Intermediate Fells from Lorton Vale
The Vale of Lorton contains some of Lakeland's classic intermediate peaks with their breathtaking views: Melbreak and the Loweswater fells, Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks overlooking Buttermere, Whiteside and Low Fell from the Lorton valley, or you could explore the lesser walked Lorton Fells to the north of Whinlatter...
  • Up to approximately 8 miles in length
  • 600-800 meters of ascent & descent
  • A more demanding day with rockier & steeper paths
Click on a thumbnail below for the walk's summary, and click again on the summary to see more photos - either on this site or someone else's...

Crummock Water, Buttermere & surrounding fells from Melbreak (Heather Pleasance)
Looking back to Whin Ben & Crummock Water from the path up Whiteside (www.andrewswalks.co.uk)
Crummock Water from Low Fell summit  (www.andrewswalks.co.uk)
Buttermere from the way up Fleetwith Pike  (www.andrewswalks.co.uk)
Crummock Water from Haystacks (www.loweswatercam.co.uk)
Whiteside & Grasmoor from Carling Knott (www.loweswatercam.co.uk)
Melbreak
Melbreak (or Mellbreak) is the shapely fell that overlooks Crummock Water from its far, western, shore. It has a tough ascent winding through scree, but the views from either of its two tops take in all of the western fells and are simply glorious. The descent is on grass and passes near enough to Scale Force (waterfall) for a visit, before you return along the Crummock Water shore.

This walk is 7 miles in length with 560 metres of ascent and descent. ...Read more...
Whiteside
A circular walk to the summit of Whiteside from the Lorton valley, ascending from Liza Beck and descending via the Dodd. This account of the route is on Andrew Locking's excellent walks website from January 2016. The photographs are striking - and snowy! For Andrew it was a 5.5 mile walk. From High Swinside it would lengthen to 6.5 miles, but the amount of ascent and descent would be less - approx. 560m.

From the High Swinside cattlegrid, walk south along the valley and take the footpath on the left that crosses Hope Beck. Pick up Andrew's route at the Millers Place outgang. Read more...
Low Fell
A fabulous walk onto Low Fell from Thackthwaite - across the Lorton valley from High Swinside. This relatively low level fell offers stunning views over the whole Vale of Lorton - walked here by Andrew Locking. His descending route on this occasion starts over Darling Fell as usual, but then includes the far Loweswater shore to make it 8.7 miles with 609m of ascent.

If you want a shorter walk overall, simply continue back along the near Loweswater shore when you reach it pick up his return route just north of Loweswater village - 7 miles, 548m ascent. (Or for still shorter, an out & back route from Thackthwaite is just 4 miles with 275m ascent). Read more...
Fleetwith Pike & Haystacks
A fabulous round of the 2 iconic fells at the head of Buttermere, heading up steeply from Gatesgarth to the summit of Fleetwith Pike, then around and across via Dubbs quarry to the Haystacks path. Descent from the summit of Haystacks is via Scarth Gap to Peggy's Bridge, and so back across the valley to the Gatesgarth car park.

These photos are from Andrewswalks.co.uk when Andrew walked this route back in January 2014. The route is 7.1 miles long and involves a total of 762 metres of ascent. See more photos on his website...
Haystacks
This is the classic route up this wonderful fell at the head of Buttermere - from Gatesgarth car park to Scarth Gap and on up, then across to Warnscale Beck and down the bridle path back to Warnscale Bottom.

Walked and photographed here by the Hileys on one very cold, frosty, sunny December day. You can see their wonderful photos on the Loweswatercam website.
Loweswater Fells Round
This wonderful round includes the four fells that lie south west of Loweswater - Gavel, Blake, and Burnbank fells with a detour to Carling Knott. The round totals 8.65 miles with 724 metres of ascent, and offers some totally unique views...

You can see all the photos, map and description from when the Hileys walked it one February on their great Loweswatercam website.

Melbreak

Whiteside

Low Fell

Fleetwith Pike & Haystacks

Haystacks

Loweswater Fells Round