Todd Crag walk Ambleside
Some walks feel special almost straight away, and Todd Crag is one of those.
Starting right from Ambleside, this gentle fell walk quickly leaves the busy streets behind and opens out into quiet hillsides, peaceful tarns and wide views across the Lake District. It’s the kind of walk where children stay happy, the scenery changes often, and every step feels rewarding.
We’ve walked this route many times as a family and it never loses its magic. Lily Tarn offers a calm place to pause, the rocky summit brings that proper fell top feeling, and the view over Windermere always stops us in our tracks. It might not be a Wainwright, but it delivers the same sense of achievement, making it a brilliant easy alternative and one of our favourite short walks in Ambleside.
The view from Todd Crag looking over Windermere.
Quick facts
Distance: 2 miles (out and back)
Time: Around 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace
Start point: Miller Bridge Car Park, Ambleside LA22 0EE
Route type: Out and back walk
Elevation gain: Approximately 572 ft (174 m)
Terrain: Good paths, one short steep lane, rocky summit area
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, mainly gentle with a short steeper climb near the start
Dog friendly: Yes
Wheelchair access: No, this route includes steep sections and uneven rocky ground
OS map: Explorer OL7 The English Lakes (South Eastern Area)
Digital route: View the full route on Hiiker
Parking and access
We usually park at Miller Bridge Car Park in Ambleside. It’s a large, central car park and makes an easy starting point for the walk.
From here, the route begins by walking through Rothay Park, where you’ll also find public toilets and a great playground for children. It’s a nice gentle way to start the walk and helps everyone ease into the climb.
The route follows a mix of surfaced track through the park, small woodland paths, and open Lake District fells. Most of the paths are clear and well used, though there is one short steep lane near the beginning and rocky ground closer to the summit. Pushchairs and wheelchairs are not suitable beyond the park.
If Miller Bridge is full, there are several other pay and display car parks around Ambleside, all within easy walking distance of Rothay Park.
Location and views
Todd Crag sits just above Ambleside, overlooking the northern end of Windermere. Despite its modest height, the view from the summit feels wide and expansive.
Looking south, Windermere stretches out below with boats scattered across the water. To the north and west, the higher fells rise behind Ambleside, creating that classic Lake District skyline. It’s one of those summits where you feel like you’ve climbed much higher than you actually have.
Because the walk gains height quickly, the views begin to open up almost straight away. Even on a shorter outing, you still get that real fell top perspective without committing to a long mountain day.
Little things to spot
As you leave Ambleside behind, the walk quickly changes character. You’ll move from riverside parkland into small woodland paths, then out onto open fellside with stone walls and wide grassy slopes.
Lily Tarn is a lovely halfway pause. It’s peaceful and tucked away, perfect for a snack stop or a moment to slow down. On calm days you’ll often see reflections in the water.
Keep an eye out for sheep grazing on the hillsides, birds moving between the trees, and changing views back over rooftops as you gain height. It’s a walk full of small details that make it feel varied from start to finish.
Tips for the walk
Footwear
Walking boots or sturdy shoes are best, especially after rain when rocks can be slippery.
Summit safety
The top is open and rocky with steep edges, so keep children and dogs close and choose a safe place to sit.
Slow the pace
This is a walk to enjoy gently. Pause, look back over Ambleside, and notice how the views open out as you climb.
Picnic stop
Lily Tarn is a peaceful place for a short break, while the summit is perfect for sitting quietly and taking in the view over Windermere.
Walking to the summit
From Miller Bridge Car Park in Ambleside, walk straight through Rothay Park. You’ll pass the Turning Point sculpture, a large circle of stones that often sparks curiosity.
Leave the bottom of the park, turn right, cross the bridge, then turn right again briefly on the road. A sharp left takes you up a short, steep lane between houses. This is where the walk begins to feel like a real adventure.
Once you reach open ground, the views start to open up almost straight away. Even though Ambleside is only minutes behind you, it already feels quieter and more spacious.
Follow the clear path across the fellside until you reach Lily Tarn. This peaceful little tarn makes a perfect pause point for photos or a quick snack.
From Lily Tarn, look left towards the rocky tops ahead. This is Todd Crag. The path splits in places, but simply keep heading uphill towards the crags. The ground becomes rockier as you approach the summit.
Before long you arrive at the top, where the view opens right out across Windermere, with Ambleside below and higher fells rising behind you. For such a short walk, the sense of space feels surprisingly big.
Heading back down
The return is simple. Retrace your steps back past Lily Tarn and across the fellside towards Rothay Park.
As you descend, the views change again, with Windermere gradually dropping behind you and Ambleside coming back into focus. It’s an easy walk back, and if there’s still energy left at the end, the playground in Rothay Park makes a perfect final stop before heading back to the car.
FAQs
Todd Crag is not officially listed as a Wainwright, but it feels very similar thanks to its rocky summit, wide views and real sense of achievement without a long or demanding climb.
The Todd Crag walk usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace. With playground stops in Rothay Park, snack breaks at Lily Tarn and time spent enjoying the summit view, it can easily become a half day outing.
Todd Crag is a great walk for children. The route offers woodland paths, open fellside and a manageable distance, which helps keep younger walkers interested from start to finish.
The walk is dog friendly, but dogs should be kept under control near livestock and close to the rocky summit edges.
Public toilets are available at the top of Rothay Park in Ambleside, close to the start of the route.
Ambleside itself has plenty of cafés, shops and other short walks nearby, making Todd Crag easy to combine with a wider day out in the Lake District.
A final note from us
Todd Crag is one of those walks that reminds you how little you need for a good day outdoors. A short climb, a quiet tarn, and wide views over Windermere are often enough to help you slow down and breathe.
Starting right from Ambleside, it’s easy to fit into a family day out, but it still gives you that proper fell feeling and space to reconnect with nature. Whether you’re walking with children, taking a quiet moment at Lily Tarn, or sitting on the summit soaking in the view across the Lake District, this is a gentle reminder that it’s not always about big hikes. Sometimes it’s simply about being outside, noticing the landscape, and enjoying the moment.
If you walk for a calmer mindset, you’re already part of the Outdoor Exploring Family.
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