Wansfell Pike and Skelghyll Woods Circular

This isn’t one for a wet, foggy or windy day. It’s just not worth it because the views are incredible and the summit is exposed. It feels like this circular walk from Ambleside is very much underrated – it doesn’t get mentioned that much but the views are superb.

From the Hotel cross the car park to the back road Stock Ghyll Road, follow the steep road. This takes you up with woods on your left and eventually into the open fellside. You’ll need to take the even steeper right hand turn about 300m after you leave the woods.

Now the fun begins. The climb to the top of Wansfell is wonderful. The views keep opening up behind you more and more as you climb. Take your time and pause as often as you like. Look back over the incredible landscape that opens up.

Views from the top will take in most of Windermere itself as well as the Coniston fells, you’ll see right across Loughrigg and into Langdale.

You can descend back to Ambleside if you’re short for time, but this route now guides you back in a circular walk.

Take the path down the opposite side of the fell and down to pick up a wider bridleway / lane. This descends to the small village of Troutbeck. Take a right along the road.

Follow the road to the old post office. You should see a post box here and an old faded sign on the building itself for ‘Skelghyll and Jenkins Crag to Ambleside.’

The Old Post Office is now a Tea Room, so take the opportunity for refreshment if you need to.

Follow the road which is now signed for about 2.4 miles (4km) back to Ambleside. The path is delightfully varied, with wide open hillside and then woods. The nice thing is it is walled on both sides and signed almost all the way, so it’s an easy one to navigate. Don’t miss Jenkin Crag, a rocky outcrop in the woods which has nice views through the tree tops and over the lake.

You’ll eventually find yourself descending back to the Waterhead area of Ambleside. You can follow the main Lake Road back to the centre of Ambleside and the Hotel or grab an ice cream by the jetties and wander back later.