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.
High Street summit
High Street
Looking along Riggindale to Mardale
The ridge in Winter
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 107)
Mardale Head – Rough Crag (Riggindale) – Caspel Gate – Long Stile – High Street – Straits of Riggindale – The Knott – Rampsgill Head – Kidsty Pike –High Raise – Low Raise – Castle Crag (Mardale) – The Rigg – Mardale Head
Distance: 8.5 miles Total Ascent: 888m metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 07:00
Weather: Sunny spells. 11oC.
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.
Calm reflections on Haweswater.
Harter Fell.
Haweswater from the Rough Crag ridge.
Harter Fell from higher up.
Small Water is nestling somewhere in the combe to the left and Mardale Ill Bell.
Fabulous views today.
A glimpse of Small Water.
Blea Water from Rough Crag.
One mucky pup!
Long Stile, the climb to High Street.
Blea Water.
Long Stile over Caspel Gate.
Caspel Gate Tarn.
There were some lovely sunny spells and it was quite warm when the sun was out.
Looking down Long Stile.
On High Street though it was suddenly cloud covered and felt a lot cooler.
High Street summit looking to Helvellyn.
Hayeswater.
Looking back to High Street.
The Knott.
The Knott summit cairn.
Rest Dodd and The Nab with Ullswater catching the sun in the distance.
High Street and Thornthwaite Crag from Rampsgill Head.
Ramps Gill from Ramspgill Head.
High Street from Kidsty Pike.
High Raise.
Low Raise...back in the sunshine!
Haweswater from the south-east ridge.
Descending the south-east ridge. If you find a lens cap along here it could well be mine!
The British Fort on the south-east ridge with Haweswater beyond.
The view from The British Fort.
Riggindale.
On the way home, the head of Haweswater. Select on the image to see a larger version. This photo will be available as a premium canvas print, e-mail me if you are interested for sizes etc.
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 107)
Mardale Head – Blea Water – Caspel Gate – Long Stile – High Street – Straits of Riggindale – Rampsgill Head – Kidsty Pike – Kidsty Howes – The Rigg – Mardale Head
Distance: 6.2 miles Total Ascent: 735 metres Time Taken: 3 hours Start Time: 07:00
Weather: Overcast and cold. 11C
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.
Riggindale route map.
Looking towards Mardale Waters at the start of the walk.
Harter Fell beyond Mardale Beck.
Mardale beck falls.
It was murky and claggy on all the tops today.
Piot Crag with an old sheepfold in the foreground.
This is shown as a footbridge on the map although I wouldn't fancy chancing it when the beck is in spate!
Blea Water panoramic looking across to Long Stile.
Dougal seems to know where we are climbing to, up to Long Stile which has just appeared from the mist.
Blea Water and Blea Water Crag.
Rough Crag and Caspel Gate, Haweswater in view with the cloud lifting and then coming back again instantly.
Blea Water.
Looking across Riggindale to Head of Riggindale Beck and Kidsty Pike.
The view from Long Stile.
More Blea Water.
Dougal has spotted something to take his interest but there wasn't much else to se on the summit of High Street today.
Looking down on Hayeswater.
Following the Roman Road on High Street.
Twopenny Crag from the Straits of Riggindale.
A brief glimpse of Ramps Gill from Rampsgill Head.
Casper leading the way to Kidsty Pike.
High Street out of the clouds - for now - from Kidsty Pike.
Riggindale from Kidsty Pike.
Doogs and 'roonals on Kidsty Pike.
A lone deer (cheap?) from the descent (because it is not two dear!).
Looking back to Kidsty Pike from Kidsty Howes.
Haweswater from the descent.
Haweswater.
Selside Pike and Haweswater.
The ruins of Riggindale Farm.
Riggindale.
I crossed the normally submerged southern end of Haweswater.
Old and normally submerged dry stone walls leading to the disappeared village of Mardale.
