Fellbarrow from Thackthwaite, Lorton Vale

Walk into the village and turn into the yard at Thackthwaite farm and onto the lane signposted "Public Footpath Low Fell". It's rough, steep, and something of a beck in wet weather.

When the lane becomes overgrown a gate on the left gives access to the field. Follow alongside the impenetrable lane on the field edge. At the top of this field turn right and then left through a kissing gate. Again keep to the field edge, head up to the gateway to go through and turn right onto a track.

This old drove road gradually swings left as it ascends over the northern shoulder of Watching Crag. Continue to the gate but do not go through.

At the gateway turn right and drop down to cross a couple of small becks and boggy patch. Ascend close to the fence bypassing a large area of bog and bracken to your right.

Reaching the fence on the ridgeline turn right and climb the steep grass. As the gradient eases the trig point of Fellbarrow comes into view, on the other side of the fence!

It's a low fence and easy enough to step over to the trig point and small cairn marking the summit of Fellbarrow.

Return over the fence and back down to the depression where you joined this fence line. Now continue ahead, keeping the fence on your right hand side. Go through the gate and follow the fence over Smithy Fell and down the other side to the boggy depression. Just after the short section of wall bears away from the path, turn right to climb steeply to the top of Sourfoot Fell.

Bear left, with the fence still just over to your right descend to top of the drove road and turn right through the gate. Follow the path south, across the depression above Watching Gill and up to a step-stile with dog gate. Go over the stile and climb steeply again, it is short and the gradient soon eases.

The small cairn of Low Fell appears on the knoll just ahead.

Return back over the stile. A short diversion to the edge of Watching Crag is well worth it for the view on a clear day. Go through the gateway at the top of the drove road and go straight ahead onto the track.

Descend the zigzags and swing rightwards to the gate on the ascent. Go through and continue round the shoulder and back to the field gate. Follow the outward path along the edge of the fields, and then the lane back to Thackthwaite.