Height: 873 metres / 2864 feet Grid reference: NY 35861 11722 Category: The Eastern Fells
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn – plus of course Striding Edge – from the summit of Fairfield
Fairfield from Great Rigg
Cofa Pike to the left and Saint Sunday Crag from Fairfield
Start Point: Deepdale Bridge (NY 399 144)
Deepdale Bridge – Deepdale – Greenhow End – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Gavel Pike – Lord’s Seat – Deepdale Bridge
Distance: 7.3 miles Total Ascent: 915 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:15
Weather: Overcast with showers, 8°C
The promised clear weather never materialised today, in fact it was the opposite as the clouds and clag closed in as the day went on. I was looking forward to this one as a new route for me, I must go back and do it on a fine day as I think the views would be brilliant from Greenhow End. This route will feature in a future edition of Trail Magazine.
Aw...just look at that little face! Fletcher, now with full fell dog haircut!
Fletcher, full of smiles! On Sunday 9th November I took the dogs out but it was hammering it down in the south Lakes.
Dull at Brown Howe, Coniston Water.
We ended up back at Burney for a quick fell walk. We were completely sodden! On with today's walk...
Place Fell from Deepdale Bridge. There was a glimmer of light and it was looking (dare I say it?) promising.
Arnison Crag above Lane Head
Looking back along the track, Angletarn Pikes up to the right...somewhere
Dougal...down...wait...down...wait...wait...wait...good lad! Dougal posing on the old stone bridge crossing Coldcove Gill
Deepdale Beck
Mart Crag reflected in a small tarn. Above Mart Crag (in the mist) is Greenhow End, today's route of ascent
A bit damp and a bit steep climbing up Greenhow End, looking back into Deepdale. There wasn't much to take photos of for a good while after this. Dougal was recognised on Fairfield by a couple of StridingEdge fans, I helped a chap get the right path from Fairfield to Cofa Pike and Dougal was again recognised on the climb to St. Sunday!
Nothing to see on St. Sunday (apart from big Doogs!)
Heading down to Lord's Seat and a break in the clouds
On Lord's Seat, Birks in the distance
Looking back up to Lord's Seat and Gavel Pike. It was a bit of a boggy mess descending from here and we were sodden for the second day running! On the way back from our shop in Bowness...
Sunshine across Windermere!
Start Point: Rydal (NY 365 062)
Rydal – Nab Scar – Heron Pike – Rydal Fell – Great Rigg – Fairfield – Hart Crag – Dove Crag – High Pike (Scandale) – Low Pike – Low Sweden Bridge – Rydal Park – Rydal
Distance: 10 miles Total Ascent: 1180 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 07:35
Weather: Beautiful, warming up nicely to 17°C
The weather experts weren’t wrong today, it was an absolutely gorgeous morning for a walk around the Fairfield Horseshoe – one I haven’t done (unbelievably) since 2007. There wasn’t anyone around either until two thirds of the way when we met one or two people. I think this is the last day of the long hot summer as the weather is set to turn over the next few days…
Early morning mist on Windermere, from Waterhead
View along the jetty
What a beautiful sunrise
Inversion over Ambleside and Windermere from the climb to Nab Scar
Climbing to the sun, it is a gorgeous morning
This view was behind me so frequent stops were required to check it out
Misty trees
A great view across Rydal and Grasmere to the Coniston fells and across to Bowfell
The sun is starting to burn away the early mist
Heron Pike from Nab Scar
Looking back to the Coniston fells, Coniston Water is distant left
Clear as clear can be on Heron Pike - Dougal seems to be enjoying himself as well
Heading for Rydal Fell, Great Rigg and Fairfield ahead
Looking to Rydal Head - Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag in view
Hart Crag reflected
Lapping up the good weather
Great Rigg
Grasmere and the Coniston fells
Fairfield from Great Rigg
Heading for Fairfield but with a peek across Grisedale Tarn to Helvellyn
Cofa Pike and St. Sunday Crag from Fairfield
A great view of Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn from Fairfield
Dougal in pensive pose
Windermere and two sentinels of Rydal Head. I'll give you two guesses where Dougal is!
