Sour Howes and Sallow

Tuesday 30th December 2025

After fulfilling my family obligations over Christmas I was keen to get back to the Lake District so I caught a train and was at Windermere station before noon. If it had been my intention to get away from everyone and unwind from the acquired stresses over Christmas, then climbing Orrest Head was not the way to do it as this small hill is a popular place with families that provides them with a great viewpoint after minimal effort close to a town. So, after initially following the crowds through the woodland below Orrest Head I branched off to cross the western slopes while still enjoying some of the views across the northern part of Windermere as those at the crowded summit. The fells above Langdale were shrouded in mist while clouds covered most of the sky overhead so the views were mixed, but it was still wonderful to be back in the Lake District. Firm paths that were enjoyable to walk upon took me across sheep fields to a road and after passing Near Orrest Farm I turned left onto a path that I remember losing my way on in 2021, so this time I took extra care to follow the correct, though not clear route which brought me to Moorhowe Road and from there onto Dubbs Road. Apart from bypassing the top of Orrest Head I was still following my route of 2021, and, from much further back, in 2006 when I eventually turned right at a stile onto Applethwaite Common, unlike in 2021, and now I did so again.

A clear path weaved a course past a line of rocky outcrops, but I ignored this to walk on top of the rocks which made this an enjoyable route up for me, so I was disappointed that there is not a more prominent ridgeline. I had great views across the Troutbeck Valley, up the valley towards the cloud-covered fells and down the length of Windermere, which was looking particularly good on the rare occasions when the sun came out. When the rocks began to disappear I retreated to the path and continued the ascent all the way up to the summit of Sour Howes which could be in several different places, though none of them are really note-worthy and all are a significant distance beyond the point where the gradient eased. The Ordnance Survey marks a 483 metre point as the highest but a more pronounced top further away is likely to be where Wainwright considered as the summit. Turning north I headed along a broad ridge following a clear path around Moor Head on an enjoyable walk with little wind and gradual descent to the col before a gentle ascent led me to the summit of Sallows. I have climbed these two fells just twice before, firstly from Windermere station in 2006 and then on my way to the station in 2015, but Wainwright also described routes of ascent from the south east, from a bridlepath that crosses the eastern slopes from Ing to Kentmere and perhaps I should explore that in future. 

A steep descent brought me to the Garburn Pass where I turned left to descend the stony track with views up the Troutbeck Valley to my right and ahead of me down the valley towards Windermere. Before reaching the junction with Dubbs Road I turned off the Garburn Road onto a path that dropped steeply down past young trees. I would not have thought of going this way as there is not a right-of-way, but the O.S. Map app suggested this route and who was I to argue with my A.I. lord and master? This brought me into Limefitt Holiday Park and now I followed my route of 2022 across the valley, into the village of Troutbeck and around the western slopes of Wansfell finally reaching the Ambleside Youth Hostel as the light was failing. I had no real plans for my second week in the Lake District, over the New Year, unlike the week before when I had a clear objective to climb fells I had not visited in a long time. That just left me able to have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday in the Lake District with no pressures to achieve anything and if the weather was good enough to allow me to visit the tops of some fells then good. On this walk I visited two fells that I had previously visited just twice before and I had an enjoyable walk. What more do you need?

Armboth Fell and Raven Crag

Wednesday 24th December 2025

On my last day in the Lake District before Christmas I made my way to Thirlmere and parked in the car park near the dam for the reservoir, setting off along the permissive path that runs between the shore and the road. I had never been on this path before so I was overjoyed to be walking along it now as it meanders around the headland through the trees, but all too soon I reached Armboth Car Park where I left Thirlmere behind and headed up the hill beside a fence near Fisher Gill. Soon, I had views behind me across Thirlmere towards the Helvellyn range while to my right I passed below Cockrigg Crags before emerging from the trees to the open fell where I branched off the clear path to cross Fisher Gill onto boggy paths that were almost frozen where the sun wasn’t shining. Ahead of me I could see the rocky plinth of Armboth Fell so I headed across the heather and bog and soon reached the summit. I previously climbed Armboth Fell in 2008 in snowy conditions and I had never been back despite several planned attempts. On that occasion I had bagged the top as an out and back from High Tove, so I was keen to climb it properly, which I had now done and was the last Wainwright that I had done only once. After wandering around the summit for a while I realised there was a cairn on a heathery spur to the south that was Wainwright’s summit, even though the Ordnance Survey now say I was at the highest point, so for completion I crossed over to the south top.

A clear path avoids the worst of the bogs between the highest point on Armboth Fell and High Tove, but since I was now on what had been thought to be the highest point in Wainwright’s day instead I decided to cross straight over from there following a sketchy path that was mostly dry, or frozen, except when crossing the top of Launchy Gill. Eventually I reached Shivery Man, and the fence that runs across the top of the broad, boggy ridge, where I turned right to continue my struggle through the heather until I eventually reached High Tove. I was here less than a year earlier, at the beginning of 2025 when there was a covering of snow on the ground, but now the sun was shining and the early frost was melting. I had been reluctant to return so soon after, but there was no avoiding it and also visit the close neighbouring Armboth Fell. A flagstone path led me across the broad saddle towards High Seat and when I reached the trig point at the summit I was greeted by stunning views in all directions, including glimpses of Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake. At the beginning of the year the weather had been much poorer with overcast skies and snow so I now had a great contrast to the view as I basked in the sunshine beside the summit.

After eating my lunch sheltered from the wind behind the east top, known as Man, I set off down the grassy, eastern slopes until I reached the edge of a conifer plantation where a gate afforded me access and along a track that led me to a junction where I turned right towards Raven Crag. This was a heavily manufactured path ending in a flight of steps up the hill to a sensational viewpoint along Thirlmere. I last visited this in 2014 and I don’t remember such severe manufacturing of the path and viewpoint then, but I wasn’t bothered as the views in the sunshine were amazing. I climbed around the top of the crag getting different angles while taking loads of pictures. Unfortunately I needed to get home, so I had to leave these stunning views and descend an eroded, stony footpath steeply down the hill back to my car. I was disappointed to be leaving the Lake District, especially when the weather was as good as this, but I needed to back home for Christmas and it wouldn’t be long before I was back.