Height: 656 metres / 2152 feet Grid reference: NY 37443 08830 Category: The Eastern Fells
High Pike is normally walked as part of the Fairfield Horseshoe.
High Pike (Scandale)
Fairfield Horseshoe
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.
Scandale
There was a mixed bag of weather today – poor weather for the initial climb sandwiched by sunshine and blue skies. I was joined on this walk by Clive Hutchby, author of The Wainwright Companion – the book is due out later this year and the photos in it are by me. This walk mimics ‘Dove Crag 5’, the page that was the first one Wainwright drew for the Pictorial Guides on November 9th 1952.
The Fairfield Horseshoe
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.
Fairfield Horseshoe
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.
Fairfield Horseshoe
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