On Hart Crag
Looking the other way towards Patterdale
High Pike from Low Pike
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell across Rydal Water
The outward leg of the Fairfield Horseshoe from Rydal Park
On the way back we met up with Louise and Fletcher at Fell Foot. He is growing by the day!
Start point: Patterdale (NY 394 160)
Patterdale – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike – Dollywaggon Pike – Hause Gap – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Patterdale
Distance: 11 miles Total Ascent: 1410 metres Time Taken: 7 hours
Weather: Sunny spells, icy wind. 3ºC.
The snow has begun to thaw and it was all a bit dull and overcast when I set off from Patterdale this morning. Once up to the Hole-in-the-Wall though, there were regular sunny spells and the crossing of Striding Edge is a s fantastic as ever in winter conditions. I lengthened the walk by climbing to Fairfield after the Helvellyn ridge but the wind was mighty strong and cold up there and it made walking quite difficult at times. The days are pretty short at the moment and the descent was mirrored by the setting of the sun.
NOTE: This walk was done in winter conditions and it can be extremely hazardous up on Striding Edge in this weather. Just because I did it with my dog doesn’t mean to say you can. Please make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions.
It was all a bit overcast when I set off into Grisedale. Here the path to the Hole-in-the-Wall can be seen running diagonally right to left with the wall visible in the centre.
Looking to the head of Grisedale, Saint Sunday Crag to the left.
Clearing out a bit now looking back to Place Fell.
Climbing the path.
Dollywaggon Pike and Nethermost Pike under cloud.
At the Hole-in-the-Wall. The crampons were on by here.
Looking back to Birkhouse Moor and Ullswater.
Heading for Low Spying How.
Helvellyn, Swirral Edge and Catstycam.
Dollywaggon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Low Spying How.
Who's the King of the Castle?
The first view of Striding Edge.
The cloud was constantly clearing then swirling back in on the climb.
There was quite a contrast with a lot less snow on the Far Eastern fells.
I caught up with group from Sheffield on the crossing of Striding Edge. They were much hardier than me as they had camped out at Red Tarn last night.
A tricky crossing over the icy rocks. Crampons and an ice axe were essential today. The Dixon memorial is to the right.
Further along Striding Edge.
These photos make it look clear but the mist was still swirling on and around us as we crossed.
Looking back, almost at The Chimney now.
The Chimney.
The climb to reach Helvellyn.
A misty Striding Edge from the climb.
That's a clearer view.
A great view of the full length of Striding Edge.
Here's a view looking down the climb to show conditions when the mist was down and the equipment required to get up here!
The Gough Memorial.
No view from the summit for us today.
Heading for Nethermost Pike.
A bit further along the ridge and the mist has cleared again.
Fairfield, Dollywaggon Pike and High Crag from Nethermost Pike.
A view to the west.
Heading for Dollywaggon Pike with Fairfield and Great Rigg in view with a glimpse of Windermere.
Dollywaggon Pike.
High Crag from Dollywaggon Pike.
The old post marks the start of the steep descent to Grisedale Tarn.
Snowbeard on the descent.
Saint Sunday Crag and Fairfield above Grisedale Tarn.
All clear over Fairfield.
Once at Hause Gap the wind really picked up and the climb to Fairfield was pretty tough. This view is through to the Coniston fells. This is where I took my crampons off too as they were more of a hindrance rather than a help.
Seat Sandal from the climb.
The Far Eastern fells from Fairfield.
Mushroom cloud over Helvellyn.
The Helvellyn ridge recently walked. Crampons back on again for the steep and icy descent to Cofa Pike.
Saint Sunday Crag from Cofa Pike.
Helvellyn and Striding Edge in sunshine.
Grisedale Tarn and the view to the west from Deepdale Hause. Crampons off again!
The moon rising over the eastern fells from Saint Sunday Crag.
Casper at the summit of Saint Sunday Crag.
