Height: 828 metres / 2717 feet Grid reference: NY 44078 11045 Category: The Far Eastern Fells High Street was formerly known as Racecourse Hill (due to the fact that formerly there was a racecourse on the top) and gets its present name from the Roman road that runs along the ridge.
It was beautiful this morning, very still and sunny and it was pleasantly warm climbing Rough Crag but as soon as I got to the High Street plateau it was covered with cloud which made it feel a lot cooler. It was a great day for it though and we were in total solitude throughout with just deer and sheep for company.
Today there was a mixed bag of weather and it was ever brightening on Loughrigg Fell but on the high fells there was a dusting of fresh snow and seemingly snow laden clouds on them. There is still a good bit of winter to go and I don’t think it will be so long before there are snowy walks once more.
The sunshine and optimism of an early start soon disappeared this morning with the bulk of fells being covered in cloud. I walked a round of Riggindale waiting for the summer to make a reappearance but was disappointed that it never happened, I was ready for it too with my shorts on…and of course my hat and gloves! No sign of the Golden Eagle today either although I did have a good look.
The big area of high pressure over Cumbria promised warm weather this morning and indeed it was delivered, just without any sun! It was good to get out earlier than everyone else though, and it really was lovely and peaceful up on Loughrigg Fell and around Loughrigg Tarn.
There were two walks today, both in the pursuit of Casper bagging the last few of his remaining Wainwright fells. The first was a short and easy one up to Latrigg – I guess I am guilty of always bypassing this one for the lure of the higher fells. The second walk took in the fells around Loweswater. This area is probably the longest drive for me to get to from home, so I guess that is why they get neglected…
I nearly never bothered today, it was wet and miserable first thing this morning but a chance hearing of the weather report on the radio made me get out as it was supposedly brightening during the day. I could hardly believe my luck as I reached Mardale, for the sun was shining and the skies were blue. This was a really enjoyable round (helped by the weather of course!) taking the direct route to High Street via Rough Crag, walking along the Roman Road, trying and failing to spot the Riggindale Golden Eagles and finishing off on the ancient British Fort on Castle Crag above Haweswater.
Today’s walk was from Grasmere with a circuit of Greenburn, also taking in High Raise and Sergeant Man. There was lots of snow about today with mini-blizzards on the higher sections of High Raise and Sergeant Man.
We had a walk following in Wordsworth’s footsteps today, up to that family favourite Loughrigg Fell. The clouds hung over the higher fells today whilst Loughrigg retained relative clarity. This walk was good for a swim (for some!) if not for views…
