A good day above Grasmere today taking in Stone Arthur and Seat Sandal with Great Rigg, a little hazy but still some great views from the tops.

A great day out on the Fairfield Horseshoe. Setting out from our shop in Ambleside we followed the horseshoe in a clockwise direction starting up Nab Scar.

A wonderful day on the Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside today taking in eight Wainwright summits along the way. Great weather and god views throughout.

Another hot day climbing Fairfield from Grasmere taking in the summits of Stone Arthur, Great Rigg and Seat Sandal along the way

A wonderful day climbing the Fairfield Horseshoe in near perfect conditions, setting off from Ambleside at 10am we had a great day climbing 8 Wainwrights.

A wonderful days guided walk on the Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside on Tuesday 26th February 2013

A great day today climbing the Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside, starting up Nab Scar and following the horseshoe route to descend over High and Low Pike

A great day on the Fairfield Horseshoe today, climbing eight summits from Ambleside in perfect weather, including Nab Scar Heron Pike, Dove Crag

Another great day today on the Fairfield Horseshoe.

We left Ambleside a little after 9am today and headed out on the Fairfield Horseshoe, following the Coffin Route to Rydal before heading up the steep slopes of Nab Scar.

We were soon at the top of Nab Scar with some wonderful views down over Rydal Water and Grasmere and as far south as Blackpool Tower!

From Nab Scar we followed the ridge north over the summits of Heron Pike and Great Rigg before climbing to the summit of Fairfield. There was a slight dusting of snow on the high tops today and quite a chilly breeze on the summit of Fairfield as we sat and ate our lunches in the wind shelter.

After lunch we crossed the head of the horseshoe to the summits of Hart Crag and Dove Crag, two showers just missed us as we descended from Dove Crag towards High Pike and then down to Low Pike, dropping down to High Sweden Bridge.

As we followed the track back to Ambleside we got caught in our first shower of the day, but it didn't last too long and we were soon descending into Ambleside in the dry.

A great day on The Fairfield Horseshoe.

After meeting the group at our shop in Ambleside, we set off through Ambleside and towards Rydal Park. We made our way through Rydal Park and could see the little cloud that was around was clearing nicely. After passing Rydal Mount we were now on the steep climb up towards Nab Scar.  As we climbed the views became more and more impressive, and we had great views over Windermere, Coniston Water, Rydal Water and Grasmere. We summited Nab Scar and then the gradient eased as we climbed towards Heron Pike.  We continued to make great progress as we made our way to the summit of Great Rigg. Ready for lunch we pressed on and decided to stop in the shelter on the summit of Fairfield.

After lunch we headed along the back stretch to Hart Crag and then we  followed the wall up to Dove Crag which provided great views over Windermere again.  We descended by the wall down the gentle grass slope over High Pike and Low Pike in the warm sun before descending to High Sweden Bridge. From the bridge we followed the good track back into Ambleside.

 

A damp day on the Fairfield Horseshoe today.

We set off from Ambleside at 10am and folllowed the Coffin Route to Rydal, climbing the steep slope of Nab Scar in good time.

There were a few drops of light rain as we climbed the track to Nab Scar, but nothing too bad, and most of the high fells were out of cloud, although there was some low cloud approaching from the south. As we climbed to the summit of Heron Pike the cloud base descended and shortly after leaving Heron Pike we were in the cloud.

From now on we were in thick cloud but we made good progress, crossing Great Rigg and reaching the summit of Fairfield at 12.45.

After a short lunch stop in the summit shelter we headed off again, crossing Hart Crag to Dove Crag before descending the long ridge over High Pike and Low Pike, dropping back out of the cloud just below Low Pike and following the path back to Ambleside by High Sweden Bridge.

A great day on the Lakeland classic that is The Fairfield Horseshoe.

After meeting the group at our shop in Ambleside, we set off through Ambleside and towards Rydal Park. We made our way through Rydal Park and could feel the weather was a bit cooler than the previous days, but nonetheless it was clear. After passing Rydal Mount we were now on the steep climb up towards Nab Scar.  As we climbed the views became more and more impressive, and we had great views over Windermere, Coniston Water, Rydal Water and Grasmere. We summited Nab Scar and then the gradient eased as we climbed towards Heron Pike. As we climbed towards Heron Pike we got hit by the winds and our first hail storm, but we were sure this would just pass through. We enjoyed the views  as we made our way to the summit of Great Rigg. All feeling a bit low on fuel we stopped for a bite to eat out of the wind before taking on the easy climb to the windswept summit of Fairfield.

