Start point: Cow Bridge, Hartsop (NY 403 134)
Cow Bridge – Gale Crag (322) – Hartsop Above How (323) – Hart Crag – Fairfield – Cofa Pike – Saint Sunday Crag –Gavel Pike – Birks (324) – Arnison Crag (325) – Cow Bridge
Distance: 9.7 miles Total Ascent: 1385 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny with a strong breeze. 8oC in the valley rising to 12oC. Icy cold on the tops.
I had a great high level ridge walk today along the Hartsop above How ridge, up to Hart Crag and Fairfield and then back down along the Saint Sunday ridge. It was a pleasant surprise to see the sunshine, but it was deceptively cold on the tops with a bitter wind blowing. With hindsight I would have been better off starting and finishing at Deepdale Bridge and walking the full Hartsop above How ridge.
Fairfield route map.
Elevation profile of the route.
3D image of the walk route.
Caudale Moor, Kirkstone Pass and Red Screes in early sunlight from the steep ascent to the Hartsop Above How ridge.
Hartsop Dodd over Brothers Water. To the left are Gray Crag and High Street.
Place Fell from Gale Crag summit. Great Mell Fell can be seen to the left.
The view along the ridge from the summit of Hartsop above How.
Dove Crag.
Looking back along Hartsop above How from Hart Crag.
The view from Rydal Head. Windermere, Esthwaite Water and Coniston Water are all visible.
Fairfield summit.
Cofa Pike to the left and Saint Sunday Crag.
Grisedale Tarn and the Dollywagon Pike - Nethermost Pike - Helvellyn ridge.
Striding Edge and Helvellyn from Saint Sunday Crag. The peak of Catstycam is to the right, then Raise and the Dodd's.
Gavel Pike and Saint Sunday Crag from Birks.
Ullswater from Arnison Crag.
Arnison Crag.