Vale of Lorton

Keswick to Loweswater

Your walk begins in Whinlatter Forest Park which straddles Whinlatter Pass, between Bassenthwaite and Lorton. You will be taken here by taxi. Alternatively you may walk from Keswick, however this will add 6 miles, mostly uphill.

Starting at the top of the pass the first section is nearly all downhill!  Using forest, field and fell side tracks the route makes its way to the Lakeland village of Lorton. Continuing on you will notice beautiful views across Crummock Water and Loweswater to the Buttermere fells. The route then skirts along the base of Grassmoor before crossing the end of Crummock Water and on to the hamlet of Loweswater.

Loweswater to Buttermere

You will walk through the remote valley of Mosedale before returning to the shores of Crummock Water to another quiet Lakeland hamlet of Buttermere, situated under the higher fells, between the lakes of Crummock Water and Buttermere.

Buttermere to Keswick

This stretch involves the only significant climb of the trip, as the route climbs out of Buttermere and back towards Keswick. It climbs to around 200m (650ft) on well defined paths over the fell sides. Once the pass is reached, the path drops down again to the peaceful Newlands Valley where the route meanders on before skirting the slopes of Catbells, en-route for Keswick and the end of this walk.

Easy to Moderate

The Vale of Lorton walk is a pretty, gentle walk by Lake District standards, generally on good paths, and with only moderate ascents and descents. The distances covered each day are short, giving you time to enjoy the landscape along the way.

Terrain: A mixture of forest paths, wooded lake shores and tracks following the lower slopes of the fells, with one (fairly low) mountain pass between Buttermere and Newlands.

What’s it like underfoot? The paths and tracks that are followed on this route are well defined and maintained, although between Loweswater and Buttermere, the valley of Mosedale can often be wet underfoot. There is a short section between Buttermere and Newlands where the path, while still well defined, becomes rougher as it crosses steeper ground.

How Much Up & Down? Not too much for a Lakeland walk. There is around 290m (950ft) between Lorton and Loweswater, 260m (850ft) between Loweswater and Buttermere, and 470m (1550ft) between Buttermere and Newlands, but much less on the other days.

Signposting: None – this is one of our own routes. You will need to use you route description and map.

Navigation: Not too difficult – the paths are well defined, but you will need to read a map and use the route description.

Weather: You may be lucky enough to encounter warm, dry weather over the whole route and enjoy dry paths and tremendous views, but you must be prepared because the weather can change quickly. Good clothing and waterproofs essential!

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Vale of Lorton:

HillCrest22, a family-run guesthouse in Keswick, offers eight stylish en suite rooms. Built in 1887, by the then Lord of the Manor Reginald Dykes Marshall, this elegant property combines Victorian charm with contemporary facilities. Guests enjoy breathtaking views over Derwentwater and Borrowdale with 22 Wainwright’s on show. Visit their website

The Kirkstile Inn, nestled at the foot of Melbreak by Loweswater, offers a warm Lake District welcome. With eleven tasteful bedrooms, many featuring breathtaking fell views, it’s an inviting base for exploring nearby lakes and woodland. Enjoy locally brewed Cumbrian Ales, including their very own award-winning Loweswater Gold. Visit their website

The Buttermere Court Hotel, located between Crummock Water and Buttermere in the heart of the Lake District National Park, is a perfect choice for those looking for peace and tranquillity, and with seven Wainwrights nearby it’s a favourite with walkers. Enjoy High Stile Kitchen, renowned for its friendly service and picturesque beer garden. Visit their website

Heather and Craig welcome you to West View in Keswick. This charming guest house offers five luxurious bedrooms with contemporary en suite bathrooms and stunning views of the surrounding area. Guests can relax in the lounge, enjoying spectacular vistas of Hope Park and Newlands Valley. Fuel your adventures with a delicious, locally sourced breakfast. Visit their website

General travel information for the Vale of Lorton area will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

If you require secure car parking whilst walking this route, please contact us for information.

Getting There:
By Air: The nearest international airports are Manchester (MAN) or Newcastle (NCL). You can travel by train to Penrith (approx 2 hours from both) and then bus or taxi to Keswick (18 miles).
By Public Transport: Keswick’s nearest railway station is Penrith (PNR). You can travel on one of the regular buses to Keswick, or by taxi (18 miles). Keswick has a central bus station, and you are usually no longer than a 5/10minute stroll to your accommodation, or a couple of minutes in a taxi.
By Road: Keswick is in the Northern Lake District in the county of Cumbria. The A66 passes right along the edge of the town, and the nearest motorway is the M6.

Returning from Keswick:
By Public Transport: Travel by bus from Keswick to either Penrith railway station (18 miles) or the larger station in Carlisle (37 miles).
By Road: A66 to Penrith (18 miles) for the M6 motorway.

Keswick

Keswick is a bustling market town centred around the historic Moot Hall, with a vast array of outdoor shops – if you need any outdoor gear, you will get it here! There is a wide choice of places to eat or have a coffee, and a range of galleries to visit. Enjoy one of the easy, short walks down to the lakeshore from where there is a regular launch service around Derwentwater. Or pop into our offices to say hello or book your next holiday!