Wansfell Pike, Sour Howes and Sallows from Ambleside

The route

This 19.6km loop starts in the heart of Ambleside and climbs straight onto Wansfell Pike, the steep, eroded little peak that gives one of the finest low-level views in the Lakes, straight down the length of Windermere. From the Pike the route drops toward Troutbeck before heading up onto the broad, quiet grassland of Sour Howes and Sallows on the edge of the Kentmere fells.

Three Wainwrights

All three summits are Lake District Wainwrights, among the 214 fells in Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guides. Sour Howes and Sallows feature in Book Two, The Far Eastern Fells, and see a fraction of the traffic of their famous neighbour. One honest note: the track tops out on Wansfell Pike at 484m, while Wainwright's true summit of Wansfell, Baystones, lies around a kilometre north along the ridge and is not crossed on this loop. Sour Howes and Sallows are both visited directly. The return drops back through the Troutbeck valley toward Ambleside.

Why it works

The contrast is the appeal. Wansfell Pike is one of the busiest short climbs in the Lakes, while Sour Howes and Sallows offer solitude, big skies and easy grassy running just a short distance away. With around 530m of ascent over varied ground, it makes a rewarding half-day round with a genuine sense of escape. The grassy upper fells can be boggy and pathless in places, so carry a map and pick a clear day to enjoy the Windermere and Kentmere views.

Getting there

Ambleside is one of the best-connected bases in the Lakes, with frequent buses linking it to Windermere station and beyond, and Rydal Road car park sits right at the start. The climb onto Wansfell Pike is short and sharp, so warm up on the streets first, then enjoy the quiet the moment you leave the Pike behind for the empty eastern tops and their wide Kentmere skylines.