Start point: Kentmere (NY 456 041)
Kentmere – Garburn Pass – Yoke – Ill Bell – Froswick – Thornthwaite Beacon – High Street – Mardale Ill Bell – Nan Bield Pass – Harter Fell –Kentmere Pike – Shipman Knotts – Kentmere
Distance: 13 miles Total Ascent: 1161 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 07:00
Weather: Overcast, 10C
The good weather certainly deserted me this morning and the walk from Kentmere to the top of the Garburn Pass was completed in pouring rain. The weather improved by drying up but the tops were shrouded in mist throughout the walk, although the sun did have a good attempt at trying to burn through but never quite made it. There were no views and no other people around today.
Kentmere Horseshoe route map.
Badger Rock in the rain.
Looking back to Kentmere.
A bit brighter now but still raining climbing the Garburn Road.
Heading for Yoke - what's that over there boys?
A glimpse of Windermere from the 'motorway'.
Yoke.
Ill Bell - there are only two cairns standing now...
...although there are three 'monuments' in this photo. Cheer up Dougal, it might never happen.
Casper checks out Kentmere Reservoir below.
Froswick.
Lingmell End on Mardale Ill Bell across Upper Kentmere.
Thornthwaite Beacon.
The summit of High Street.
Looks a bit clearer over on The Knott and Rest Dodd from the Roman Road.
Hayeswater.
In the absence of any views whatsoever, here is another dog/summit photo of Dougal on Mardale Ill Bell!
This is how to grade a path so that packhorses can get up them - the ancient track across Nan Bield Pass from Kentmere.
Kentmere Pike.
Shipman Knotts across the stile.
Kentmere Pike from Shipman Knotts.
Longsleddale from Shipman Knotts.
It looks a bit brighter now looking towards the Ill Bell ridge from Stile End.
Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts from Low Lane.
Crossing a sunny River Kent.
Sunshine over Green Quarter.
Kentmere Church.
Start point: Hartsop (NY 410 130)
Hartsop – Gray Crag – Thornthwaite Crag – High Street – Straits of Riggindale – The Knott – Hayeswater – Hartsop
Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 770 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Mostly clear. 2°C.
I managed to get over Kirkstone Pass this morning even though it was pretty icy again. This is the fourth walk in a row in the same area, I guess I am just drawn over that way at the moment for some reason. The weather prediction was for great clarity today and it was indeed clear all morning, but the sun did not quite manage to get through the cloud although there were some quite amazing skies over the snowy fells.
Hayeswater route map.
Sun rising over Gray Crag from the corrals at Hartsop.
Looking back to Hartsop from the path to Hayeswater, St Sunday Crag beyond the Hartsop above How ridge.
Threshthwaite along Pasture Bottom.
Hayeswater Gill and the climb up to Gray Crag in view.
Hartsop from the first wall on the steep climb to Gray Crag.
Despite not being sunny there was great clarity today, looking across to Helvellyn with a corner of Brothers Water visible below. Blencathra is visible on the far right.
Strange light over Gray Crag from the start of the plateau as the sun was trying to break through the great sheet of cloud that hung over the fells.
Heading for the summit ridge.
Distant Blencathra.
The Knott above Hayeswater, the route of return.
Casper was not keen on the soft new snow today as it kept balling up on his fur, as he demonstrates here with his snowball beard!
Heading for Thornthwaite Crag from Gray Crag. The sky was amazing as the sun continue to try and burn through the cloud. It looked like sunrise even though it was 10.15 when this photo was taken.
Caudale Moor, the scene of yesterday's walk.
The view through Threshthwaite Mouth into Troutbeck.
What a slog it was to get this far in the deep, virgin snow (apart from the fox tracks in this photo that is. These tracks went all the way round to High Street so perhaps Fantastic Mr Fox was doing the same round as me!) but well worth it. It was a great day to be up here.
The Knott and High Street.
The view back along mine and Casper's tracks to Gray Crag.
Just beautiful on Thornthwaite Crag.
Ill Bell and Froswick.
Windermere from Thornthwaite Beacon.
The sun was starting to shine through now, here looking to the north-west where it is still lovely and clear.
Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike from the wall heading out to High Street.
