Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Hardknott Roman Fort – Lingcove Beck Packhorse Bridge loop from Hardknott Roman Fort

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Hardknott Roman Fort – Lingcove Beck Packhorse Bridge loop from Hardknott Roman Fort

Moderate

4.9

(8)

227

hikers

Hardknott Roman Fort – Lingcove Beck Packhorse Bridge loop from Hardknott Roman Fort

02:42

8.35km

240m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: April 22, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

313 m

Hardknott Roman Fort

Highlight • Viewpoint

The fort at Hardknott was established early in the second century AD: a fragmentary inscription, dating from the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.

The fort was demilitarised in the late 130s, when the Romans reoccupied southern Scotland, but was regarrisoned under Marcus Aurelius in the 160s; it was finally abandoned very early in the third century.

Objects found around the fort suggest that thereafter its ruins offered temporary shelter to passing patrols and travellers.

Well-marked remains include the headquarters building, commandant's house and bath house.

Tip by

3.87 km

Esk Gorge Scramble Start

Highlight • Climb

An impressive scramble and worth challenging yourself. Please ensure you have experienced scrambling many times before attempting this one.

Tip by

3.95 km

Lingcove Beck Packhorse Bridge

Highlight • Historical Site

This is a lovely packhorse bridge deep in Upper Eskdale where Lingcove Beck meets the burgeoning River Esk. There's some magnificent waterfall and gorge scenery on offer here, as well as rugged fell views. Nearby is the popular wild swimming spot of Tongue Pot.

Tip by

4.13 km

Riverside Path in Lake District National Park

Highlight • River

4.13 km

Tongue Pot

Highlight • River

The legendary Tongue Pot forms a long emerald pool beneath a roaring waterfall in a cleft of the River Esk, just beneath a mountain packhorse bridge. There's a long series of fantastic, clear pools but Tongue Pot is the most dramatic. Daringly high jumps are possible where the water is around 16 feet (5m) deep. Even on a cloudy day Tongue Pot is breathtaking.

Tip by