Start Point: Lay-by opposite Thirlmere Dam road (NY 315 194)
Lay-by (opposite Thirlmere Dam road) – Wren Crag – High Rigg (Birkett) – High Rigg (Wainwright)/Naddle Fell (Birkett) – St. John’s Church – Low Bridge End Farm – Lay-by
Distance: 8.3 km
Total Ascent: 247 metres
Time Taken: 2 hours 10 minutes
Start Time: 10:25
Weather: Wet. 10ºC
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 7/214 (1 new this walk)
Route Map – GPX download available
It was a wet walk today – as any fell walker knows, we live with hope that the rain will clear and that the sun will shine through with beautiful blue skies. Any fell walker knows that this doesn’t always happen – oh well! Once you’re out, you’re out! One thing was for sure, there weren’t many others out today but good to get out for Finlay’s 7th Wainwright. He is coming along well, today’s lessons were traversing boggy and sodden paths, jumping stiles over walls (actually he jumped a wall when I was on the stile, an amazing 6 foot leap) and sheep (the avoidance thereof).
Climbing up towards Wren Crag with the main A591 below looking to Great How. I was hopeful at this point that the rain would pass over.
Castle Rock above Legburthwaite.
Scots Pine on Wren Crag neatly framing the main road along the valley.
There are still some lovely autumn colours around and beyond...even more rain.
On Wren Crag and if anything the rain was getting heavier and the wind was starting to pick up a little.
A brief shelter by the wall on Mart Crag.
Any pool in a storm for Finlay!
The view looking back to Thirlmere.
Now it starts to get confusing with the profusion of rocky knolls and tops. This is High Rigg (Birkett) top or High Rigg SE top depending on what and where you look. The view is towards High Rigg (Wainwright) summit...named Naddle Fell by Birkett. I told you it was confusing! The worst of the weather came in now for the walk between the two tops - lots of rain and a strong wind.
The cairn without a view of anything at all on High Rigg.
Wet Wainwright #7 for Finlay.
Skiddaw briefly making an appearance over St John's Youth Centre, Church and Low Rigg.
Rainbow over St John's in the Vale. The rain finally stopped on the return leg on the lower path. I say path, actually it was more like a river and it took a fair bit of wading to get through at times.
The best view of the day along St John's in the Vale.
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