Start point: Rydal (NY 365 062)
Rydal – Nab Scar – Heron Pike – Rydal Fell – Great Rigg – Fairfield – Hart Crag – Dove Crag – High Pike (Scandale) – Low Pike – High Sweden Bridge – Ambleside – Rydal Park – Rydal
Distance: 12.9 miles Total Ascent: 1281 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Sunny and warm. 27oC.
I knew it was going to be a warm one today – it was 23oC when I set off from Rydal this morning! It was hot and muggy with a welcome breeze on the higher parts, and very quiet up on the Fairfield Horseshoe. Angus and Casper kept themselves cool by wallowing in mud, glorious mud that baked on in the sun, and is proving impossible to get off.
The path to Nab Scar directly ahead.
Looking over Rydal Water to Loughrigg Fell from Nab Scar.
Long legs and a long tongue from Casper.
Wow Angus! Is it really that hot!
...and the result.
Rydal Fell with Great Rigg and Fairfield beyond.
Looking over Rydal Beck to High Pike and Low Pike (the return leg of the horseshoe), Red Screes beyond.
Rydal Fell with Hart Crag immediately behind.
Looking back to Heron Pike and Windermere from Rydal Fell.
The top part of The Fairfield Horseshoe. Select on the image for a larger, annotated version.
The boys enjoy the view.
Approaching Fairfield from Great Rigg.
Seat Sandal.
Cofa Pike and Saint Sunday Crag from the summit of Fairfield.
Dollywagon Pike, Nethermost Pike and Helvellyn from Fairfield.
Casper on the summit of Hart Crag.
Fairfield and Hart Crag from Dove Crag.
Desperate to get cool in the sweltering heat.
Low Pike along the wall from High Pike.
Red Screes across Scandale.
Looking back to High Pike from Low Pike, Little Hart Crag to the right.
High Sweden Bridge.
Looking over to Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Rydal Fell and Great Rigg on the descent to Ambleside.
The same view from Rydal Park.