Looking across to Helvellyn and Catstycam.
It was amazing how quickly the sun began to set with the clouds over Helvellyn already tinged with red.
Sunset on High Street.
The moon rising over Place Fell.
Start point: Rydal (NY 365 062)
Rydal – Nab Scar – Heron Pike – Rydal Fell – Stone Arthur – Great Rigg – Fairfield – Hart Crag – Dove Crag – High Pike (Scandale) – Low Pike – Low Sweden Bridge – Rydal Park – Rydal
Distance: 10.5 miles Total Ascent: 1180 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Clear at lower level, tops in mist. 4oC.
It was lovely and clear first thing this morning for a walk of the Fairfield Horseshoe with which I added a slight detour out to Stone Arthur above Grasmere. It was interesting to watch the weather almost constantly changing with clouds forming in the valleys before they lifted as I reached the top of Fairfield. The descent of Hart Crag and Dove Crag was done in very wintry mist with a covering of snow on these higher fells. By the time we got through that, the high cloud had come in to dull conditions somewhat and make it feel even cooler out of the sunshine.
Bright early morning sunshine casts a golden glow on the climb to Nab Scar.
Looking back down to a cold looking Rydal.
Loughrigg Fell and a mirror finished Rydal Water.
Heron Pike.
Nab Scar.
Looking over Grasmere to Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.
Heron Pike from Nab Scar.
Red Screes across Rydal and Low Pike.
The summit of Heron Crag. Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag are covered by a blanket of cloud.
Casper enjoying the warm sunshine on Rydal Fell. Get it while you can!
Hart Crag clears from the cloud for a while.
Great Rigg ahead. I contoured around to the left to take in Stone Arthur.
Looks cold over to Bowfell and the Scafells.
Hart Crag and Dove Crag across a frozen pool.
Rydal Head.
A panoramic view looking across Rydal to the route of return - Hart Crag, Dove Crag, High Pike and Low Pike
Descending to Stone Arthur.
High Raise and Helm Crag across the Vale of Grasmere, from Stone Arthur.
Seat Sandal from Stone Arthur with mine and Casper's shadow on the summit.
Dollywagon Pike through Grisedale Hause between Seat Sandal and Fairfield.
Climbing to Great Rigg from Stone Arthur.
Looking back towards Heron Pike from Great Rigg.
At this point things were happening quickly with the cloud all around. It looked like there was an inversion over Great Langdale way and here too the clouds looked to be forming and dropping into Rydal valley and I had hopes of an inversion here too.
Seat Sandal with the Coledale fells in the distance. Here too the cloud was forming below the summit.
Looking back to Great Rigg from the climb to Fairfield.
Over on Dove Crag, the cloud seemed to be pouring over it into Dovedale.
The cloud over Hart Crag and Dove Crag.
Seat Sandal now has a cloud cap.
All snowy and bright on the approach to Fairfield's summit.
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn - plus of course Striding Edge - from the summit of Fairfield.
Cofa Pike and St. Sunday Crag.
A cold wind whipped up whilst we were on Fairfield summit. That put paid to any chance of an inversion today I think.
In the cloud now leaving Fairfield for Hart Crag.
It really was cold between Hart Crag and Dove Crag.
Almost out of the mist now as it was blowing across the fell side here.
A glimpse of the eastern fells through a break in the clouds.
Looking back to Dove Crag from High Pike.
Back in the sunshine now son.
Scandale.
High Pike from Low Pike.
Looking across Rydal to the outward route.
Low Pike.
Scandale Beck looks cold in the fading light. It didn't stop my canine companion from having a little dip though!
Nab Scar and Heron Pike across Rydal Park.
Start point: Deepdale Bridge (NY 399 144)
Deepdale Bridge – Gale Crag – Hartsop Above How – Hart Crag – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Gavel Pike – Birks – Arnison Crag – Deepdale Bridge
Distance: 10.3 miles Total Ascent: 1431 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 45 minutes
Weather: Clear and cold, especially on the highest tops. 9oC.
