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| The small LDNP car park at Pelter Bridge is the starting point for this walk |
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| The surfaced road leads up to the Steps End cottages. Beyond the cottages a walled rough track (bridleway) leads on through Rough Intake Wood |
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| Two hundred yards beyond Steps End the bridleway passes through a gate and descends to the shore of Rydal Water. An old quarry track continues on at a higher level above the lake alongside Rough Intake Wood |
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| A bench with a view ! |
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| Silver How from the old quarry track |
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| The track was constructed to export slate from Loughrigg Quarry |
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| Rydal Water from the quarry track |
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| The route of ascent starts a short distance past the end of the wall which encloses Rough Intake Wood. A clear path rises through a stand of larches just before the quarry track fords an unnamed stream |
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| However it's worthwhile continuing along the track for a few yards to pay a visit to the quarry caves. The higher one, Rydal Cave, is particularly impressive and is a well known tourist attraction |
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| Tarn Crag , Ullscarf and Helm Crag from the quarry apron |
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| The entrance to Rydal Cave |
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| Inside Rydal Cave |
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| Whilst it is possible to begin the ascent on a steep path which starts from the left side of Rydal Cave, it's preferable to return to the aforementioned path through the larches. This climbs easily through a shallow valley which is flanked by the Lanty Scar ridge and the rough slopes above Loughrigg Quarry |
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| High Pike across Nab Scar |
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| Lanty Scar |
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| The snow-capped summit ridges of High Raise and Ullscarf on the horizon |
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| Dove Crag, High Pike and Low Pike which form part of the eastern arm of the Fairfield Horseshoe |
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| Looking across towards Red Screes |
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| Looking back to Nab Scar above Rydal Water |
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| The path passes through an area of juniper bushes which AW noted in his diagram of this ascent before climbing more easily to a shallow depression which he called the Amphitheatre |
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| Tarn Crag, Ullscarf and Steel Fell form the horizon |
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| Looking towards Low Pike and the summit of Red Screes |
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| The summit of Heron Pike appears over the top of Nab Scar with the snow-capped summits of Hart Crag, Dove Crag anf High Pike on the right |
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| Looking across towards Helm Crag and Steel Fell |
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| Looking towards Wansfell and Wansfell Pike |
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| Looking back towards the Fairfield Horseshoe fom the path to the Amphitheatre |
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| A marker cairn stands on the edge of the Amphitheatre |
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| Looking towards Ullscarf and Steel Fell from the edge of the Amphitheatre |
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| The Amphitheatre, marked as Black Mire on the OS map. The path skirts its left edge |
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| Looking back from the descent into the Amphitheatre |
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| The path descends to an unnamed tarn at the foot of the steep slopes of Ivy Crag |
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| Ivy Crag from the unnamed tarn |
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| From the tarn there is a choice of paths to the summit of Loughrigg Fell; the lower one is easier, the upper one has better views. Both lead up to a shallow col behind Ivy Crag |
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| Wansfell from the upper path |
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| High Pike, Low Pike, Red Screes, Froswick Ill Bell and Yoke form the horizon |
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| Looking over the Amphitheatre to the Fairfield Horseshoe |
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| Windermere from the upper path |
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| Red Screes, Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke from the upper path |
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| The Fairfield Horseshoe across another unnamed tarn |
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| The paths re-unite as they approach the col behind Ivy Crag |
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| From the shallow col it's worthwhile to take a short diversion along the ridge to the top of Ivy Crag which provides a good view of Windermere |
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| The ridge path to the top of Ivy Crag |
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| Windermere from the top of Ivy Crag |
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| Wansfell from the top of Ivy Crag with the snow-capped tops of Froswick, Ill Bell and Yolk on the left horizon |
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| Red Screes, Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke from the top of Ivy Crag |
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| The Fairfield Horseshoe from the top of Ivy Crag |
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| The Coniston Fells from the top of Ivy Crag |
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| The Langdale Pikes from the top of Ivy Crag |
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| Returning along the path to the col, the triple summits of Loughrigg Fell can be seen left of centre |
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| From the col the path passes a prominent cairn which is worth visiting for its view of Loughrigg Tarn |
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| The Coniston Fells from the climb to the viewpoint cairn |
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| The Fairfield Horseshoe from the path to the viewpoint cairn |
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| Red Screes from the path to the viewpoint cairn |
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| Loughrigg Tarn from the viewpoint cairn |
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| Windermere from the viewpoint cairn |
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| Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes from the viewpoint cairn |
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| Continuing on from the viewpoint cairn, the summit ridge lies directly ahead at the head of a trough-like feature between rocky knolls. The south summit can be seen on the left, the main summit left of centre and the east summit right of centre |
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| The path into the trough |
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| Looking back to the viewpoint cairn from the trough |
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| The path climbs easily to a col which lies behind the rock face on the left |
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| The summit of Loughrigg Fell from the col |
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| The trig column marking the summit of Loughrigg Fell |
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| The Coniston Fells over Elterwater |
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| Cold Pike, Pike o' Blisco, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, Loft Crag, Pike o' Stickle, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark on the skyline |
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| Grasmere from the summit of Loughrigg Fell |
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| Seat Sandal, Dollywaggon Pike, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Heron Pike, Hart Crag, Dove Crag and High Pike from the summit of Loughrigg Fell |
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| Wansfell and Ambleside |
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| Windermere from the summit of Loughrigg Fell |
