Difficulty: Easy
Wainwright Guide: Book Five – The Northern Fells
Latrigg is one of the smallest of the Lake District Fells, yet what it lacks in height it makes up for in abundance with fantastic views over Derwent Water. Nestled at the Northern end of Keswick, leading into the Skiddaw range, it is one of the most easily accessible of the Wainwrights. It is also part of the ‘Miles Without Stiles’ project and a car-park near the summit allows disabled access so everyone can enjoy the amazing panoromic views.
Jonny and I undertook this fell with Emi at a point where she had become considerably heavier in the backpack. As such we opted to take the route with the most gentle incline and save Jonny’s back, however this route can easily be done in the other direction.
Where to Start?
You can easily start this walk from Keswick town centre if you’re staying nearby. For those of you having to drive in, I would recommend parking near the beginning of the Keswick-to-Threlkeld Railway. If you get there early enough or are very lucky you may find a spot on the road where you can park for free. Don’t worry if this isn’t possible. There are usually spaces in the car park pinned below.
From the car park head back towards the roundabout you drove in from. At the roundabout you want to be heading left.
A very short way up the road, take the first right turn onto Brundholme Road.
NB: The majority of walkers do not take this turning and instead continue along the road to take the next right. This is a very popular route but Jonny and I did enjoy making the the walk circular by taking the first right. It was also much quieter and more peaceful.
Brundholme Road
As you start heading along Brundholme road you will see Latrigg on view clearly on your left.
The road is single track most of the way along. It will take you over the A66 and curve round to the right.
Eventually the road becomes impassible for cars and narrows into a path. You are still walking on tarmac yet various plants have begun to overgrow the edges of the road making it look like an abandoned track in a video game.
This part of the walk does seem to go on for a quite a while but it is easy underfoot with a gentle incline. The shade is a welcome relief from the baking sun too!
There are various paths that head into the forest on the left, some of which I am sure would lead to the summit in a roundabout way. On your right there will be nice views of the Hellvelyn range and some of the Central Fells too when the trees part.
Ascent
Eventually you will come to a stony track and gate on your left. This will almost turn you back on yourself but it will head uphill with a slightly more noticeable incline.
Follow the stony track along for a while. The path will be slightly more sloped and you will be able to see the Skiddaw range clearly now to your right.
As you slowly climb higher you will get your first glimpses of Derwent and its surrounding fells down to your left. Make sure you have any dogs on the lead at this point as there are often sheep in these fields!
The stony track will bring you to a metal gate.
The path from here becomes more like a farm track. You can follow it around to get to the summit but the better views are gained from taking a deviation across the grass. This appears on the left pretty quickly after you have gone through the gateway.
Walking along the grass track you get beautiful views over Derwent and Keswick. You eventually join up with another path going through a gateway which will bring you to the final push to the summit!
Summit
As you go through the gate you can follow the obvious path along a fairly flat expanse to the recognised summit of Latrigg. The views of the Skiddaw range to the right are absolutely phenomenal.
The summit itself is not marked by a cairn, merely a small rocky area near to the path. This is where you get the very best views of Derwent and Keswick. In the winter sun the lighting was absolutely phenomenal! One of my favourite summit views for sure.
Carrying on past the highest point of Latrigg you will come a regularly photographed bench where you can sit and look out at Derwent and the North-Western Fells behind. The only problem is how crowded the bench can get. You have to either head up early or late to find the seat free in peak season.
Descent
For the descent we made the route circular, although there are multiple options, including carrying on up Skiddaw! Keep on following the path as it snakes around the Western side of the fell. With Skiddaw in view ahead of you the path will split. Keep following the path to the left.
As the path continues to bend following the undulations of Latrigg you get fantastic views over towards Bassenthwaite and the flat expanse of fields that separates it from Keswick and Derwent. It really is a fell that provides good scenery from every angle.
The path will start to zig-zag a little through some bracken and eventually turn back towards Keswick. It remains an easy to follow path the entire way but still be cautious underfoot.
The good views continue throughout the descent until you head through a wooden gate and the path begins to snake through a patch of trees. Even here the sun shining on Derwent peaks through the trees in an incredible display.
You will come to a large wooden gate and the path turns back into a track and eventually a road.
The path will lead to a T-junction, at which you need to turn left and continue to walk along the road.
You will shortly arrive back to the Brundholme Road junction. Carry on straight past it and back to the roundabout where you can turn right and back into the car park.
It’s easy from here to find your way into Keswick for a well deserved drink and some food. The Crafty Baa in particular has a brilliant range of beer to choose from and the fish and chip shop is a firm favourite of mine.
Have you walked up Latrigg yet? Which way did you go? Let me know in the comments!
