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Starting from Troutbeck, we parked in the small car park by the river (of the same name). We headed along Patterdale road for a short while before heading up to “the Howe”. Here we came across a beautiful garden full of vibrant and vivid rhododendrons just bursting into flower! Each bush a different colour meant you were feasting your eyes on a rainbow of flowers. Other walkers had also stopped to take photos here as the garden was just so lovely. It was the best diversion, and we were lucky to have come at the time of year where they were at their best. Such a brilliant idea for a garden which is entirely overlooked by a public footpath, we give thanks to the garden’s keeper.
We continued through the woodland section which climbed high above and around the garden, before heading out of the woodland and up to the fells. The views open up and you get a glimpse into the Valley below.
Following this path, with the call of cuckoos as our background soundtrack, we continued onto “Garburn road”. This is a track which heads to Garburn pass and then over into the Kentmere Valley. We came to another small woodland section, here we fork off to the right. This takes you through a field before heading over a style and onto “Dubbs road”, crossing over this track lets you hit the main path up onto Sour howes. The path weaves through the grassy hills and is easy to navigate and walk along. There aren’t any sections that are too difficult, and although it’s a dirt path through grass, it’s obvious enough to keep on the right track.
Once near the top of Sour Howes, you will see an obvious high point, a small rocky section to the top and you get some nice panoramic views around the surrounding fells. Capple Howe is a small walk from here, but we set off in the opposite direction and took in the ridge line to Sallows. This path is again very easy to navigate, with mostly grassy sections meaning the technical aspects are more about ensuring you stay on the path while looking at the great views.
As you near Sallows, you can start making out the Kentmere horseshoe in the next valley along, pinning down the peaks and following the paths all the while getting closer and closer to Sallows. Once on the top, the view opens much more than expected, and you get a great sight down the valley, as well as up to the bigger peaks.
To return, we headed back off the peak and took the right-hand path which we followed down to Garburn Pass. More people could be seen here heading in several directions to the different fells and once on the pass, we followed the easy path all the way back down into the Valley. Nothing difficult in following this as you soon end up on land you’ve already walked, and it didn’t take too long to get back to the car.
These are two pretty low fells with good views, but we found the ability to scout many of the surrounding peaks the most enjoyable part of the views on top. Some of the sections such as the flower gardens at the start also added greatly to the walk.
