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.
![05.03.09-005 05.03.09-005](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-005.jpg-nggid047291-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
Looking back to Hartsop from the path to Hayeswater, St Sunday Crag beyond the Hartsop above How ridge.
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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 05.03.09-028](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-028.jpg-nggid047296-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![05.03.09-076 05.03.09-076](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-076.jpg-nggid047300-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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 05.03.09-077](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-077.jpg-nggid047301-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![05.03.09-083 05.03.09-083](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-083.jpg-nggid047304-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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.
![05.03.09-101 05.03.09-101](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-101.jpg-nggid047310-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
The sun was starting to shine through now, here looking to the north-west where it is still lovely and clear.
![05.03.09-121 05.03.09-121](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2009-03-05-hayeswater-circuit/cache/05.03.09-121.jpg-nggid047314-ngg0dyn-0x0x85-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010.jpg)
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!).