Striding Edge

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Riggindale Round

Walked on 09/10/2006

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.

01 Riggindale Round

09.10.06-002

The ridge route for today's walk over Rough Crag and up to High Street, here seen over Haweswater.

09.10.06-007

Harter Fell at the head of Mardale.

09.10.06-009

Mardale Ill Bell.

09.10.06-014

Mardale Beck in spate, as were all the watercourses in the area due to recent heavy rain.

09.10.06-020

Harter Fell from The Rigg.

09.10.06-025

Looking across Haweswater to Lady's Seat and Castle Crag, the route used in descent from Low Raise later.

09.10.06-026

Riggindale and the Mardale skyline.

09.10.06-037

Haweswater from the steep climb to Rough Crag.

09.10.06-041

Mardale Waters from the Rough Crag ridge - Small Water is in the cirque to the left, Blea Water in the one to the right.

09.10.06-053

Some warm Autumn sunshine on Rough Crag for Casper and Angus.

09.10.06-056

Blea Water, High Street above.

09.10.06-062

Looking across Riggindale to Kidsty Pike.

09.10.06-063

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.

09.10.06-073

Long Stile leading to High Street over Caspel Gate.

09.10.06-085

Looking back to Rough Crag, Branstree in view over the tarn.

09.10.06-088

Rough Crag from Long Stile.

09.10.06-089

A sparkling Blea Water, Harter Fell beyond.

09.10.06-094

Looking along Riggindale to Mardale.

09.10.06-098

The summit of High Street, deserted today.

09.10.06-108

Looking south-west to the Coniston fells in the distance, Red Screes and the Fairfield group in the middle distance.

09.10.06-112

A closer shot of Fairfield. Great Gable and the Scafell range are in the left distance.

09.10.06-114

The shadows of the three amigos looking to Hayeswater.

09.10.06-116

...and the uncluttered version.

09.10.06-121

Walking along the Roman Road to the Straits of Riggindale.

09.10.06-124

Kidsty Pike from Twopenny Crag.

09.10.06-129

Ramps Gill from Rampsgill Head, The Nab to the left.

09.10.06-130

The eastern fells from Rampsgill Head.

09.10.06-132

We could hear the bellowing of the stags in Martindale Deer Forest below - they certainly caught the attention of Angus.

09.10.06-138

Where Eagles Dare - Angus on Kidsty Pike, well known perch of the Golden Eagles.

09.10.06-145

Looking across to the Helvellyn massif from the path to High Raise.

09.10.06-148

Fairfield from High Raise, Great Gable on the distant right.

09.10.06-149

Helvellyn from High Raise. Striding Edge is the ridge in the centre with Swirral Edge and Catstycam to the right.

09.10.06-158

The rock littered summit of High Raise.

09.10.06-162

The tumulus and cairn on Low Raise.

09.10.06-165

Haweswater from Lady's Seat and the magnificently situated ancient British fort atop Castle Crag in the foreground.

09.10.06-166

Whelter Bottom from Castle Crag.

09.10.06-167

Haweswater from the ruins of the fort.

09.10.06-174

Still lots of sunshine for the boys to soak up.

09.10.06-176

Crossing Randale Beck.

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