front of me, a gorgeous golden glow illuminated the vast shores of Windermere.
Rain and wind continued to make their way across the scene, causing the water to ripple and dance with each gust and downpour.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
Read next: A November walk around the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail in the Yorkshire Dales.
Photo 11: A winter rainbow on Loughrigg Fell
As I made my way around to the northern side of Loughrigg Fell, I was treated to my favourite moment of the hike. Out of nowhere, I spotted the faint outline of a rainbow starting to emerge.
Within seconds, the vivid colours stretched across the sky. A second, faint rainbow started to form. Having put my camera back in its bag a few minutes earlier, I started a mad fumble to retrieve it.
Unfortunately, I had put my long lens on for the earlier shots of Windermere. I managed to capture a couple of snaps on my camera before the rainbow disappeared, but I had to fall back on my phone to capture the full wide-angle scene below.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
Descending Loughrigg Fell
On this occasion, I chose to descend via the same route, heading back towards Loughrigg Terrace. Usually, I would complete this walk by heading down to Rydal or Ambleside and looping back. However, with damp clothing and an SD card full of photos to look through, I was keen to return quickly.
Read next: A guide to the hike up Arnison Crag and Birks near Ullswater.
Photo 12: A beautiful view of Rydal Water
On the way down, I enjoyed a beautiful view of Rydal Water stretched out beneath me. On the opposite side of the shore, a steady stream of cars rumbled along the A591 road towards Grasmere and Keswick. I caught a glimpse of the 555 bus, which I would soon be catching back to Windermere train station.
Above the road, the slopes of the Fairfield Horseshoe were covered in bare, spindly trees and rusty red bracken – a sure sign that winter had arrived in the Lake District. The only thing missing? A dusting of snow on the tops.
Photo location: Click here to see where I took this shot.