Ill Bell and Froswick from further along the wall.
The route of return along the High Street ridge.
The Ill Bell ridge and Windermere from High Street Roman Road (well, I think I was on it - I couldn't make out any paths!).
High Street summit.
Looking over the eastern side of High Street to Rough Crag and Haweswater.
Harter Fell and Mardale Ill Bell over Blea Water.
Kidsty Pike and High Raise across Riggindale.
Heading for the Straits of Riggindale, the weather took a decided turn for the worse with an arctic blast blowing in from the west. Time to put another layer on here for me.
Not as bright now across Hayeswater to the eastern fells.
Looking back to High Street from the Straits of Riggindale.
Viewing the circuit just walked from The Knott.
Casper, weighed down with about 3 tons of snow now.
Rest Dodd and The Nab from The Knott.
A last gasp of sunshine on the descent towards Hayeswater.
Hayeswater is part frozen today.
Reflections and ice.
Heading back to Hartsop and the snow is blowing in from over St Sunday Crag and was heavy by the time I reached Hartsop.
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 127)
Mardale Head – Hollow Stone – Branstree north ridge – Artlecrag Pike – Branstree – Gatescarth Pass – Little Harter Fell – Harter Fell (Mardale) – Nan Bield Pass – Mardale Ill Bell – High Street – Rough Crag (Riggindale) – Mardale Head
Distance: 8.2 miles Total Ascent: 960 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny and bright, becoming cloudy. 10oC.
It was sunny and bright first thing this morning with hardly a cloud in the sky – fantastic conditions for a walk around Mardale Head. Once up to High Street, the clouds came in and made it all a bit flat and I felt in hindsight it might have been better walking anti-clockwise…but then again, who knows? You never can tell what the weather will do.
It's a lovely morning with sun shining at the head of Mardale.
The route from the road up to the north ridge of Branstree is certainly initially steep and direct. There is a great view over Haweswater into Riggindale, the rock in the foreground being the Hollow Stone.
Kidsty Pike above Riggindale.
The head of Riggindale.
Kidsty Pike and Kidsty Howes.
High Street with a touch of snow on top from the old sheepfold.
Selside Pike from the north ridge.
Looking north east from Artlecrag Pike.
The view to the west from the same place.
The summit of Branstree with a hot air balloon over Harter Fell.
Harter Fell from the descent of Branstree. The path used in ascent across Gatescarth Pass can be seen starting from the mid-left.
Looking back to Branstree.
The path to Harter Fell.
Casper Wainwright (see Harter Fell 10, The Far Eastern Fells below). The benchmark in the Wainwright self-portrait can be seen on the rock in the photo. All you need now is a pipe Casper!
High Street and Small Water from Harter Fell.
The summit of Harter Fell.
Mardale Ill Bell and High Street.
Descending to Nan Bield Pass.
Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick above Kentmere Reservoir.
Harter Fell from Nan Bield pass.
Looking back to Harter fell from the climb to Mardale Ill Bell.
Small Water and Haweswater.
High Street from Mardale Ill Bell.
Casper on Mardale Ill Bell.
Once on High Street, it started to cloud over. This view is to the western fells with the Scafells and Great Gable in the distance and Helvellyn mid distance on the right. That's an icy looking puddle!
Helvellyn from High Street.
The wall on High Street.
The flat top of Harter Fell from High Street.
Long Stile and Rough Crag, the route of descent.
Blea Water from the snowy eastern edge of High Street.
Long Stile.
It has completely clouded over now looking back to High Street and Long Stile over Caspel Gate Tarn from Caspel Gate.
High Street from Rough Crag.
Colourful trees on The Rigg looking along Haweswater.
Haweswater.
Autumn on The Rigg.
Orange grass crossing Mardale Beck.
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 107)
Mardale Head – The Rigg – Rough Crag (Riggindale) – Caspel Gate – Long Stile – High Street – Straits of Riggindale – Rampsgill Head – Kidsty Pike – High Raise (497) – Low Raise (498) – Castle Crag (Mardale) (499) – The Rigg – Mardale Head
Distance: 10.2 miles Total Ascent: 1085 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Sunny, a glorious Autumn day. 16oC.
