Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

  • Walks
  • Fells
    • Wainwrights
      • Eastern Fells
      • Far Eastern Fells
      • Central Fells
      • Southern Fells
      • Northern Fells
      • North Western Fells
      • Western Fells
      • Outlying Fells
    • Birketts
  • Dogs
  • Love The Lakes
  • Contact

Hayeswater Circuit

Walked on 05/03/2009

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

Hayeswater route map.

05.03.09-001

Sun rising over Gray Crag from the corrals at Hartsop.

05.03.09-005

Looking back to Hartsop from the path to Hayeswater, St Sunday Crag beyond the Hartsop above How ridge.

05.03.09-008

Threshthwaite along Pasture Bottom.

05.03.09-010

Hayeswater Gill and the climb up to Gray Crag in view.

05.03.09-016

Hartsop from the first wall on the steep climb to Gray Crag.

05.03.09-024

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.

05.03.09-028

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.

05.03.09-031

Heading for the summit ridge.

05.03.09-032

Distant Blencathra.

05.03.09-041

The Knott above Hayeswater, the route of return.

05.03.09-076

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!

05.03.09-077

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.

05.03.09-079

Caudale Moor, the scene of yesterday's walk.

05.03.09-081

The view through Threshthwaite Mouth into Troutbeck.

05.03.09-083

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.

05.03.09-085

The Knott and High Street.

05.03.09-087

The view back along mine and Casper's tracks to Gray Crag.

05.03.09-090

Just beautiful on Thornthwaite Crag.

05.03.09-093

Ill Bell and Froswick.

05.03.09-097

Windermere from Thornthwaite Beacon.

05.03.09-101

The sun was starting to shine through now, here looking to the north-west where it is still lovely and clear.

05.03.09-104

Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike from the wall heading out to High Street.

05.03.09-106

Ill Bell and Froswick from further along the wall.

05.03.09-110

The route of return along the High Street ridge.

05.03.09-121

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!).

05.03.09-125

High Street summit.

05.03.09-130

Looking over the eastern side of High Street to Rough Crag and Haweswater.

05.03.09-136

Harter Fell and Mardale Ill Bell over Blea Water.

05.03.09-139

Kidsty Pike and High Raise across Riggindale.

05.03.09-141

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.

05.03.09-145

Not as bright now across Hayeswater to the eastern fells.

05.03.09-149

Looking back to High Street from the Straits of Riggindale.

05.03.09-170

Viewing the circuit just walked from The Knott.

05.03.09-175

Casper, weighed down with about 3 tons of snow now.

05.03.09-177

Rest Dodd and The Nab from The Knott.

05.03.09-187

A last gasp of sunshine on the descent towards Hayeswater.

05.03.09-189

Hayeswater is part frozen today.

05.03.09-193

Reflections and ice.

05.03.09-201

Heading back to Hartsop and the snow is blowing in from over St Sunday Crag and was heavy by the time I reached Hartsop.

Share this…


  • Facebook


  • Twitter


  • Messenger


  • Whatsapp


  • Email

Previous walk Next walk

Walking Diary

  • The Mosedale Horseshoe 01/03/2022
  • Caw 18/01/2022
  • Coniston sunset 17/01/2022
  • Blencathra 15/01/2022
  • Scafell Pike 14/01/2022

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Information

  • Striding Edge
  • T&C’s
  • Privacy
  • Links