After a cold and frosty night, it was a really clear day today with lovely blue skies and autumnal colours all around Deepdale. The Hartsop above How ridge is a fine walk and the return across Fairfield and St. Sunday Crag makes a lovely circuit of the valley. Angus and Casper managed to get recognised again on St. Sunday Crag by a StridingEdge fan, and (by default) so did I!
Autumnal Deepdale at the start of the walk.
Gavel Pike on St. Sunday Crag from the Hartsop above How ridge.
St. Sunday Crag across Deepdale.
Looking back to Place Fell.
Angletarn Pikes.
St. Sunday Crag.
Onward and upward - looking back to Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes.
Looking along the ridge to Hart Crag and Fairfield.
Angus.
A pair of Beardies on Hartsop above How. Down below in Dovedale, I could see foxhounds and hear the constant shouts and blowing horn of the huntsmen. Not sure what they hunt these days, though!
Looking across an icy pool to Hart Crag and Fairfield.
Fairfield.
Looking down the Hartsop above How ridge from Hart Crag.
Shooting into direct sunlight, not a good idea - but I liked the way the sun lit up Windermere and Morecambe Bay from Hart Crag.
The summit of Hart Crag.
The western fells from Fairfield, the familiar shape of Great Gable to the left.
...and a wider panorama.
Great Gable.
Looks busy over on Helvellyn.
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn across Grisedale.
Cofa Pike and St. Sunday Crag.
Seat Sandal above Grisedale Tarn and the view westwards beyond from Cofa Pike.
Dollywagon Pike.
The summit of St. Sunday Crag - it's starting to cloud a bit now.
Gavel Pike and the Far Eastern fells from St. Sunday Crag. I could hear the bellowing of stags somewhere down below from here.
Ullswater and Birks from Gavel Pike.
Birks.
Hartsop on the descent from Birks.
Ullswater and Great Mell Fell from Trough Head.
Hartsop from the summit of Arnison Crag.
Just the three of us here on Arnison Crag.
Place Fell and Autumn in Deepdale.
Start point: Rydal (NY 365 062)
Rydal – Nab Scar – Heron Pike – Rydal Fell – Great Rigg – Fairfield – Hart Crag – Dove Crag – High Pike (Scandale) – Low Pike – High Sweden Bridge – Ambleside – Rydal Park – Rydal
Distance: 12.9 miles Total Ascent: 1281 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Sunny and warm. 27oC.
I knew it was going to be a warm one today – it was 23oC when I set off from Rydal this morning! It was hot and muggy with a welcome breeze on the higher parts, and very quiet up on the Fairfield Horseshoe. Angus and Casper kept themselves cool by wallowing in mud, glorious mud that baked on in the sun, and is proving impossible to get off.
The path to Nab Scar directly ahead.
Looking over Rydal Water to Loughrigg Fell from Nab Scar.
Long legs and a long tongue from Casper.
Wow Angus! Is it really that hot!
...and the result.
Rydal Fell with Great Rigg and Fairfield beyond.
Looking over Rydal Beck to High Pike and Low Pike (the return leg of the horseshoe), Red Screes beyond.
Rydal Fell with Hart Crag immediately behind.
Looking back to Heron Pike and Windermere from Rydal Fell.
The top part of The Fairfield Horseshoe. Select on the image for a larger, annotated version.
The boys enjoy the view.
Approaching Fairfield from Great Rigg.
Seat Sandal.
Cofa Pike and Saint Sunday Crag from the summit of Fairfield.
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn from Fairfield.
Casper on the summit of Hart Crag.
Fairfield and Hart Crag from Dove Crag.
Desperate to get cool in the sweltering heat.
Low Pike along the wall from High Pike.
Red Screes across Scandale.
Looking back to High Pike from Low Pike, Little Hart Crag to the right.
High Sweden Bridge.
Looking over to Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Rydal Fell and Great Rigg on the descent to Ambleside.
The same view from Rydal Park.