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.
The ridge route for today's walk over Rough Crag and up to High Street, here seen over Haweswater.
Harter Fell at the head of Mardale.
Mardale Ill Bell.
Mardale Beck in spate, as were all the watercourses in the area due to recent heavy rain.
Harter Fell from The Rigg.
Looking across Haweswater to Lady's Seat and Castle Crag, the route used in descent from Low Raise later.
Riggindale and the Mardale skyline.
Haweswater from the steep climb to Rough Crag.
Mardale Waters from the Rough Crag ridge - Small Water is in the cirque to the left, Blea Water in the one to the right.
Some warm Autumn sunshine on Rough Crag for Casper and Angus.
Blea Water, High Street above.
Looking across Riggindale to Kidsty Pike.
Haweswater Reservoir and Mardale from Rough Crag - Golden Eagles nest on the crags here, the only pair in England. The valley was flooded in the 1930's to create a reservoir for Manchester and the village of Mardale was lost under the water forever.
Long Stile leading to High Street over Caspel Gate.
Looking back to Rough Crag, Branstree in view over the tarn.
Rough Crag from Long Stile.
A sparkling Blea Water, Harter Fell beyond.
Looking along Riggindale to Mardale.
The summit of High Street, deserted today.
Looking south-west to the Coniston fells in the distance, Red Screes and the Fairfield group in the middle distance.
A closer shot of Fairfield. Great Gable and the Scafell range are in the left distance.
The shadows of the three amigos looking to Hayeswater.
...and the uncluttered version.
Walking along the Roman Road to the Straits of Riggindale.
Kidsty Pike from Twopenny Crag.
Ramps Gill from Rampsgill Head, The Nab to the left.
The eastern fells from Rampsgill Head.
We could hear the bellowing of the stags in Martindale Deer Forest below - they certainly caught the attention of Angus.
Where Eagles Dare - Angus on Kidsty Pike, well known perch of the Golden Eagles.
Looking across to the Helvellyn massif from the path to High Raise.
Fairfield from High Raise, Great Gable on the distant right.
Helvellyn from High Raise. Striding Edge is the ridge in the centre with Swirral Edge and Catstycam to the right.
The rock littered summit of High Raise.
The tumulus and cairn on Low Raise.
Haweswater from Lady's Seat and the magnificently situated ancient British fort atop Castle Crag in the foreground.
Whelter Bottom from Castle Crag.
Haweswater from the ruins of the fort.
Still lots of sunshine for the boys to soak up.
Crossing Randale Beck.
Start point: Hartsop (NY 410 130)
Hartsop – Gray Crag (110) – Thornthwaite Crag (111) – High Street – The Knott (112) – Rest Dodd (113) – The Nab (114) – Satura Crag – Angle Tarn Pike South (115) – Angletarn Pike North (116) – Brock Crags (117) – Hartsop
Weather: Overcast, some rain later.
Another walk chosen by my 13 year old son today, principally to take in some wildlife; the promise of wild ponies on Thornthwaite Crag, a Golden Eagle over Riggindale and deer in the Martindale Deer Forest spurring him into action. Of course, there was also the lure of walking in the footsteps of Roman soldiers across High Street.
From the car park through the hamlet of Hartsop, we followed the old mine road along Hayeswater Gill and over Wath Bridge.
Threshwaite Mouth from the Hayeswater Gill path. We decided to ascend Gray Crag by the direct route - straight up the sickeningly steep nose leading directly to the summit.
The Eastern Fells from the summit of Gray Crag, Catstycam is the conical peak on the right. From the summit, it is a simple stroll along the grassy undulations to Thornthwaite Crag, sometimes referred to as Thornthwaite Beacon due to the distinctive 14 feet high column on its summit.
Thornthwaite Beacon. From the beacon the path U-turns on to the Roman road and follows the gentle rise to the summit of High Street.
