Sour Howes & Sallows circular walk

Wednesday 8th January 2025

Walking Diary (All Walks) Lakeland Wainwrights Far Eastern

Sour Howes & Sallows circular walk.

Another great day of walking as 2025 gets of to a very cold and snowy start. Wonderful conditions today, clear skies, no wind and a crisp cold landscape with plenty of snow to enjoy.

Not a particularly difficult circular walk, but slightly slower today due to the deep snow in places.

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Distance: 5.6 miles
Duration: 4:00 hours
Ascent: 1647 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Accompanied By: Paul
Weather: Cold and Snowy

Wainwrights Visited

Sallows Sour Howes

3D outline of route

Parking

We were later than usual today, but we still managed to get a parking spot at Church Bridge Troutbeck - it was the last space mind and a few minutes later we would have been driving further along the Kirkstone Pass road looking for a spot.

Setting off, it's a right turn at the end of the lane and over the wooden bridge with a quick stop to look back at the Jesus Church of Troutbeck.

Just before we cross the main road and head up towards the Garburn Pass bridleway, we spotted these young deer running across the field.

As we join the Garburn Pass bridleway, good views of the Western side of the snow covered Kentmere Horseshoe can be seen - with Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick all to our right and Thornthwaite Crag at the furthermost point.

Time to climb over this stile and start the ascent of Sour Howes.

Now I may not be the best photographer around - but I thought that was a pretty good shot.

Fortunately we were able to follow in the footsteps of others - It would have been hard work being the first to climb this.

Navigation was made very easy too - just stay away from the soft stuff.

Time for Paul to pop on his spikes - Now which way round do they go?

The Troutbeck Valley with the small Troutbeck Tongue in the centre.

The summit of Sour Howes.

All smiles and enjoying our day out in the snow - there was no wind at all, it was cold, but conditions were near perfect for us today.

Leaving Sour Howes and following the 'path'

Our next Fell - Sallows

Wainwright No2 for the day - The summit of Sallows.

From the top of Sallows, we headed straight down to the Garburn Pass.

Not always easy going though.

Arriving at the pass - Kentmere could be seen down in the valley below.

Now it was just a case of following the Garburn Pass Bridleway back down to the car.

The snow had drifted within the path and again we were grateful that others had ploughed a furrow through it already.

Still beautiful, even though the light started to go slightly with the arrival of light clouds.

A gentle descent back down to the car, the second walk in a row that I've had my spikes on from the start to the finish - which continues this great start to 2025.