We ducked into the shelter to dodge a hail storm but as it was a bit chilly we didnt stop for longer than needed!m We battled our along the very windswept ridge to Hart Crag abnd then we  followed the wall up to Dove Crag which provided great views over Windermere again.  We descended by the wall down the gentle grass slope over High Pike and Low Pike in the warm sun before descending to High Sweden Bridge.

We enjoyed an easy descent back into town on the fine track from the bridge.

An amazing day on the Lakeland classic that is The Fairfield Horseshoe.

After meeting Terry and Carol at our shop in Ambleside, we set off through Ambleside and towards Rydal Park. We made our way through Rydal Park, enjoying a warm morning, and watching the low cloud slowly rise off of Nab Scar. After passing Rydal Mount we were now on the steep climb up towards Nab Scar. As we climbed the views opened up nicely. We had great views over Windermere, Coniston Water, Rydal Water and Grasmere. We summited Nab Scar and then the gradient eased as we climbed towards Heron Pike. As we climbed towards Heron Pike we seemed to be chasing the cloud up the fellside which was a nice suprise. We enjoyed the views until we summited Great Rigg. Now in the cloud we headed up the final climb to the windswept summit of Fairfield.

We didn't linger on the summit long as it was a bit chilly, so we continued along the ridge to Hart Crag. Along the way we found a nice sheltered spot in which we had some lunch. After lunch we climbed over Hart Crag, and then the cloud really started to lift. This produced some amazing views, especially down into the quiet Deepdale Valley. We followed the wall up to Dove Crag which provided great views over Windermere again. The cloud was now lifting higher and higher by the minute all across the Lakes, and we started picking out some of the major fells. We descended by the wall down the gentle grass slope over High Pike and Low Pike before descending to High Sweden Bridge.

We enjoyed a nice rest by the bridge in the sun before finishing off this great route on the fine track that runs back into Ambleside.

A great day on the Fairfield Horseshoe today, despite the mist!

We set off about 9am from our shop in Ambleside and made our way easily out of town and to Rydal along the track that runs through Rydal Park. We reached Rydal and set on up the steepest part of the walk, up the southern face of Nab Scar. The path weaves its way up the steep fellside, and we ascended into the mist. The forecast was also showing strong winds and rain but at this time we only had the mist to contend with. As we climbed higher and higher we took in Heron Pike, Great Rigg and then finally ascended the final slope onto the summit plateau. We bagged the summit of Fairfield by which time the wind was whipping up and the rain had set in. We made our way off to the east through the thick mist and descended to Link Hause before again climbing over the rocky summit of Hart Crag. As we descended we met the long wall that was to guide us down the eastern spur of the horseshoe. We were again on the ascent and not before too long we had summited Dove Crag and then turned south to start our long descent. We stayed the left and slightly boggier side of the wall, but it was acting as a fantastic windbreak. We bagged High Pike shortly followed by Low Pike, and then the path forked and we descended down to the lovely High Sweden Bridge. Now finally out of the mist we got to enjoy views across to Rydal Water and to Windermere. We arrived back in Ambleside a little wind swept but having had a great day out on the fells.

A great day on the Fairfield Horseshoe today with good views all day.

We followed the track by Rydal Hall to climb the steep slopes of Nab Scar, with great views south over Windermere and down over Rydal Water.

The ridge continued north crossing Heron Pike and Great Rigg before climbing to the summit of Fairfield. We made good time along the ridge reaching the summit of Fairfield in good time for lunch, stopping in the summit shelter to get out of the fairly strong wind and admire the panoramic views before continuing to cross the summits of Hart Crag and Dove Crag.

We descended the long southern ridge of Dove Crag, crossing the summits of High Pike and Low Pike with great views ahead of us over Windermere throughout.

From Low Pike we dropped down to High Sweeden Bridge and followed the track back to Ambleside.