Start point: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (NY 403 134)
Cow Bridge – Gale Crag (322) – Hartsop Above How (323) – Hart Crag – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag –Gavel Pike – Birks (324) – Arnison Crag (325) – Cow Bridge
Distance: 9.7 miles Total Ascent: 1385 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny with a strong breeze. 8oC in the valley rising to 12oC. Icy cold on the tops.
I had a great high level ridge walk today along the Hartsop above How ridge, up to Hart Crag and Fairfield and then back down along the Saint Sunday ridge. It was a pleasant surprise to see the sunshine, but it was deceptively cold on the tops with a bitter wind blowing. With hindsight I would have been better off starting and finishing at Deepdale Bridge and walking the full Hartsop above How ridge.
Fairfield route map.
Elevation profile of the route.
3D image of the walk route.
Caudale Moor, Kirkstone Pass and Red Screes in early sunlight from the steep ascent to the Hartsop Above How ridge.
Hartsop Dodd over Brothers Water. To the left are Gray Crag and High Street.
Place Fell from Gale Crag summit. Great Mell Fell can be seen to the left.
The view along the ridge from the summit of Hartsop above How.
Dove Crag.
Looking back along Hartsop above How from Hart Crag.
The view from Rydal Head. Windermere, Esthwaite Water and Coniston Water are all visible.
Fairfield summit.
Cofa Pike to the left and Saint Sunday Crag.
Grisedale Tarn and the Dollywagon Pike - Nethermost Pike - Helvellyn ridge.
Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Saint Sunday Crag. The peak of Catstycam is to the right, then Raise and the Dodd's.
Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag from Birks.
Ullswater from Arnison Crag.
Arnison Crag.
Start point: Ambleside – Rydal Road Car Park (NY 376 046)
Ambleside – Rydal Park – Nab Scar (118) – Heron Pike (119) – Rydal Fell (120) – Stone Arthur (121) – Great Rigg (122) – Fairfield – Hart Crag (123) – Dove Crag (124) – High Pike (Scandale) (125) – Low Pike (126) – High Sweden Bridge – Ambleside
Weather: Very warm, mainly overcast.
After a short lay off, it was good to get back out on the fells today with a classic round – The Fairfield Horseshoe. The weather looked promising but the haze never lifted although it was lovely and warm
From the car park at Ambleside, I followed the A591 to the delightful Rydal Park and walked through here to Rydal Mount.
Scandale Beck in Rydal Park. From Rydal Mount (Wordsworth's old residence) the path is a steep stairway up to Nab Scar. On the way, there is a great view over Rydal Water over to Loughrigg.
Loughrigg and Rydal Water from the ascent of Nab Scar. The summit cairn of Nab Scar is to the left of the main path - it was too hazy for views today.
Nab Scar summit cairn
and the path to Heron Pike. The path climbs again from Nab Scar to Heron Pike and flattens off to reveal a quartz summit stone.
Rydal Fell from Heron Pike summit. Great Rigg, Fairfield and Hart Crag are on the horizon. From Heron Pike, the path descends then ascends again. To the right of the main path at the end of a wall is another cairn. The actual top is not named on O.S maps, only the whole fell. Birkett has named the summit after the fell, namely Rydal Fell.
Heron Pike from Rydal Fell summit. From Rydal Fell, I made a detour from the usual Fairfield Horseshoe circuit by contouring around Greenhead Gill and striding out to Stone Arthur (which overlooks Grasmere) by picking up the main Stone Arthur - Great Rigg path.
Looking along Greenhead Gill to Grasmere.
Grasmere from the summit of Stone Arthur. The tarn on the left is Alcock Tarn. From Stone Arthur, it was back along the main path and a steep ascent to Great Rigg.
The path to Fairfield from Great Rigg summit.
..and again from further along Great Rigg. Fairfield is in easy reach from here.
Saint Sunday Crag from Fairfield summit. From Fairfield it is a rocky descent then another ascent to Hart Crag to begin the return leg of the horseshoe.
Hartsop above How from the rocky summit of Hart Crag. From the descent of Hart Crag, a wall guides you virtually all the way now. It is an easy ascent to Dove Crag from here.