Yoke, Ill Bell, Froswick and Windermere from the Roman road on High Street. We then left the Roman road to cross the wall which traverses the summit plateau and headed for the trig. column that marks the highest point.
The summit of High Street looking to Fairfield and Dollywagon Pike. From the summit, we headed over to the Eastern side of the fell to look over Haweswater and along Riggindale with binoculars out trying to spot the Golden Eagle. Oh dear, no wild ponies and no eagle!
Blea Water from High Street
and looking along the Roman road to The Knott and Rest Dodd.
A view along Riggindale to Haweswater. After returning to the Roman road, it was a simple climb to the summit of The Knott.
The Knott summit with Rest Dodd near left and The Nab to the right. From The Knott, a steep descent/ascent following the wall took us to the summit of Rest Dodd.
Rampsgill Head from the summit of Rest Dodd. Again from Rest Dodd, it was straight over the nose and onward over the difficult peat hag terrain of the Deer Forest to The Nab.
The peat hags of the Martindale Deer Forest and The Nab.
Rest Dodd from the summit of The Nab. Then it was back along the same peaty path to the wall - at last we were rewarded with the sight of a deer herd. We then followed the wall over to Satura Crag and then skirted Angle Tarn to ascend the northern top of Angletarn Pikes quickly followed by the southern top as the rain set in.
Hayeswater from Satura Crag,
and Place Fell from the northern top of Angletarn Pikes.
Angle Tarn from the southern summit of Angletarn Pikes. Skirting around the other side of Angle Tarn, we ascended directly to the summit Brock Crags with views over Hartsop and Brothers Water.
Brothers Water from the summit of Brock Crags. From Brock Crags, we followed the old wall straight down to Hayeswater Gill and picked up the grassy path between two walls which led us back to Hartsop.
Did we really climb straight up the face of that! - Gray Crag from the descent of Brock Crags.
Start point: Mardale Head (NY 469 127)
Mardale Head – Gatescarth Pass – Adam Seat (1) – Little Harter Fell (2) – Harter Fell (Mardale) (3) – Nan Bield Pass – Mardale Ill Bell (4) – High Street (5) – Rough Crag (Riggindale) (6) – Rampsgill Head (7) – Kidsty Pike (8) – Mardale Head
Weather: Sunny with snow and hail showers.
This is the start of my quest to climb the 541 Birkett Fells!
Haweswater from Mardale Head...
and Gatescarth Beck.
The Boundary Stone at the summit of Adam Seat, 'L' on one side
'H' on the other (Longsleddale and Haweswater).
Haweswater from the summit of Little Harter Fell. (Compare AW The Far Eastern Fells - Harter Fell 10).
Harter Fell summit in a snow shower.
Kentmere
A rainbow over Small Water ('the finest of Lakeland's tarns), from the descent to Nan Bield Pass.
Mardale Ill Bell summit with Yoke, Froswick and Ill bell in the background.
Two views of High Street summit.
Rough Crag and Haweswater from High Street. The area around the small tarn is called Caspel Gate.
Harter Fell and the Nan Bield Pass from Rough Crag summit, Small Water is just visible.
Hayeswater and the distant Patterdale Fells from the Roman Road.
The mist swirls across High Street on the walk to Rampsgill Head.
Looking North from Rampsgill Head's summit. The Nab is to the left with Hallin Fell in the centre adjoining Steel Knotts. Ullswater is just visible right of centre.
High Street from Kidsty Pike summit.
The sun shines on Riggindale and Rough Crag.
A long meander of Riggindale Beck...
and the ruins of Riggindale Farm.
The Mardale Skyline.
Hard Knott Roman Fort – Hard Knott (25) – Hard Knott Pass
James on Hard Knott summit.
The Eskdale valley from Border End.
The next walk was 27th May 2003 as follows:
Hartsop – Hayeswater – The Knott (26) – Rampsgill Head (27) – High Raise (28) – Kidsty Pike (29) – High Street (30) – Thornthwaite Crag (31) – Gray Crag (32) – Hartsop