Latrigg from Keswick

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Route: Spooney Green Lane, Mallen Dodd, Latrigg, Brundholme Wood, Whinny Brow

Date: 04/03/2018
From: Keswick

Parking: Keswick
Start Point: Keswick
Region: Northern Fells

Route length: 5.1 miles (8.2 km)
Time taken: 02:24
Average speed: 2.12 mph
Ascent: 388m
Descent: 384m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Latrigg (368m)

Other Summits: None

I've been to Latrigg's summit numerous times though I'd be reluctant to say I'd truly climbed it as each of my visits has been from the Gale Lane car park to the rear of the fell, which allows you to practically drive to the top. In order to put things right, I decided to make the most of a dreary, cold, wintery morning to climb Latrigg properly, from Keswick.

Despite the generosity of the Cumbrian parking disk scheme, I was worried that 2 hours may not be enough so I parked on Brundholme Road towards the north of the town, however, this walk can be started from anywhere in Keswick.

Spooney Green Lane

There are no real navigational difficulties as the walk sets off along the Cumbria Way which crosses the A66 via Spooney Green Lane, a public bridleway signposted Skiddaw.

Cumbria Way

Cumbria Way

Once across the A66, the path rises more steeply which made things a little tricky as it was covered in a layer of slippery, compressed snow. This is the steepest part of the walk through doesn't last too long and, soon enough, the views open out to your left, though it was very hazy today and low cloud hugged the tops of the high fells.

Looking along the Vale of Keswick towards Bassenthwaite

Lair Beck

Birkett Wood

The path crosses Lair Beck and around to the north side of the fell where it abruptly cuts back on itself to zig-zag that little bit higher. At Mallen Dodd, the summit is approximately 1km away.

Latrigg

The path at Mallen Dodd

Skiddaw

Latrigg

The crosses Lair Beck once again, though now some 90m higher than the previous visit. Here lay a tricky looking bank of snow which was negotiated without incident.

Looking down Lair Beck

Mallen Dodd

Looking down to Mallen Dodd

The bench which overlooks Keswick was now in sight though, sadly, the views were not. For such minimal effort (especially from Gale Lane) Latrigg has some wonderful views of Keswick, Derwentwater and the fells beyond. It's a perfect place to catch the sunset if you can arrive at the right time.

No much in the way of a view today

Latrigg

Latrigg's summit

In order to extend the outing a bit, instead of returning back to Keswick through the wooded southern slopes, we continued east along the crest of the fell as it gently falls towards the hamlet of Wescoe.

Brundholme Wood

Lonscale and Derwentfolds

Blencathra

High Rigg

A bitter wind was blowing and, by the time we reached the woods, it had started to drizzle slightly. The return to Keswick is along a permissive footpath through Brundholme Wood, though some recent tree felling work and apparent landslips ultimately led us down onto the road where it is an easy walk back to the car.

Brundholme Wood

Latrigg