Lonscale Fell via Burnt Horse Ridge

At the far end of the car park on the end of the Gale Ghyll road, go through the gate and immediately turn left onto the path beside the wall. Follow the wall round, and through two gates. At the second bear right away from the wall onto the lower path. It descends slightly and within a few metres becomes a track width. It soon reaches Whit Beck which may be difficult to cross after significant rain. Follow this track, part of the Cumbria Way, around the hillside traversing the lower slopes of Lonscale Fell. Continue into the river valley staying high above Glenderaterra Beck. The views up and down the valley are simply splendid. As the path from Blencathra Centre joins from the right a rock, marked on the OS 25K map as 'Guide Stone', has "Keswick" and an arrow pointing back the way you came chiselled into to it. Continue to the fence and gate.

Do not go through the gate but turn sharp left and follow the faint path beside the fence and tumble down wall, keeping it on your right. In 400m (440 yards) a fence joins the other side of our fence. Here you have a choice: continue on this side of the fence with views down to the valley we just walked through and good steps up the steep bit of the hillside. It also has two new stiles, dog friendly with appropriately sized gates, and an old fence to cross near the summit - so 2x stiles and 1x fence. Or cross this fence somewhere suitable before reaching the stiles. That side has a gate in the summit fence - so just 1x fence.

Whichever side is chosen, follow the old fence along the ridge, it drops down a little and then climbs very steeply on grass to the fence across the top of Lonscale Fell.

Bear left to the summit. The east top is worth a visit too. The fence crosses the path but it is easy to step over for humans, and jump or scrabble under for dogs.

Return to the summit and retrace your steps to the fence junction. Go through the gate, turn left, and follow the path down to the boggy col, marked on the OS 25K map as 'Flag Pots', where there is another gate. Go through and descend on the path alongside the upper Whit Beck. This eventually reaches the main Skiddaw path, where you bear left to continue back down to the car park.