Best Fell Walks in the Lake District
What are the top 10 Fell Walks in the Lake District? Who knows, but here’s a selection of 10 of the best circular walks in the Lake District that we think come close! The only thing we’re certain of is that we’ll have missed out someone’s favourite walk!
Helvellyn via Striding Edge
Height Gained – 890 metres , Distance – 6.5 km, Time –2.5 hours – plus your choice of descent.
The ascent of Helvellyn via Striding Edge would be near the top of most people’s list of best walks in the Lake District, if not the UK. Not only is this a cracking little scramble, Helvellyn was voted Britain’s most popular walk in 2018, though they omitted to mention which walk up Helvellyn was the most popular!
Blencathra via Sharp Edge
Height Gained – 625 metres , Distance – 4.4 km, Time –2 hours – plus your choice of descent.
Another scramble you say? Yes say we! You can’t beat a good scramble, and Sharp Edge on Blencathra is as good as they get. We won’t even begin to muse over whether Sharp Edge or Striding Edge is the better scramble!!
Corridor Route up Scafell Pike
Height Gained – 930 metres , Distance – 7.4 km, Time –3 hours
Of course we’ll include one of our own on here, with the Corridor Route being our suggested best route up Scafell Pike. Of course, there’s the route including Scafell, the Corridor Route from Seathwaite, Piers Gill and the approach from Langdale to consider… But if we included them, then you may as well visit our home page!
Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside
Height Gained – 1220 metres , Distance – 20 km, Time –8 hours
The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside or Rydal is one of the Lake District’s Classic circular routes. Taking in the summits of Heron Pike, Rydal Fell, Great Rigg, Fairfield (of course!), Hart Crag, Dove Crag and High Pike – this is a full day’s outing. Being reasonably central, the views are extensive – especially towards the neighbouring Helvellyn.
Bow Fell via the Climber’s Traverse
Height Gained – 1050 metres , Distance – 16 km, Time – 6 hours
This route up Bowfell from the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel is one of the Lake’s Classic routes. Avoiding the more popular ascent via Three Tarns, the Climber’s Traverse finds a more interesting way up along the approach taken by climbers to the Great Slab. It descends via Crinkle Crags and Cold Fell for a satisfying circular walk.
Skiddaw via Longside Edge
Height Gained – 960 metres , Distance – 13.2 km, Time –5 hours
Skiddaw has a reputation as a lump of a mountain with few interesting routes, but the approach from the west via Longside Edge puts paid to that view. Ascending along the ridge of Longside Edge, you get to climb one of England’s highest peaks, awesome views, an airy ridge and a hidden waterfall as well as some of the Northern Fell’s only craggy faces.
Walk up the Langdale Pikes
Height Gained – 730 metres , Distance – 12 km, Time –5 hours
The Langdale Pikes dominate the views from most direction in Great Langdale, despite being just over 700m in height. This route takes in Stickle Tarn before climbing up Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Thorn Crag, Loft Crag and Pike of Stickle. For an even longer day out – complete the Great Langdale Round.
High Street from Kentmere (The Kentmere Horseshoe)
Height Gained – 860 metres , Distance – 8 km, Time –3 hours plus your choice of descent
The mountain of High Street in the Far Eastern fells surely deserves a mention on the best walks – and our choice is the Kentmere Horseshoe route. The approach along the rollercoaster ridge of Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick alone makes this walk worth doing.
Great Gable via Moses Trod
Height Gained – 710 metres , Distance – 10.5 km, Time – 5 hours
Great Gable is one of the Lake District’s most iconic mountains, it’s the National Park’s logo – you can hardly get more iconic than that! While it can be approached from Wasdale, the approach from Honister Pass via the Moses Trod is a classic route.
The Mosedale Horseshoe
Height Gained – 1570 metres , Distance – 19 km, Time – 7-8 hours
Our final route brings us back to Wasdale Head with a classic circular walk around the Mosedale Horseshoe including the summit of Pillar. This is a challenging route, but includes a satisfying haul of summits including Yewbarow, Stirrup Crag, Red Pike, Steeple, Pillar, Looking Stead and Kirk Fell.
Have we missed any of your favourite routes out? Let us know in the comments!
Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.
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