Looking towards Ambleside along the wall from the summit of Dove Crag.
High Pike along the wall.
High Bakestones and Little Hart Crag from the summit of High Pike.
High Pike from the summit of Low Pike. The summit of Low Pike is to the right of the main path and requires a slight scramble to reach it. From Low Pike, I detoured to the left and headed for High Sweden Bridge - a lovely place for a dip.
High Sweden Bridge. The path from High Sweden Bridge takes you directly back to the car park in Ambleside.
Start point: Patterdale (NY 390 160)
Patterdale – Pinnacle Ridge – Gavel Pike (72) – Saint Sunday Crag (73) – Cofa Pike (74) – Fairfield (75) – Seat Sandal (76) – Grisedale Tarn – Patterdale
Weather: Sunny and warm.
Another fine and warm day today for a climb up to Saint Sunday Crag using a new route (for me) to the summit, Pinnacle Ridge, a serious and quite challenging technical grade 3 scramble.
The route begins following the Grisedale Valley path until the far edge of Elmhow Plantation is reached.
Nethermost Pike, Dollywagon Pike and Helvellyn from the entrance to the Grisedale Valley. Following the zigzag path up the slopes of St. Sunday Crag from Elmhow Plantation, a grassy terrace is reached. From here it is a right turn to traverse across the horizontal terrace. On reaching a scree fan, Pinnacle Ridge can be seen above with a large, smooth prominent slab clearly visible. This is known as 'The Cannon'.
Ullswater from the horizontal terrace.
Climbing 'The Cannon'...
and the view from the top of The Cannon.
Onwards and upwards from the Cannon
...and again - don't slip! Past The Cannon, the ridge continues over further prominent pinnacles until a difficult rock pitch is reached.
Climbing the difficult rock pitch. Once this is climbed, its virtually home and dry to reach the lower slopes of Saint Sunday Crag. This is truly an exhilarating way to reach the summit.
Looking down Pinnacle Ridge to the Grisedale Valley below. Once onto St Sunday ridge, it is eastwards first to the 'thumb' of Gavel Pike offering a great view of Ullswater.
Ullswater from Gavel Pike. Then an easy ascent to the summit of Saint Sunday Crag itself.
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the slopes of Saint Sunday Crag.
Fairfield from Saint Sunday Crag summit. A descent to Deepdale Hause then another ascent to Cofa Pike before the final rocky ascent to Fairfield - a flat, bouldery plateau.
Seat Sandal and Grisedale Tarn from the descent to Deepdale Hause.
Looking back to Saint Sunday Crag and Gavel Pike from Cofa Pike summit.
Bowfell, The Scafell range and Great Gable from the bouldery summit of Fairfield. From Fairfield it's a steep descent westwards and then a very steep ascent to the summit of Seat Sandal which offers good views over Grasmere.
Seat Sandal summit. From Seat Sandal, a steep descent to Grisedale Tarn and follow the Grisedale Valley path back to Patterdale.
Saint Sunday Crag from Grisedale Valley. Pinnacle Ridge is up there somewhere.
Patterdale – Birkhouse Moor (140) – Striding Edge – Helvellyn – Nethermost Pike (141) – Dollywaggon Pike (142) – Seat Sandal (143) Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag – Birks – Patterdale
Ambleside – Nab Scar (39) – Heron Pike (40) – Stone Arthur (41) – Great Rigg (42) – Fairfield (43) – St Sunday Crag (44) – Birks (45) – Patterdale – Kirkstone Pass – Ambleside
Windermere from the ascent of Nab Scar.
Nab Scar summit.
Hart Crag and High Pike from Heron Pike summit.
The Fairfield Ridge from Heron Pike.
Stone Arthur summit.
Grasmere from Stone Arthur.
Windermere from Great Rigg summit.
Fairfield from Cofa Pike.
Saint Sunday Crag from Fairfield.
Grisedale Tarn
Saint Sunday Crag summit.
Saint Sunday Crag from Birks.