Scandale Horseshoe from Ambleside

The route

Start from Ambleside and head up Scandale, the quiet valley behind the town, on a 20.6km horseshoe that climbs onto the high eastern fells before returning down the ridge. The line follows Scandale Beck past Sweden Bridge and up towards Scandale Pass, gaining the high ground around the 740m mark before the long ridge back to Ambleside. It is a genuine fell round that stays largely runnable, trading the crowds of the neighbouring Fairfield Horseshoe for solitude and space.

The valley and the tops

Scandale is a hidden gem, a walled, wooded valley in its lower reaches that opens to rough fell and the pass at its head. The high ground gives the classic eastern-fell experience: broad grassy ridges, the great scree face of Red Screes across the way, and long views over Windermere and the far eastern fells. The old packhorse route over Scandale Pass links Ambleside to Patterdale, and the ridgelines here carry some of the best runnable fell in the district, high but not technical.

Why it works

This is a route for a solid fell day from an excellent base. The valley is sheltered and lovely, the high ground open and airy, and the ridge running fast and rewarding. Navigation is straightforward low down but needs care on the tops in cloud, where the broad ridges and pass can confuse, so carry a map. It suits a strong medium-distance run or a first eastern-fell round. The high ground is exposed and catches the weather, so save it for a clear day. Ambleside at the foot has every cafe and pub you could want. If the Fairfield Horseshoe is on your list, this quieter neighbour is the ideal way to learn the ground first.