High Rigg

Start Point: Lay-by opposite Thirlmere Dam road (NY 315 194)

Lay-by (opposite Thirlmere Dam road) – Wren Crag – High Rigg (Birkett) – High Rigg (Wainwright)/Naddle Fell (Birkett) – St. John’s Church – Low Bridge End Farm – Lay-by

Distance: 8.3 km
Total Ascent: 247 metres
Time Taken: 2 hours 10 minutes
Start Time: 10:25
Weather: Wet. 10ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 7/214 (1 new this walk)

Route Map – GPX download available

It was a wet walk today – as any fell walker knows, we live with hope that the rain will clear and that the sun will shine through with beautiful blue skies. Any fell walker knows that this doesn’t always happen – oh well! Once you’re out, you’re out! One thing was for sure, there weren’t many others out today but good to get out for Finlay’s 7th Wainwright. He is coming along well, today’s lessons were traversing boggy and sodden paths, jumping stiles over walls (actually he jumped a wall when I was on the stile, an amazing 6 foot leap) and sheep (the avoidance thereof).

Climbing up towards Wren Crag with the main A591 below looking to Great How. I was hopeful at this point that the rain would pass over.

Castle Rock above Legburthwaite.

Scots Pine on Wren Crag neatly framing the main road along the valley.

There are still some lovely autumn colours around and beyond...even more rain.

On Wren Crag and if anything the rain was getting heavier and the wind was starting to pick up a little.

A brief shelter by the wall on Mart Crag.

Any pool in a storm for Finlay!

The view looking back to Thirlmere.

Now it starts to get confusing with the profusion of rocky knolls and tops. This is High Rigg (Birkett) top or High Rigg SE top depending on what and where you look. The view is towards High Rigg (Wainwright) summit...named Naddle Fell by Birkett. I told you it was confusing! The worst of the weather came in now for the walk between the two tops - lots of rain and a strong wind.

The cairn without a view of anything at all on High Rigg.

Wet Wainwright #7 for Finlay.

Skiddaw briefly making an appearance over St John's Youth Centre, Church and Low Rigg.

Rainbow over St John's in the Vale. The rain finally stopped on the return leg on the lower path. I say path, actually it was more like a river and it took a fair bit of wading to get through at times.

The best view of the day along St John's in the Vale.

Start point: Legburthwaite (NY 318 195)

Legburthwaite – Wren Crag (460) – High Rigg (Birkett) (461) – High Rigg (Naddle Fell) (462) – Legburthwaite – Castle Rock of Triermain (463) – Legburthwaite

Distance: 6.45 miles Total Ascent: 803 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 40 minutes

Weather: Grey and dreary. 8°C

The blue skies have disappeared again and it was back to drizzle and general greyness for a walk over lowly High Rigg this morning. The views weren’t great today but the walk was pleasant enough with rain setting in during my ascent of Castle Rock.

The last summit of the walk from the first - looking across St John's in the Vale to Castle Rock on the way to Wren Crag. The highest point is the rocky knoll on the left.

Looking north along St John's in the Vale, Legburthwaite below.

Looking south to Great How, the main A591 road to the left and Thirlmere to the right.

Blencathra under cloud from Wren Crag.

Thirlmere and Raven Crag.

Looking along the High Rigg ridge.

Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance with Whinlatter to the left and Dodd to the right. Skiddaw is covered by cloud on the extreme right.

Bleaberry Fell and The Benn.

Now there's confusion - Birkett names this as High Rigg, Wainwright names the summit further north as High Rigg. Birkett calls the Wainwright High Rigg...Naddle Fell! I'll stick my tongue out to that one.

Thirlmere from High Rigg (Birkett).

Blencathra from High Rigg (Wainwright) or Naddle Fell (Birkett).

St John's in the Vale church.

Snowdrops in the churchyard.

Looking across to Bram Crag.

St John's in the Vale looking south, Castle Rock is in the centre distance.

Woodland walking.

The weather really closed in as I made my way to Castle Rock (also known as Castle Rock of Triermain as it features in Sir Walter Scott's epic Arthurian poem, The Bridal of Triermain). It looks a bit brighter over Thirlmere through the drizzle.

High Rigg from Castle Rock.

St John's in the Vale from Castle Rock.