Loughrigg Fell

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Loughrigg Fell

Elevation	335 m m (1,099 ft)
Location	Cumbria, England
Range	Lake District
Prominence	c. 172 m
Topo map	OS Landranger 90
OS grid reference	NY347051
Listing	Marilyn (hill), Wainwright
Translation	Small rocky hill of the lake (English, Irish)
Pronunciation	[lʌfrɪg fɛl]

Loughrigg Fell is a hill in the Central part of the English Lake District. It stands on the end of the long ridge coming down from High Raise over Silver How towards Ambleside, and is separated from its neighbours by the depression of Red Bank.

The fell is surrounded by an unusual amount of open water. To the north the River Rothay flows through Grasmere and Rydal Water before bending around the eastern side of Loughrigg. On the southern flank the River Brathay runs from Elterwater and is also fed by the outfall from Loughrigg Tarn. The two rivers merge at Clappersgate on the south eastern corner of the fell, just before flowing into Windermere. The western boundary is formed by Red Bank (535 ft) on the ridge to Silver How. Unnamed becks fall north and south into Grasmere and Elterwater.

Loughrigg has two subsidiary ridges on its eastern flank. Lanty Scar provides the obvious line of ascent from Rydal, while the spur rising over Todd Crag leads up from Clappersgate. There are many areas of woodland on the lower slopes, giving way to a wide expanse of bracken clad knolls and small tarns on the top. The summit is on the western side of the plateau and is identified by an Ordnance Survey column. Many lower tops also decorate the fell, sometimes to the confusion of visitors. Despite the girdle of lakes only Windermere is visible from the summit. The vista is open to the south over the green and blue country of Furness, with many fells in view on the other three sides.

The fell is easily accessible, being surrounded by roads on all sides. Ambleside and the smaller settlements of Skelwith Bridge, Elterwater, Grasmere and Rydal are all within reach, as is the popular double car park at White Moss Common. Many paths run over the fell including the well known Loughrigg Terrace, a level path with superb views of Grasmere, Helm Crag and the Fairfield group. Just beyond the eastern end of the Terrace are some quite remarkable caves, caused by quarrying. They penetrate about 150 feet into the hillside and are often full of water; there are other small mines on the fell.

An easy way up Loughrigg is from the White Moss car park, on the A591 between Grasmere and Rydal Water. This simple walk entails only around 700 ft of ascent over 1.5 miles. From the car park a trail leads through woods onto Loughrigg Terrace. From the end of the terrace a path leads up left steeply over steps to the wide, undulating top area. The summit is the middle one of three visible knolls.

Ascents are also possible from any of the surrounding settlements with manifold variations.