Start point: Colthouse (SD 360 988)
Latterbarrow (OF) from Colthouse
Weather: Dull and overcast.
A short walk this morning to Latterbarrow from Colthouse close to Hawkshead. This walk follows Wainwright’s Latterbarrow chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 84. The large obelisk on the summit of Latterbarrow is clearly visible from Hawkshead.
Colthouse lies a short distance east of Hawkshead, the walk starts outside Colthouse on the road heading north west. The bridleway starts at a gate and the track, which is clearly defined, passes through another gate and a lily tarn lies to the right.
The lily tarn, Colthouse Heights. Following the track to another gate, there is a signposted left turn to Latterbarrow. Wainwrights young plantations have now matured and the way ahead is through dense forest. At the stile, the way to the summit lies up a bracken slope, the summit monument becoming visible as you rise. At the top, there are stunning views to the high fells.
The summit of Latterbarrow.
The summit of Latterbarrow, looking north east. Red Screes is on the left, High Street in the centre and Froswick and Ill Bell are on the right.
The Coniston Fells from Latterbarrow. The descent is a steep path which descends directly to the Colthouse road, half a mile from the start point.
The Langdale Pikes from the descent of Latterbarrow